Research demonstrates that behavioral health support helps students achieve better academically, improves overall school culture and behavior, and positively impacts students’ sense of connectedness and well-being. Skutt Catholic provides both school counselors and an on-site therapist to offer robust behavioral health support to students. We proudly to partner with Catholic Charities of Omaha to integrate advanced, short-term behavioral health services into the school setting with no cost to our families. 

This partnership enhances the Skutt Catholic school counseling program by providing an on-site licensed therapist who can offer individualized counseling/therapy services to students who have mental health concerns requiring support beyond what a school counselor can provide. 

To understand the significance of this program, it can be helpful to know the difference between a school counselor and a behavioral health specialist.

School Counselor Role

School counselors hold advanced degrees in school counseling and help all students apply academic achievement strategies, manage emotions, apply interpersonal skills, and plan for postsecondary options. At Skutt Catholic, the school counselors:

• assist with individual student registration, academic planning, and goal setting

• deliver school counseling classroom lessons

• provide short-term counseling to students and families for a broad array of issues

• offer referrals for long-term support

• collaborate with families/teachers/administrators/community for student success

• advocate for students at individual education plan (IEP) meetings and other student-focused meetings

• write and maintain student accommodation plans

• analyze data to identify student issues, needs, and challenges

Licensed Therapist Role 

At Skutt Catholic, the licensed therapist works with a small number of students (patients) to provide individualized therapy for mental health concerns. The therapist seeks to identify and help change behaviors that interfere with healthy daily functioning. The focus of treatment is often on current problems and how to change them and patients experience support for a wide range of concerns, including (but not limited to): anxiety, depression, stress management, adjustment concerns, attention concerns, and relational conflict. The therapist works closely with students, their families, and the school counselor to identify and implement collaborative treatment goals and utilize evidence-based interventions to facilitate progress toward those goals. Additionally, the therapist helps school counselors assess and respond to student crises. 

First Appointment: What to Expect

If the family determines that behavioral health services would be beneficial to the student, the school counselor will schedule an intake appointment with Mrs. Curtis. It is important that at least one parent/guardian attend the first session with the student in order to provide consent for treatment. During the first session, Mrs. Curtis will conduct a diagnostic interview with the student and his/her parent(s) to identify the goals for short-term treatment. During this session, Mrs. Curtis will outline the treatment goals and plan with the family to ensure that collaborative goals and expectations are set between the clinician and the student/family. If a student is experiencing behavioral health concerns but school-based services are determined not to be appropriate for the needs of the student and/or family, the family will be referred to establish care with another provider.