Wolfpack School Counseling

One of the scariest phrases is, “We’ve always done it this way,” so things continue to be done that way.  This post is all about taking the ways things have always been done, shattering that mindset, and applying the new rule of school counseling to achieve wolfpack school counseling.

We are huge fans of attending ASCA conferences because you get to meet people that you instantly connect with who change your life for the better.  If you’re all of a sudden singing “For Good” from Wicked, then you are our person!  And you are likely Laura Douglas’s person, too.  A few years ago we met Laura, a middle school counselor in Kansas, and we instantly fell in love!  We reunited with her in Austin for ASCA ‘22.  In fact, at one point Kim started singing and needed a duet partner.  Laura D. jumped up and joined in!  When Laura posted on her social media about a professional development session she recently delivered, we pounced on her!  She graciously agreed to share her PD session in this podcast episode.  

Her session was based on the book Wolfpack by Abby Wombach.  We haven’t read the book, but we’ll be adding it to our list now!  Proving that Laura D. is a genius, she applied the same idea to school counseling rules. 

Old Rule: Be grateful for what you have. 
Wolfpack School Counseling Rule: Be grateful for what you have and demand what you deserve. 

School counselors are helpers.  The very heart of who we are is to help.  As a result, there are times when school counselors get plugged into positions and situations that aren’t an appropriate use of time.  Laura D. suggests using our ASCA position statements, our ASCA mindsets and behaviors, and the ASCA ethical standards to help demand what we deserve when we are put in these situations.  Having a national entity (ASCA) that outlines our role helps separate our opinion from our responsibilities.  This allows us to have conversations with our administrators where we say, “This is my ASCA position statement.  It’s not just my opinion.  It’s what I need to do professionally.”

Old Rule: Wait for permission to lead . 
New rule: Lead from where you are.

We say this all the time, “School counselors are leaders.”  ASCA tells us we are leaders.  In Abby Wombach’s book, she says that when she scores goals, she points to whoever passes her the ball.  What would that look like in school counseling?  Who helps us score or achieve our school counseling goals?  Laura D. says that when we find those people who pass us the ball and help us, we start to feel safe and confident in where we are.

Laura suggests starting small.  Be aware of your strengths and then build from that.  If you have a small dream or idea, start with your people, build your confidence, and then see where that takes you! 

Old Rule: Be against each other.
Wolfpack School Counseling Rule: Be for each other.

Comparison is the thief of joy, right?  So when we compare ourselves to other school counselors, it’s unfair to ourselves and it’s unfair to our students.  Our schools are not the same, so programs and outcomes will not be the same.  Instead of being jealous or upset at what others are doing, applaud them, and then figure out if they are doing something that you can adapt and implement to fit your school’s needs.  

Laura D. is so inspiring in the way she talks positively about the elementary counselor and the high school counselor in her school district.  It’s human nature to point out flaws in others so that our own insecurities feel less prominent.  Challenge yourself to look for the positives in others if your instinct is to point out a flaw.  Let’s follow the wolfpack school counseling rule and be for each other!

Old Rule: Play it safe, pass the ball.
New School Counseling Rule: Believe in yourself and demand the ball.

Abby’s book says to believe in yourself, stand up and say, “Give me the ball. Give me the job. Give me the same pay that the guy next to me gets.  Give me the promotion. Give me the microphone. Give me the oval office. Give me the respect I deserve, and give it to my wolf pack, too.” There is strength in numbers, so why wouldn’t we link arms with our fellow counselors to see how we can lead change?  

Old Rule: Lead with dominance and you create followers.
Wolfpack School Counseling Rule: Lead with humanity and cultivate leaders.

When you look at old school leadership, it’s kind of scary!  Many old school leaders led by fear and demanded respect.  The result was lemmings who would follow blindly out of fear.  This new school counselor rule realizes the power of multiplication.  When we as leaders (ASCA says we are, remember?) multiply ourselves, we are essentially replicating ourselves and cultivating leaders.  Leading with humanity means showing that we may not have all the answers, but we are going to fail until we find a solution.  It takes the pressure off having to be perfect, and extends our school counseling program to include those leaders we are empowering along the way.

Old Rule: You’re on your own.
Wolfpack School Counseling Rule: You’ve got your wolfpack.

The old rule is that you’re on your own and the new rule is that you’re not alone. You’ve got your wolf pack. 

We’d like to think we’re in your wolfpack.  All of our listeners and readers are in our wolfpack.  Remember earlier where we said school counselors are helpers?  Let’s lean into that and help each other.  Most of us are the only school counselor in our building.  That can be a lonely feeling if we allow our minds to go there.  This is all the more reason to connect and build relationships, no matter the distance!  

This brings us full circle because we opened this post by talking about how attending an ASCA conference led us to Laura Douglas.  When you attend school counseling events, you meet the Laura Douglases of the world.  Well, that’s not true.  She’s one in a million, but then again, so are you!

Contact Laura to lead a professional development session for you by emailing her at laurad42@gmail.com, or just let her know how fantastic she was on this podcast episode!