Sessions & Schedule

Schedule Overview*

*Subject to change

All: denotes sessions curated for both Social Emotional and College counselors, SE: denotes sessions curated for Social Emotional Counselors, and CC denotes sessions curated for College Counselors.

Session Block 1 | 10:00 - 10:55 AM

Whole Hearts, Winding Paths: Reframing University Rejection in Korea's Achievement Culture [ALL]

Yein Oh

In Korea's achievement-driven culture, university rejection carries devastating psychological weight beyond individual disappointment. For international school students facing dual pressures—Korean filial piety expectations and global competition—rejection triggers complex emotions of shame, comparison, and identity crisis. This interactive session explores Korean-specific rejection amplifiers: collectivist comparison culture, parental expectations, and university-centered success narratives. Participants will learn CBT-based techniques and modern career development theories to challenge irrational beliefs (such as meritocratic assumptions of admissions, perfectionist expectations, and linear narratives of success). Through group discussions of solutions and strategies, the session aims to transform rejection from failure into redirection—empowering whole hearts on clear paths.

Target Audience: Both HS SE Counselors and UCC Counselors

Location: TBD

Achievement, Culture, and Family Dynamics in Korean International Schools [SE]

Dr. MinJung(MJ) Doh &

Dr. Yoonhee Sung

Students in Korean international schools grow up navigating intense academic expectations, cultural traditions, and parental aspirations—all while shaping their own identities. This workshop takes a closer look at how these forces intersect and impact student well-being.

Together, we’ll explore three key dimensions: achievement motivation in a Korean cultural context (including unique drivers like filial piety, self-cultivation, and achieving for one’s parents), parent–child dynamics and how expectations influence self-worth, and the unique challenges of Third Culture Kids (TCKs) navigating “1.5 culture” identities in Korea’s homogeneous society.

Through an interactive case study, participants will collaborate on culturally sensitive strategies to support students and parents, balancing academic success with emotional health. You’ll leave with practical tools for guiding conversations, deeper insight into how cultural values shape motivation, and approaches to help TCKs build resilience and a stronger sense of self.

Target Audience: Social Emotional

Location:TBD

Reframing Safety Contracts: Turning Crisis Moments into Opportunities for Student and Parent Engagement [ALL]

Michelle Park

This workshop will address potential flaws in the language of Safety Contracts and provide tools for school and university counselors to use crisis intervention as an opportunity to better meet students’ needs and wants. The presenter will share her experience as a counselor working with Koreans and international students at Seoul National University, as well as with parents of students at Seoul Counseling Center. These insights will help the audience understand cultural issues and challenges prevalent in South Korea.

Target Audience: College Counseling, SE Counseling

Location: TBD

Session Block 2 | 11:00 - 11:55 AM

The Garden of Purpose: Cultivating Student Growth [ALL]

Dr. Rana Cheatwood

Building on the keynote, this interactive session invites counselors and educators to explore how the fulfillment of students’ core needs shapes well-being and purpose. Together, participants will examine practical ways to recognize when these needs are met or unmet, share strategies for supporting students across diverse contexts, and develop counseling practices that foster choice, competence, and connection. Through discussion, reflection, and application, counselors will leave with concrete tools to help students walk clear paths with whole hearts.

Target Audience: College Counseling/Social Emotional

Location: TBD

Clear Paths to Safety: Implementing Developmentally Appropriate Safeguarding Lessons Across Grades [SE]

Corrine Spaeth

Safeguarding education is a cornerstone of student wellbeing and a foundation for helping young people navigate life with clarity and confidence. This session will explore how a comprehensive, developmentally appropriate K–12 safeguarding curriculum equips students with the knowledge, skills, and sense of agency to protect themselves and others. Participants will gain practical strategies for designing and aligning safeguarding lessons across grade levels using standards and developmental learning benchmarks. Attendees will leave with a clearer framework for mapping out a K–12 safeguarding scope and sequence, as well as curated resources and sample lesson materials that can be adapted for their own school contexts.

Target Audience: K- 12 Social Emotional

Location: TBD

Advocating for Purpose: Aligning Best Practice and Navigating Leadership in University & Career Counselling [CC]

Luke Delvin

As University & Careers Counselors, your role is pivotal in guiding students toward authentic, purposeful futures. This session equips you to champion best practices in student well-being—even when leadership priorities differ. Drawing on proven strategies from international schools, discover how to build trust with school leaders, communicate the value of skill-based and relational counselling, and self-advocate for the resources and flexibility you need. Learn practical approaches for finding common ground, reframing conversations about student success, and navigating challenges when expectations clash. Through case studies and actionable insights, you’ll gain tools to foster whole-hearted support for students while strengthening your professional voice. Join us to explore how aligning your practice with institutional goals—and advocating effectively for what students truly need—can clear the path to greater purpose and lasting well-being for all.

Target Audience: College Counseling

Location: TBD

The Four Functions of Behavior: A Roadmap to Student Motivation & Agency [SE]

Amanda Sheffield

This workshop will provide counselors and therapists with a powerful framework, the four functions of behavior, to understand the underlying motivation behind student actions. While this is typically used to identify a function for another individual, we will explore how to teach students to identify their own drivers. This is an approach that is effective across all age groups, and I have personally used it with my youngest elementary school students all the way up to college-level learners. By helping students articulate their own needs, counselors can empower them to seek more favorable outcomes and better navigate their relationships with others. This approach fosters genuine self-awareness and agency, aligning with the conference theme of helping students find "Whole Hearts" and "Clear Paths" to purpose.

Target Audience: SE Counselors & Therapists

Location: TBD

Session Block 3 | 1:40 - 2:45 PM

Emotional Agility: Teaching Students to Navigate Big Feelings [SE]

Alison Morogiello, M.Ed., LPC

This interactive workshop provides school counselors with a practical framework for teaching students how to identify, name, and regulate their emotions. Participants will learn tangible, classroom-ready activities to build emotional literacy and resilience in students of all ages. The session also emphasizes the crucial role of adults in modeling healthy emotional regulation, providing actionable strategies for educators to support their students and themselves.

This workshop will be facilitated by a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 8 years of experience working with individuals and families to develop emotional responsiveness, effective communication, and healthy coping skills.

Target Audience: SE Counselors

Location: TBD

Trauma informed Conversations and Classroom strategies [SE]

Nancy Conner, MA, Professional School Counselor

As counselors, we are often asked to deal with classroom behavior issues. As we all know, counseling as an intervention for classroom behavior often is ineffective. In this workshop we will learn about trauma informed responses to student’s behaviors. We will learn the science behind trauma informed interventions and learn some techniques that teachers can use in the classroom to deal with behaviors. This workshop will focus on the ACES (Adverse Childhood experience study) to look at causation and use trauma informed strategies to improve behavior. This session is applicable to all counselors and college counselors at all levels.

Target Audience: Social Emotional

Location: TBD

Empowering Students Through Global Perspectives and SEL [ALL]

Scott Jamieson

In today’s competitive landscape, students must not only excel academically but also cultivate unique qualities that set them apart. This workshop will explore innovative strategies for counselors to help students enhance their personal development, engage meaningfully with global issues, and build skills that resonate with higher education institutions.

Participants will:

Reflect on the significance of global citizenship in fostering well-rounded, engaged learners.
Discover practical tools for designing programs that nurture personal growth and identity exploration.
Collaborate on strategies that empower students to become impactful global citizens, ready to contribute to their communities and the world.

This session aligns with the ISCA standards (Global Perspectives & Identity Development) and emphasizes the vital connection between SEL and global citizenship. Join us to gain insights into creating transformative learning experiences that support student development and equip the next generation of changemakers and leaders!

Target Audience: SE & UC Counselors

Location: TBD

Purpose, Perspective, and Global Readiness: Rethinking post high school pathways and gap years [CC]

Naijing Guo

If you could choose one universal learning experience for every student, what would it be?

For Baret Scholars, the answer is an intentional gap year of global travel — living, learning, and working across 10+ countries worldwide.

As William Deresiewicz observed, “Our system of elite education manufactures young people who are smart and talented and driven, yes, but also anxious, timid, and lost…great at what they’re doing but with no idea why they’re doing it.”After a decade of teaching at Yale, he concluded that a year off may be the best way for students to “develop a sense of purpose and find out that there’s life outside of school.”

Gap years are increasingly common: in the U.S., 40,000–60,000 students take one annually, while in Europe, it is often expected that students pause for one or more years before university. Families and educators are recognizing that a structured gap year can provide clarity, resilience, and independence.

Baret Scholars is a global gap year program founded by Chris Whittle (co-founder of Avenues: The World School) and the late Benno Schmidt (former president of Yale

University). This past year, our students from 42+ countries lived and learned across seven world cities—launching NGOs, creating films, and starting ventures.

In this session, we’ll share student stories, first-hand reflections, and research on how taking an intentional year before university helps young people flourish.

Target Audience: CC Counselors

Location: TBD