DAKOTACARE Therapists in South Dakota

I'm happy to work with all types of clients and issues. I strive for increased joy, happiness, resilience and peace for your life. I work with children, adolescents, adults, couples and families.

I offer long term, in depth, therapy for individuals/couples that are looking for lasting relief of symptoms and reconciling the issue(s) once and for all. I look at both conscious and unconscious processes as information about where the problems may originate. Awareness, Insight and Choice are key to this process.

I focus on adolescents, adults and couples work. I have specialized training in trauma focused care which incorporates EMDR and TF-CBT treatments. I also provide gender affirming care, working closely with the LGBTQ+ population, attachment based work, and have specialized training in treating depression and suicidal ideation/self-harm. I have a special passion for working with intersectional identities and medical trauma. I am here to guide the client while also honoring their stories and experiences to help them manage life stressors, relationships and traumatic experiences.

I believe individuals have greatness within themselves; it is important to work with a counselor who sees yours, even if you or others do not. I will strive to help you feel comfortable so you can be honest with me and yourself, about your problems, mood complaints or substance use. Often individuals already know what needs to happen, but do not know how to get there. I will meet you where you are, while guiding you to where you want to be.

I have almost 20 years of social work experience. Throughout the years I have gained expertise in working with older adults, hospice, grief, child welfare, long-term care, acute care, individual counseling, couple’s counseling and group counseling services. I enjoy working with teens, adults, and couples, and I have been a licensed therapist in the Black Hills for the last two years.

Life to me is an adventure of ups and downs where everyone has the potential to expand their emotional well-being. Through collaboration with the client, and often times a significant other or family, the therapeutic work done in session can promote a better quality of life. My experience in the social work field over the past 14 years includes working with client populations in medical social work, homeless and near homeless housing placement, and treatment for at risk client populations on the Rosbeud Reservation to develop skills and flexibility for working with most ages and client needs.

Counseling is about making positive changes in ourselves, our relationships, and the way we view our world. I work with you to help release unwanted patterns/beliefs, reduce depression and anxiety, unresolved old feelings that are blocking personal power. I work with clients to support their current needs and wants. You've already made the first step towards healing and creating the change you want/need. I will work with you to help you increase self-awareness, gain insight and work towards resolving difficult situations/conflicts. I offer a comfortable, safe and confidential setting.

I help clients recognize their strengths, regain confidence, find their voice again, create competency and reconstruct their inner map of the world. Trauma, (PTSD), Depression and Anxiety are tied together. They affect an individual's moods, thoughts, ability to change, pattern of thinking, coping mechanisms, fears, safety, calm, self-esteem, and confidence. I help my clients, "help themselves," by using a blend of modalities, healthy models, and professional experience, to untangle and compartmentalize their issues. My clients have an opportunity to learn proven, healthy coping mechanisms and healthy behaviors to self-regulate,

If you have been suffering with feelings of anxiousness, depression, and/or experience negative thoughts that lead to distress, I would like to help . It takes courage to start therapy and share thoughts and feelings that you rarely give words to. The most important aspect of therapeutic work is the therapist client relationship with safety and trust built over time as the foundation. Together we can explore and make sense of what is causing your distress and develop tools to help you feel stronger and more comfortable with yourself and others. My goal is for you to experience more joy and a better quality of life.

I love working with individuals and couples who are ready to do the work to make real, lasting, and meaningful changes in their lives to meet the goals they have. Helping others challenge themselves to grow and improve their relationship with themselves and others is a great privilege for me, and the counseling profession is one of which I am truly grateful to be a part.

I believe that seeking counseling when aspects of our lives become challenging is a courageous and important act of acknowledging and validating the dignity of self. I work with adult clients (18+) who experience depression, anxiety, borderline personality, trauma and grief. At times our assumptions and interpretation of our thoughts, emotions and experiences can contribute to emotional suffering and interfere with our relationships with the people we love. As we try to do the best we can to cope with these problems we can also lack the tools necessary to effectively solve these issues.

I would sincerely appreciate the opportunity to walk beside my clients on their journey toward self-fulfillment. My counseling interests include children, teens, adults, couples, and families.

My therapeutic approach views each person as an individual with unique strengths and challenges, and emphasizes the value of building a therapeutic relationship with the individual. When working with a child, I also want to build a relationship with the caregiver. Developing the client and family's strengths will be the foundation to support the change. I believe that the greatest results are achieved using evidence based treatment modalities; these approaches focus on assisting the individual to change negative thoughts & behaviors & focus more on their internal strengths & resourcefulness.

I have been a social worker for 30 years. The basis of our profession is to start where the client is. No matter what the issue we can start the process together. I've also said that relating to my clients and establishing a therapeutic relationship is more important than anything else I know. I have a wide range of skills, am approachable and easy to talk with about anything. My passion is working with others who want to improve their life circumstances. I can offer support, guidance and another perspective in what you can control to make the necessary changes. I am strength based and build on what you already have going well.

I take a wholeness approach to wellness and help empower clients to use their strengths and abilities to achieve their goals and lead the lives they desire. Some of my areas of expertise include working with issues related to anxiety, depression, self-esteem, life transitions, relationships, women’s health, stress management, trauma, grief, postpartum depression/anxiety and more.

Seeking mental health services can help an individual learn to cope with the difficulties that occur in one’s life. I will be available to assist you in your mental health needs, learning to manage symptoms causing one discomfort. Mental health therapy, whether individual or couples, is about change and meeting the best needs of those involved.

Taking the step towards positive change can be both simple and transformative. Prioritizing your individual story and understanding the root of your struggle and pain is essential in my approach - there's no one-size-fits-all in therapy. The journey of healing not only reshapes our perspective but rekindles the joy we've been seeking. It is my goal to reignite that joy within you. I recognize that reaching out to a therapist might feel daunting. Yet, taking this step could pave the way for you to start living your best life. The highlight of my career is acting as a catalyst, helping clients realize their potential and desired life

Do you have more questions than answers, more confusion than explanation, or feel lost? Is your sadness, anxiety, anger, shame, grief, or guilt keeping you from doing the simplest tasks? Perhaps your pain drives you to cope in harmful or dangerous ways, but you'll do anything to feel something... or to feel nothing. Maybe you are searching to rediscover yourself as you transition through a significant life change like retirement, graduating, divorce, marriage, or starting a new job.

I am a Qualified Mental Health Professional, Licensed Professional Counselor - Mental Health, Licensed Addiction Counselor, Approved Clinical Supervisor, Approved Supervisor Status, and National Certified Counselor. I have over 30 years of experience in working with individuals, couples, and families (children, adolescents and adults). I have also provided counseling and education to healthcare professionals, legal professionals, athletes, educational organizations, workplace environments, and community groups.