Meet the Counselors

For counseling inquiries or to schedule an appointment:

  • stop in at the counseling front desk located on the main level of Surbeck.
  • call 605-394-1924 
  • or email us at Counseling@sdsmt.edu

Counselors at the South Dakota Mines Counseling Center offer support to students and assist with a variety of personal, academic, and relationship concerns. Our approach is collaborative, goal-oriented, and multiculturally sensitive.

Kavanaugh, Duane

Duane Kavanaugh, LPC-MH, NCC, CCMHC, QMHP

Personnel Page

  • A Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC/MH, NCC, CCMHC)
  • Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) in the State of South Dakota
  • Frequent speaker and presenter in the field of mental health to include ethics, issues related to practicing in a rural area and the cumulative effects of stress

Background

  • Life-long resident of South Dakota, attended the University of South Dakota Springfield and USD in Vermilion completing degrees in Political Science and Criminal Justice; attended Northern State University in Aberdeen completing his graduate degree in Counseling
  • Has worked in the field of mental health as a therapist, supervisor and administrator for nearly 30 years
  • Adjunct Instructor SDSU Counselor Education SDSU Rapid City 
  • Served as an adjunct instructor at NSU for 18 years

Interests

  • Spending time with his family
  • Exploring all that the Rapid City area has to offer
  • Golf
Groseclose, Chelsey

Chelsey Groseclose, LPC-MH, NCC

Personnel Page

  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC-MH, NCC)
  • Theoretical foundation of counseling is primarily Solution Focused/Brief Therapy; Person Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavior Therapy
  • My motto for students is:  Advocate, Educate, Grow

Background

  • Graduate degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of South Dakota; undergraduate degree in Psychology with a minor in Spanish from Black Hills State University
  • Experience teaching as an adjunct professor of Psychology
  • Professional interests include: positive psychology, holistic healing, working with the LGBTQIA+ community, interpersonal and relationship concerns, psychopharmacology, professional identity development and nonverbal communication

Interests

  • Painting
  • Love of learning and exploring research through reading and podcasts
  • Camping, hiking, kayaking, gardening and biking
  • Enjoying time spent with family and friends

Laskowski, Megan

Megan Laskowski, MS, LPC, NCC

Personnel Page

  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC, NCC) and working toward LPC-MH certification in the state of South Dakota
  • Master of Science from South Dakota State University (SDSU) in their West River location.
  • Has experience working with adolescents, and family counseling. Has worked with individuals and families in crisis. Specialty working with those struggling with anxiety, depression, ADHD, family dynamics, and trauma.
  • Professional interests: Mindfulness, Disordered Eating.

Background

  • Grown up in Rapid City, SD, working in multiple non-profit agencies in the area.
  • Has spent time in India, Hong Kong, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and Mexico in addition to traveling to multiple states within the U.S. 
  • Has worked in the mental health field since 2013, graduating from SDSU in 2017 with an emphasis in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. 

Interests

  • Spending time with family and friends
  • Playing with my dog and three cats
  • Traveling
  • Running

Swan, Amanda

Amanda Swan, MS, NCC, LPC-Supervisee

  • Currently working toward Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
  • Future goad: Certification through American Association of Sexual Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT)
  • My motto for students: You don't know what you don't know.

Background

  • Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from South Dakota State University (SDSU)
  • Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Sociology at Black Hills State University (BHSU)
  • Lived in Rapid City for 12+ years. Originally from upstate New York 

Professional Interests

  • Sex therapy, positive sexual health and education, trauma, and healthy relationship building
  • Enjoy working with neurodivergent clients, LGBTQIA+ communities, people in crisis, and those experiencing anxiety and depression

Interests

  • Passion for books and reading
  • Relaxing at home with family
  • Doom scrolling social media

Wilkinson Smith, Paula

Paula Wilkinson Smith, LAC, CPS

 Personnel Page

  • Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC), Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS)
  • Addiction is a preventable and treatable illness.
  • My motto for students and myself is:  Never give up & It’s okay to ask for help.

Background

  • Bachelor of Science in Allied Health from the University of South Dakota, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) and Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS)
  • 35-year career working in the field of prevention and addiction. 
  • Founding Director of Lifeways, a nonprofit organization, facilitating the integration of addiction counselors into the schools in Rapid City, Hermosa, and Custer.  Providing evidence-based prevention, intervention and treatment as needed. 

Interests

  • Outdoor activities:  hiking, biking, kayaking, paddle boarding and gardening. 
  • Spending my time with family and friends, especially spending time with my daughters, son, and grandchildren.
  • Researching evidence-based strategies and programming, to integrate into my work in prevention.
  • Listening to music.  Also, listening to podcasts on a variety of subjects.  

Bryce Nussbaum

Personnel Page

  • Works primarily on campus as the Director of Residence Education and Community Standards and has continued to grow in his experiences and trainings both in Student Development and mental health.
  • Joined the South Dakota Mines team in 2018 and continued working toward his counseling licensure from the state of South Dakota.
  • Is a member of the South Dakota Army National Guard since 2014 and deployed overseas in 2016-2017.
  • Holds his Bachelors of Science from Dakota State University in Digital Arts in Design and his Masters of Science in Counseling and Human Resources Development from South Dakota State University in 2014.

Interests

  • Hiking and training his new puppy, Callie, every chance he can.
  • Minecraft and mobile gaming. 

Linda Colhoff-Glover, CPS

  • Certified Prevention Specialist (Substance Abuse)
  • Executive Director Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention, Inc.

Background

  • South Dakota State University West River Graduate Center 1995-1998, attended Graduate School earning 31 hours, working towards a Master of Science Degree in Counseling and Human Resources.
  • Black Hills State University, Bachelor of Science Degree, Major in Sociology with a Minor in Psychology.
  • University of South Dakota, 82 credit hours, classes in Sociology, Criminal Justice and Chemical Dependency. Honors: Member of Alpha Kappa Delta

Interests

  • Motorcycling and traveling the United States
  • Four Wheeling and enjoying the outdoors
  • Spending time/activities with family and 18 grand kids 
    Patterson, Lynn

    Lynn Patterson - Administrative Assistant

    Personnel Page 

    • My Motto for students: “No one is perfect, that’s why pencils have erasers.” – Author Unknown

    Background

    • Born and raised in a small farming community – Hampton, MN
    • Graduated High School in Hastings, MN
    • Graduated from Dakota Technical Institute with Clerical Skills Specialist & Word Processing Specialist Degrees from Rosemount, MN
    • Worked as an Administrative Assistant at H.D. Hudson for five years
    • Promoted to Logistics Specialist at H.D. Hudson for 20 years
    • Moved to Hermosa, SD in 2015

    Interests

    • Exploring the beauty and wonders of the Black Hills
    • Camping, Gardening, Horseback Riding, Canoeing
    • Playing Guitar, music
    • Motorcycle Rides
    • Spending time with family and friends, but especially my spouse