Advocacy Starts at Home Webinar

In schools across the country, school counselors often find themselves overwhelmed with non-counseling duties that detract from their ability to provide critical support to students. Advocacy at the local level—within schools, districts and communities—is key to ensuring school counselors can focus on their primary roles as outlined by the ASCA National Model. This webinar will empower attendees with strategies to mobilize stakeholders, use data effectively, and drive systemic change. By advocating for appropriate school counselor duties, we can amplify the impact of school counseling programs and improve student outcomes.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Highlight the negative effects of role confusion and non-counseling duties.
• Emphasize the importance of local action to influence policies and practices.
• Describe how to use focus groups, surveys and data-driven presentations to elevate school counselor voices, identify priorities and propose solutions that lead to systemic change.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER

Dr. Larson is an award-winning school counselor and adjunct professor who brings passion, innovation and more than two decades of experience to supporting students at the elementary, middle and high school levels. A Certified Animal-Assisted Intervention Specialist (C-AAIS), Dr. Larson integrates creative interventions into her practice, including play media and canine-assisted interventions. She works alongside her beloved therapy dog, Winston, using his calming presence to foster emotional well-being in students. Dr. Larson earned her Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision from the University of Florida in 2004 and has since become a trailblazer in the field. Her expertise includes advocacy efforts at the state and local levels, ethical and legal considerations in school counseling, artistry in practice and using technology to enhance data-informed practices. As a dedicated leader in school counseling, Dr. Larson served as a board member of the Florida School Counselor Association for more than a decade, including two terms as chair of the Board of Directors (2015–2016, 2022–2023). She also served nationally as the ASCA SCA Advisory Committee chair (2023–2024). A sought-after speaker, Dr. Larson has presented at numerous local, regional and national conferences, delivering engaging, practical and humor-filled sessions that leave audiences both informed and inspired. Whether tackling serious topics or sharing real-world school counseling insights, she brings warmth, relatability and a deep passion for supporting students and fellow counselors.