WELLNESS AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
HERE TO HELP NAVIGATE LIFE.
I am here to help with the tough stuff and to celebrate the good stuff!
SCHOOL COUNSELING CENTER:
There are alot of things I can help with. My job is to make sure everyone is safe and able to have positive days at school. I have been a counselor for over ten years. I've worked in schools, crisis counseling, clinical mental health, and juvenile corrections. Most recently I worked at our state's flagship university, USD. Go Yotes! I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and Qualified Mental Health Professional.
Some of the things I can help with are: Paying attention in class, anxiety, stress or anger, test taking tips, friendships, forming healthy relationships, problem solving, having happier days, coping strategies, difficult home stuff and more!
If you are interested in being a helper too, I suggest you start with some free trainings for suicide prevention and youth mental health. Two of my favorites are listed below.
1
Individual Counseling
One on one, time for you.
2
Group Counseling
Let's get a group together and chat.
-
Friendship
-
Leadership
-
Grief
-
Family Changes
-
Social Skills
-
Anxiety
3
YOUTH-LED DISCUSSIONS AND WORKSHOPS
COUNSELING FAQ'S & RESOURCES:
If you have an idea, please share. I am open to new ideas.
I have at least 13 reasons why you matter!
Mindfulness and relaxation exercises are a specialty of mine.
What will happen when I come to your office?
Will you tell anyone that what we talked about?
I think I need to see you, what next?
Sometimes we talk, make plans for your goals, work on an activity or play games that can help you with what you are having trouble with.
Nothing we do is for a grade in couseling. I am here to help you help yourself, not to get you in trouble or give out a punishment.
24 hour crisis line
The Helpline Center is South Dakota’s leader in suicide prevention and response. If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts please call or text 988 anytime, day or night, and they will provide you with the caring support you need. All South Dakotans have access to the crisis line all day, every day. The service is free and confidential.
For immediate help please call: 988
Everything we talk about stays in my office, UNLESS: you tell me someone is hurting you, you want to hurt yourself, you want to hurt someone else or you give me permission to share.
Crisis text line
If you would like to see me, you can ask your teacher if you can come down to my office, stop by in between classes, email me or slide a note under my door. My door is always locked, so it will stay completely safe and private. Once I have your request I will find a time for you to come to my office during the day.
NOTE: I will not be able to respond to email 24/7. If you have an emergency, please talk to a trusted adult face to face.
Text4Help serves over 40 different high schools in South Dakota. Teens can text “icare” to 898211 to talk with a caring staff from the Helpline Center.
Help is available 24/7.
Southeastern Behavioral Health
Carroll Institute
Information, education and referral
We partner with the Southeastern Behavioral Health for school and home based counseling services.
We partner with the Carroll Institute for prevention programming and drug and alcohol assessments.
The 211 Helpline is a super resource for all types of needs.
Check out their Mental Health Resource Guide for the Sioux Falls area too.
SAD isn't Bad
Functional Family Therapy - LSS
Providing Access To Healing - LSS
SD State Wide Family Engagement Center: Healthy Minds
A free grief counseling and support program for children and the adults who care for them.
Learning together that it's OK to be sad when someone close to us dies.
Providing Access To Healing (PATH) is school based mental health. LSS has mental health counselors that will meet with your student at school. PATH is designed to make it easier for families to access care.
Functional Family Therapy is a short term, evidenced based intervention for youth with family behavioral or emotional challenges. FFT is typically conducted within the family's home in 12 to 14 sessions over three to five months. FFT is family focussed intervention that is designed to strengthen overall family functioning.
PATH and FFT are available through Lutheran Social Services of SD. LSS has financial assistance to make this affordable to all families.
This site will help you understand your own student's mental health
Lost & Found
This is another good site focused on suicide prevention to help you understand your own student's mental health
For Safe and Inclusive Schools
-
WeStopHate.Org
-
StopBullying.gov
For Grief and Loss
-
Dougy.org
-
Camp Connection: A camp for students experiencing grief and loss.
-
Sad Isn't Bad: A family centered group for families experiencing grief and loss.
For Fun, Relationships & Wellness
-
DoSomething.org
-
StayTeen.org
LGBTQ+ Students