Self Esteem Therapists in South Dakota

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.

I am ready to help you on your journey to healing and well-being. What you can expect from counseling with me is a safe and welcoming space for you to express your thoughts and feelings, where we will work together to find solutions to the stressors you are experiencing.

I have provided mental health services for over 9+ years to adults, couples, and 16+ who are struggling with mental health issues. I guide people in their healing of trauma including complex trauma, dissociative issues, depression, anxiety, grief, psychotic spectrum, and personality disorders. I will create a safe space of honesty and empathy. I will guide you to strengthen self-trust and empower yourself to solve issues within all your relationships, inside and outside of therapy. I believe that our minds and bodies are connected through thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

Our lives can often feel like someone else is reading a choose-your-own-adventure book, with each turn of the page dictated by external forces. Have you felt this way? Stuck, isolated, or overwhelmed by life’s challenges? Perhaps anxiety, major life transitions, family stress, or boundary issues have left you seeking support. You’re not alone, and I’m here to help guide you to reclaim your agency and responsibility, empowering you to choose your story with intention and purpose.

I offer long term, in depth, therapy for individuals 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.

Typical issues I work with include: Addiction, Anxiety, Adjustment issues, Depression, Domestic Violence/Abuse, Eating Disorders, Family Counseling, Grief and Loss, SIgnificant Life Changes, Trauma, and Relational Issues. I have practiced in a variety of settings including inpatient and outpatient. I have worked with children, adolescents, adults, and geriatrics.

I am excited to meet you where you are & assist in your journey in whatever way I can. I believe therapy can be an amazing tool in helping create the life that you deserve to have. I employ a wide range of skills, but I truly believe that the foundation of therapy is based on a solid therapeutic relationship. I specialize in working with teenagers & adults on many issues including depression, anxiety, mood disorders, personality disorders, grief & loss, & relationship issues, to name a few. My passion is working with women who have been through some type of trauma & are experiencing difficulty functioning in the present moment.

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 offer therapy to individuals, families and couples who are hoping to make positive changes in their lives. I believe that the client is the expert in their own life and that I am there as a helpful resource to offer support, reflect on patterns of behavior that may no longer serve you, and to offer encouragement and guidance to release the painful hurt of the past while moving forward to embrace a better tomorrow.

I have both education and life experiences that compliment each other to understand needs of clients. I am willing to meet you where you are at, both within dynamics of the client needs and also as far as location of appointments. I believe that my training in the field of social work has prepared me to provide you with tools that will complement your current treatment or to use as an alternative and allow you to move forward to find balance in your life.

I feel a "calling" to help adults and teens through counseling! I offer clients deep compassion, unconditional acceptance, and understanding. Often we believe the worst about ourselves! We lose sight of our own value, our own beauty, and self worth. We become depressed or constantly anxious, feel lost, maybe even broken on the inside. But, counseling can change that! I provide a safe environment that is consistently supportive, empathetic, and empowering! I will help you see yourself anew, grieve your losses, face your fears, and help you locate your deep self and reconnect to your life's purpose. A natural joy will follow!

My goal is to meet each and every client wherever they are along their journey, without judgment and to provide a safe place to grow strong. The decision to seek help is not always easy, it is important to build a positive, supportive relationship in order to encourage change.

I am best at helping people find their purpose, build themselves up from rock bottom, and to help people move from being stuck surviving into someone that is thriving in life's journey. Life circumstances and mental wellness varies when someone walks into my office, but I have witnessed people completely transform. One evidence based and effective approach I use is EMDR in both individual and group settings to move past trauma when feeling stuck in the healing process. When you need emotional healing, I am able to provide direction, understanding, and jump start a person's ability to take on the next life challenge.

I am licensed in South Dakota with over 15 years of professional work experience. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started! Most of my experience is working with teens and adolescents but I am open to working with adult women as well.

Offering Telehealth Services in IA and In Person and Telehealth services in SD. Discover Healing and Hope. Are you or a loved one struggling with the weight of past trauma, anxiety, or emotional distress? It's time to take that courageous step towards healing and liberation. Meet Melissa Smith, your trusted partner on the path to recovery and resilience. Melissa partners with clients to create a safe space to process past trauma, discuss life struggles in an open and non-judgmental environment, and to offer hope in the journey of healing.

"I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it." -Maya Angelou My goal is to meet each and every person with honesty, compassion, and respect wherever they are in their journey. I strive to maintain a safe, comfortable, and non-judgmental environment in order to establish a positive therapeutic relationship.

When daily life is increasingly difficult to navigate, we can reach a point where we just stop seeing the joy in things. It can feel like it takes so much effort to complete simple tasks. During these times we may begin to wonder if we will ever feel any better. I'm here to assure you that you are not alone and you are not going to feel this way forever. I have worked in the counseling field for over 20 years, during which time I have helped people of all ages in a variety of settings. I am equipped with clinical experience, education and training to help you experience relief, increased insights, and peace of mind.

FREE 15-minute intro call about EMDR or Brainspotting. I am a Licensed Social Worker based in Watertown, SD. I am a social worker, who approaches therapy from a relational, collaborative, and strength-based perspective. I have extensive experience working with adults, children and adolescents who have experienced trauma, depression, anxiety, grief, and challenges in adjusting to recent life changes. I value the therapeutic relationship and focus on the resiliency of the client to create a firm foundation on which to achieve change. I find great worth in aiding the client to find their OWN voice to promote healing and wellness.

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.