Reinventing School Counseling: Just Do It!

Jane Webber, Ph.D.,LPCSeton Hall University

webberja@shu.eduJ.Barry Mascari, Ed.D., LPC, LCADC

Kean UniversityDirector, NJ Center for the Advancement of School Counseling

jmascari@kean.edu

The New Jersey Center for the Advancement of School

Counselingwww.kean.edu/~reinvent

Changing Your Program: Simple Steps

Career Plan True Colors Quick Clipboard Problem Solving (Solution

Focused) Behavioral Snapshot

One small stepTherapy is often a matter of tipping the first domino.

Milton Erickson

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it

Minimal change in student’s life leads to change in the family or class

Make small changes that lead to big impacts

The Miracle Question: Behavioral Snapshot Suppose that one night, while you were

sleeping, there was a miracle and your problem was solved. How would you know it’s better? What would you be doing? If I videotape you, what would I see you doing

differently?

(deShazer, 1988, p.5)

Miracle… Got my applications done Got accepted by one college Got a “B” in senior Math My parents are off my back

Quick Clipboard for Problem Solving Provide clipboard (or software), pencil on a

string, worksheets Please complete this sheet before we talk

Carol’s Quick ClipboardWhat happened? I was rejected outright early decision from HarvardHow did you feel? I was mad. I feel like a total failure. What did you do?

I shredded all my college catalogs and applications. I cut Calculus class and went down town to Starbucks.

How did you want to feel?I want to feel successful and proud.What could you do differently? (next) I could have counted to 10 first. I could have come to see you. I could have

worked on my safety school applications. I could have been more realistic.

My Behavioral Snapshot:Quick Clipboard

What happened?

Argued with my Physics teacher over a B+ Cut class to finish my college essayMissed the deadline for my college applicationWas late for my college interview Got caught cheating on my AP US History test Didn’t do HW because I went to my Princeton Review SAT ClassInflated my GPA during a college interviewThrew my textbook out of the 3rd floor windowArgued with my parents about finishing my applicationsMy college lacrosse recruiter read my Facebook profile

Behavioral Snapshot

My dream career: Bottom hem

My educational/college dream: Front

My best academic subjects: right sleeve

My best personal qualities: left sleeve

In 5 years I wish: above the shirt

What worries me about college: below the shirt

Your behavioral snapshot In my job I can… In my job I can’t… If a Miracle happened and my problem was

solved you would see me: Steps I can take to making my miracle a

reality:

Quick Clipboard ChangesHow do you feel?angryvindictivedisappointedhumiliatedhostilerevengefulput downscaredHurtout of controlsadmad about everything

How would you like to feel?peacefulback to normalrelievedmake upOKquiettolerantcalmlike it never happenedtake it backin controlsorry

Frank’s Quick Clipboard Realistic Choices: Scaling To earn an A in English I need to take steps to get past

my F. ___I can get my seat moved to the front.___I can attend class every day. (no cuts)___I can complete each day’s HW assignment ___I can answer one question every day during class discussion. What could prevent you from taking your steps?___If I get mean, I can ask for a cooling off break___I can mark my mood thermometer every 15 minutes (to

cool down before I blow)___ I can do a quick clipboard.

The Career Plan: A Program’s Keystone

The Career Plan’s components contain all activities in which have students been engaged

It is the Solution Focused “skeleton key” that opens doors to many choices, opportunities, & the next step

True Colors A cheap MBTI A simple way to correlate occupational

“families” A great communication tool between teachers

and students An easy way to learn about yourself