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: jsirany@sjwsp.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.
Important Links
What School Counseling Is
School counseling focuses on short-term, student-centered support designed to help students regulate, problem-solve, and return to the classroom successfully. Meetings often include solution-focused techniques, grounding and breathing exercises, mindfulness activities, art-based calming tasks, sand tray exploration, or short books and activities related to student concerns. For needs beyond the scope of school counseling, Jillian can provide referrals to outside providers upon request.
Counseling services include:
Individual and small group meetings
Support for friendship challenges and conflict resolution either individually or small groups
Social-emotional skill-building
Managing anxiety and stress through coping strategies
Academic habits and study skills support
Assistance with school transitions
Classroom observations for behavioral insight and support
Attendance-related counseling and support
Helping students regulate after a consequence, when needed
Classroom lessons or book readings upon teacher request to support behavior or skills
Offer resources for parents and staff
Counseling services do not:
Provide long-term private therapy
Conduct psychiatric, psychological, or neuropsychological testing
Diagnose mental health conditions
Act as a disciplinarian
Replace or coordinate individualized learning plans on their own
Substitute for classroom staff
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.
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