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Meet Our Counselors
Mrs. Patty Farrell
Guidance Counselor, grades 5-8
Mrs. Beth Henry, NCC
MS Pastoral Counselor, grades K-4
(703) 880-4350
p.farrell@sjschoolva.org
b.henry@sjschoolva.org
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Special Information:
We hope you and your families are staying healthy and looking for ways to enjoy this extra time together. We have compiled some resources for you while your students are learning from home. Please look at the "Covid-19 Parent Page" link to your left. We will continue to add ideas, links as resources that we hope you will find helpful.
We will share our regular classroom guidance lessons with your children through our google classroom pages (grades 2-8) or through their classroom teachers (grades K-1), and virtual meetings when possible.
Please feel free to email us with questions or concerns. We will have virtual office hours starting on Tuesday (3/17), and virtual meetings with parents and students.
Please know that we are keeping you and your families in our prayers.
Take care,Mrs. Farrell and Mrs. Henry
Our Counseling TeamThe St. Joseph Catholic School counseling program's mission is to assist students with their academic and social/emotional development, explore their future aspirations, promote spiritual growth, and encourage service to others. We employ an individualized, child-centered approach that is rooted in the Catholic faith and honors the dignity of each child. Our goal is to provide each student with the support and skills needed to achieve their full potential and to be successful.
Our counselors work closely with parents, teachers and administrators to develop and implement strategies and interventions that address the individual needs of each child. Through the counseling program, students will be encouraged to become independent, responsible learners, to develop and/or strengthen coping strategies, effective problem-solving and decision-making skills and to improve relationships.
Counselors play a vital role in schools where they advocate for a safe, nurturing, and dynamic learning environment for all students. Parents, teachers, and administrators may refer students for counseling services and students may self-refer as well. Counseling is voluntary and confidential.
How do our counselors work with students?
Classroom Lessons
Our counselors will provide regular classroom lessons that focus on various social-emotional learning goals and on the ways in which our students can deepen their faith. Lessons address topics such as friendship/peer relations, conflict resolution, respect, courtesy, stress management, and communication skills.
Individual Meetings
Students may self-refer to meet with the counselor to discuss typical developmental issues like feelings of stress or worry, friendship concerns, to problem-solve situations, and to develop coping skills. The counselor is also available to help students with difficult life transitions such as moving, the deployment of a parent, separation and/or divorce or the death of a loved one. Referrals for individual counseling may also come from parents, teachers, administrators, and staff. Parental permission will be sought after two to three sessions on the same topic.
Counselors are also available to consult with outside professionals (with parent permission) and to provide parents with referrals and resources for outside consultation/evaluation/therapy as needed to ensure the success of each student.
We will work as a team to develop and implement strategies to address the individual needs of your child.
Small Groups
Our counselors run various small groups during the school year focused on specific social-emotional skills development, such as making & keeping friends, organizational skills and managing difficult emotions.These groups require parental permission and will meet weekly for a six-week period. A minimum of three students is necessary for a group. Information about specific groups offered will be included on this page and in Bernie's Bark.
If you have any questions regarding St. Joseph Catholic School's counseling program, please feel free to contact our counselors directly.