School counselors face challenges to providing optimal support to LGBTQ students who are at an increased risk for mental health and academic challenges. This presentation will offer strategies for training school counselors as advocates and allies. The presenters will incorporate research that they have each conducted, including a video interview segment of first-year school counselors describing systemic challenges they have faced. Presenters will propose a model for addressing systemic barriers based on Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Theory and the ACA Advocacy Competencies.