Working with a therapist can provide a supportive environment for working through many of life’s challenges. If you’re looking for therapy in South Dakota, using an online therapy platform like BetterHelp can make access to mental health care more convenient and flexible.

With BetterHelp, you can work with a marriage and family therapist, licensed mental health counselor, or other licensed therapist from the comfort of your home at a time that suits your schedule. This flexibility makes accessing therapy more convenient, whether you’re a busy professional trying to avoid burnout or a graduate student working on a doctoral degree. 

While BetterHelp does not currently offer therapy in group settings, the marriage and family therapists, psychologists, and social workers on the platform have extensive experience and can help individuals overcome their unique challenges and meet their goals.

Whether you have experienced trauma or you want to learn to overcome other emotional challenges, therapy can help. If you’re looking for an online therapist, SD has many options. The South Dakota therapists listed below are licensed to provide teletherapy across the state and can help you gain insight and take steps toward a more satisfying life.

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Cory Nelson

Offering therapy in South Dakota
License: MS,LPC
Stress, AnxietyTrauma and abuseGriefDepressionCoping with life changes
25 years of experience

I am a professional counselor licensed in South Dakota. I have over 20 years of experience. I have worked with clients ranging in age from 3 to 85 and have assisted clients as they work on their concerns including depression, anxiety, trauma, parenting issues, relationship issues, loss and grief, and addiction. Years ago, I became a fan of the superhero, Spider-Man. His guiding philosophy is “With great power comes great responsibility.” I adhere to this philosophy in counseling. I treat others with respect and compassion. I understand the journey of counseling can be daunting, especially as the journey begins. I view my role as being collaborative as we identify where you’d like to go. I believe it is important that everyone have an environment where they can feel safe and supported. My approach combines client-centered and cognitive-behavioral counseling. If you are ready to start your journey I am here to walk with you. I look forward to working with you.

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Geoffrey Faustman

Offering therapy in South Dakota
License: MA,LMFT
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesSelf esteemDepressionCoping with life changes
11 years of experience

I offer a direct, active, goal-oriented approach in helping you find relief from the anxiety, anger, depression, shame, or whatever it is that leaves you feeling stuck. By taking a look at 1) What are you trying to achieve? 2) What are you trying to preserve? 3) What are you trying to avoid? and 4) What are you trying to eliminate? we can highlight the sometimes-complex interaction among your thoughts, decisions, actions and outcomes. Knowing yourself, making use of your personal strengths & your tools at hand while allowing your values guide you, you can propel yourself toward becoming the best, most fulfilled version of yourself. I use a combination of evidence-based treatments tailored to suit your strengths to overcome your core fears and reach your goals. These include Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which can help with different kinds of problems and degrees of suffering. I don’t want you in therapy forever. I want you to reach your goals, and live your life to the fullest.

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Kelli Means

Offering therapy in South Dakota
License: LIMHP,LADC,LPC
AddictionsTrauma and abuseSelf esteemBipolar disorderDepression
9 years of experience

Hello and welcome! My name is Kelli Means and my pronouns are she/her/hers. I am a licensed independent mental health practitioner (LIMHP) and licensed alcohol and drug counselor (LADC) in the state of Nebraska and a licensed professional counselor (LPC) in the state of South Dakota. In 2019 I earned certification as a Certified Clinical Trauma Therapist and have maintained this certification with ongoing education in the trauma field. I earned my Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Nebraska Wesleyan University in 2011 and my Masters of Science from Wayne State College in Community Mental Health Counseling in 2015. I have worked in the mental health field for 10 years and the past 6 years have been as a mental health and addictions therapist at non-profit agencies that work with state funding and/or sliding fee scales. I have worked in a variety of settings, including an inpatient psychiatric unit while attending my master’s program, outpatient therapy, school-based therapy, and residential drug and alcohol treatment. I have found that my heart is truly in working with patients who have limited resources to meet their needs. While I have experience with children and adolescents, most of my experience has been working with adults. As a provider, I have worked with patients with a range of diagnoses and stressors, including (but not limited to): depression, anxiety, panic/panic attacks, schizophrenia (including first psychotic episodes), bipolar disorder, personality disorders, PTSD and trauma, LGBT+, grief/loss, relationships, sex trafficking, self-esteem, domestic violence, alcohol and other drug addictions, and dissociations. My counseling style is welcoming and conversational. I am known for being upfront and honest always and blunt when needed, though I tailor my approach to meet each individual’s needs. My therapeutic approach combines Person-Centered, Reality Therapy, Solution-Focused therapist, Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive-Behavioral, Dialectical Behavioral, and Somatic therapy depending on what you want or need. My job will never be to fix you or change you. I believe all my clients are people first and more than the sum of their symptoms or their diagnosis. My most significant job as a therapist is to understand who you are and build trust with you; if you don’t trust your therapist, you aren’t likely to tell them much, and if you don’t tell them much, you won’t get much work done. My hope is to teach you to cope on your own and learn to be assertive with what you want or need in life. You are in control of your life and ability to make changes, I am merely a guide to help you when you are lost or uncertain. I look forward to meeting you and starting this journey with you!

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Sara Cady

Offering therapy in South Dakota
Stress, AnxietyAddictionsAnger managementBipolar disorderDepression
7 years of experience

I am licensed in South Dakota with 7+ years of professional work experience and many more years of experience in the helping profession. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with addictions, anger management, & motivation, self esteem, and confidence. 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. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.

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Kathryn Sims

Offering therapy in South Dakota
Stress, AnxietyTrauma and abuseGriefSelf esteemDepression
7 years of experience

I am licensed in South Dakota with 7 years of professional work experience. I have experience helping clients with stress and anxiety, trauma and abuse, coping with grief and loss, & motivation, self esteem, and confidence. 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. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.

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Pamala Topp

Offering therapy in South Dakota
Stress, AnxietyTrauma and abuseAnger managementDepressionADHD
9 years of experience

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of South Dakota and Michigan. I am also an LPC-MH Supervisee (SD has a 2 tier licensing requirement). My aim is to work with clients who struggle with feeling disconnected from themselves, others, are anxious, overwhelmed and uncertain about how they are supposed to manage all the aspects of their lives. When we push our needs aside to without taking time for yourself, this can lead to frustration, resentment, anxiety, depression and stress. I work with you to be able to resolve the barriers that are keeping you from living a full and meaningful life. I am certified and specialize in trauma, personality disorders (CCTP-II and C-PD), and specialize in attachment issues (both children and adults). I also treat mood disorders, anxiety, depression, ADHD, anger/impulse control, grief & loss, adoption and relationship issues. I primarily utilize CBT, DBT-informed, EMDR, Play Therapy and Expressive Arts Therapy with all individuals, and tend to approach what I do from an Existential, Psychodynamic and Person-Centered way. Navigating through issues on your own can be difficult and overwhelming. It helps to have someone that understands your struggle, and walk with you on your path of recovery.

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Janita Easter

Offering therapy in South Dakota
License: LMSW
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseSelf esteemDepression
7 years of experience

I am a Licensed Therapist in the state of Michigan with over 10 years of experience in Behavioral Health. I have worked with clients on a wide range of concerns including trauma, depression, relationship issues and personality disorders. I have helped many clients overcome the lasting effects of trauma and reduce the frequency and severity of their symptoms. Mental Health deserves equal importance as physical health and it takes dedication to achieve your goals. I am a dedicated Therapist here for you, let me guide you on your journey to feeling better! My therapy style is warm and interactive. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion; I meet my clients where they are and we start building from there. My areas of training include Psychodynamic, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Rational Emotive Therapy, Trauma Focused and DBT Informed. I use a Humanistic approach and dialogue based format. I will tailor your treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. It takes courage to seek a resolution and work toward a happier life. I applaud you for taking the first steps towards change. Together we can work toward a healthier, happier you!

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Lisa Kuzman

Offering therapy in South Dakota
Trauma and abuseGriefCareer difficultiesCoping with life changesCoaching
17 years of experience

I am licensed in Iowa and South Dakota with 17 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with coping with grief and loss, career difficulties, coping with life changes, & executive and professional coaching. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I utilize a trauma informed approach and will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

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Darcy Wiebrand

Offering therapy in South Dakota
Stress, AnxietyLGBTDepressionCompassion fatigueADHD
5 years of experience

I am licensed in Minnesota with 5 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, lgbtq+ related issues, depression, & compassion fatigue. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.

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Barbara Lefdal

Offering therapy in South Dakota
Stress, AnxietyGriefDepressionCoping with life changesCompassion fatigue
30 years of experience

I am a licensed professional counselor with a mental health designation, in South Dakota with 30 years of experience in the field. I specialize in helping clients navigate caregiver stress, anxiety, grief, loss, depression, life transitions, and compassion fatigue. My approach focuses on creating a compassionate, open, and non-judgmental environment where clients feel safe to express their thoughts and emotions. Seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage, and I am here to support and empower you as you take those first steps toward meaningful change

How can therapists in South Dakota support you?

Therapists in South Dakota can practice many types of counseling, from marriage and family therapy to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). They may also assist you with symptoms of depression, stress, or anxiety.

Therapists may help you set and achieve career goals, work on current issues you may be facing, or address your past. Over 609,545 people live in South Dakota, and one out of five Americans has a mental health condition. Searching for licensed professionals in South Dakota may help you find mental health support for personal growth, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental health concerns. You do not need a mental health diagnosis to seek support from one of BetterHelp's licensed providers above.  

The mental health field can include psychiatric medication management, online therapy, marriage counseling, couples therapy, clinical social work, licensed counseling, and other mental health services in person and online. Seeing a licensed provider can help you navigate mental health conditions and life circumstances through mindfulness and other specialized techniques.

Please note that BetterHelp does not offer diagnostic or medication management services.

Why are many residents in the state of South Dakota working with a licensed counselor?

People reach out for mental health support for a variety of reasons. Many individuals work with a counselor for general life advice, while others may attend therapy for a specific concern. Whether you live in a large city or a smaller county in South Dakota, BetterHelp can match you with a licensed professional tailored to your preferences noted when you sign up.

Mental health counselors in South Dakota support clients with varying issues, which can include:

  • Challenging situations or life stressors
  • Eating disorders
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Depression or depressive conditions
  • Adjustment issues
  • Emotional support for a terminal illness
  • Chronic pain emotional support
  • Grief
  • Personality disorders
  • Trauma
  • Relationship conflicts and concerns

Finding a therapist that takes new clients in online therapy can be the first step in finding a treatment plan that works for you. Your therapist can provide a safe space for you to focus on self-care and well-being.

If you're interested in speaking to one of the therapists above or being matched with a counselor in 24 to 48 hours, consider signing up for BetterHelp. BetterHelp has over 35,000 providers, including those listed above.

Emergency services

If you are experiencing a crisis or emergency, don't use this site's online services. If you are in life-threatening danger, call 911. If you require support for a crisis, reach out to the hotlines below:

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Some commonly asked questions can be found below.

How much does a therapist cost?

Mental health professionals can differ in price. Forbes found that the average cost of in-person therapy in the US is around $100 to $200 per hour. Pricing can also vary based on your location. 

BetterHelp offers payment plans of $60 to $90 per session, charged monthly in a lump sum. You can also take advantage of this pricing on one of BetterHelp's sister platforms, like ReGain for couples or TeenCounseling for teens aged 13 to 19.

Many therapists may be upfront about their pricing and whether or not they take health insurance from the beginning. Additionally, some in your area may offer a sliding scale plan to allow those with lower incomes to pay less for therapy. However, services online can often save individuals a few hundred dollars per month.

How do I know if I should get a therapist?

Mental health services and mental health providers may help you navigate various concerns. You do not need a diagnosis or condition to attend therapy; You can discuss grief, relationship concerns, stress, or life changes and ask for general advice. A counselor may help you gain power over your life and emotions while you navigate day-to-day experiences.

Mental health issues don't always present as a crisis. Many professionals provide talk therapy and support for life transitions, skills learning, relationship problems, or life coaching. Online therapy sessions in South Dakota can allow clients seeking therapy to experience professional help through video, phone, or live chat sessions without commuting to an office.

Does insurance cover therapy?

Different counseling services can vary in cost. Therapists must apply to accept insurance through insurance companies, which may take time and money, so not every therapist offers services through insurance. If you cannot find a therapist that accepts your plan, BetterHelp may be cheaper than visiting an in-person therapist.

Is online therapy safe?

Online therapy through BetterHelp and its sister platforms is safe. Therapists are licensed, experienced, and vetted before being contracted with the platform. If you experience any concerns with your therapist, you change your counselor through the platform or app at any time.

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