Counseling

Saint Joseph Catholic School is staffed by a licensed mental health professional. Our school counseling program is designed to support the academic, social-emotional, and mental well-being of all students in a warm, welcoming, and collaborative environment. It is our goal to ensure families understand that school counseling is meant to be supportive, brief, and focused on helping students thrive in the classroom and beyond.
 
Jillian Sirany, MA, LMFT
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
On-site hours: Tuesdays (full day) and Thursdays (until noon)
Email: jisirany@stjosephwsp.org
Phone: 651.457.8550 x7326

Jillian provides counseling support across grades Pre-K through 8th, working closely with students, teachers, staff, and parents to promote the well-being and success of every child.

Crisis Protocol

If a situation arises that cannot be safely managed in the school environment, the school follows the Dakota County Crisis protocol and contacts the Dakota County Crisis Line for immediate support. 

Referral Process

Students may be referred for counseling by parents, a staff member, of self-referred. The counselor coordinates meeting times with teachers to ensure minimal disruption to classroom learning. Meetings are scheduled using Google appointments and are slotted for 20-minute meetings. Because Jillian is only on campus part-time, she may need to triage and reschedule appointments when urgent needs arise.

Students may access the counselor in several ways: 

• Teacher or parent referral 
• Self-referral (telling a teacher or parent) 
• Middle school students may email Jillian directly 
• Younger students may complete a “Request to See the Counselor” slip outside Jillian’s office and slide it under the door
• For staff-generated referrals, parents will always be notified.

 

IMPORTANT LINKS

Schedule a Meeting
Counseling Referral Form
Resources for Parents

Confidentiality & Consent

By signing the Parent Handbook, families consent to school-provided services, including counseling services. If you do not want your child to meet with the school counselor, you must contact the principal. This request must be submitted in writing prior to the start of the school year.

Although these meetings are not therapy, Minnesota law states that minors have confidentiality rights in counseling settings. This is discussed with each child at their first meeting.

Confidentiality may be broken only when: 

• The child gives permission 
• The student is hurting themselves 
• The student has a plan to hurt someone else 
• Someone is hurting the student

 

Parent Communication

Parents can expect communication: 

• At the start of counseling involvement 
• When new or concerning information arises 
• Whenever collaboration would benefit the student, or on a regular basis if parent requests meeting updates. 

Email is the preferred method of communication due to the more limited schedule, and responses will typically occur during on-site days unless urgent!

Teacher Collaboration

The counselor works closely with teachers to:

• Coordinate meeting schedules 
• Share classroom support strategies 
• Provide consultation for behavior concerns 
• Offer classroom mini-lessons or support when requested 
• Collaborate with nursing staff when needed 
• Meets bi-weekly with Student Success Team