Megan Schaefbauer

I was raised in Gettysburg, South Dakota and spent a majority of my childhood on our farm and ranch on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation. I graduated with my Bachelor’s in Psychology and Social Sciences from the University of Sioux Falls in 2020, and from there went on to receive my Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of South Dakota in 2023. I am excited to be returning closer to my hometown with my husband and our aussie-doodle,and to use my education and experience to serve rural communities.

During my master’s program, I worked as an intern at a counseling agency in Sioux Falls and was able to gain practice counseling a variety of clientele with a vast range of mental disorders. I have experience working with grief, abuse, depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties,self-esteem issues, addiction, and many others. I have worked with children, adolescents, and adults of all ages, and while I enjoy every age I encounter, I find my passion in counseling adolescents and young adults. Now that I have graduated, I will be pursuing my licensure while gaining supervision from a fellow licensed clinician at Rising Hope.

If you are struggling with anything in life whether it is loss, anxiety, depression, spiritual conflict,feelings of hopelessness, lack of purpose or other common stressors, I’m happy to work with you in finding hope, exploring solutions, creating change, and navigating the complicated journey of life. I commonly use cognitive behavioral strategies, mindfulness techniques, and spiritual integration, but I believe building a positive therapeutic relationship is the most important predictor of change. Growth isn’t linear and sometimes things get worse before they get better, but together we can build resilience, find purpose, and promote healing all while making small changes to improve your quality of life. Time doesn’t necessarily heal all wounds,but time can help us process events, allow for self-reflection, make space for new activities and people, and facilitate personal growth. In working with me, you’ll find a comfortable and judgement-free space that allows you the time you need to encourage healing and increase self-exploration.

I’m a farm girl that loves anything outdoors whether that’s working cattle, gardening, or huntinga nd fishing. My family and friends are very important to me, and I spend any free time I canwith them. I have always been an athlete and enjoy working with student athletes and anyoneelse wanting to improve their health. I have also worked as a personal trainer part-time since2019. Some of my favorite things are cooking, traveling, and being at the river, and I feel mostcontent when I’m outside enjoying nature. I look forward to working with you and walkingalongside you through this roller coaster we call life!

“I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become” --Carl Jung