- Stress and anxiety
- Grief and loss
- CBT and mindfulness
About Barbara
Barbara Lefdal is an LPC-MH - Licensed Professional Counselor with a focus on stress, anxiety, grief, depression, coping with life changes, and compassion fatigue. She has 30 years of clinical experience in South Dakota and works with people dealing with hard emotional moments such as loss, persistent worry, and major transitions.
Barbara helps people who feel alone, overwhelmed, or stuck. She talks through practical steps for day-to-day coping, communication problems, and issues around control and codependency. Social anxiety and isolation are among the concerns she addresses in her practice.
Her approach blends several methods to match what each person needs. She uses Client-Centered Therapy to follow a person’s pace, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thoughts and change behavior, and Mindfulness practices to increase present-moment awareness. She also draws on Motivational Interviewing and Psychodynamic Therapy when those perspectives fit the work.
Barbara has worked with older adults, caregivers, and people facing hospice and end-of-life concerns, including grief and the stresses of caregiving. She also has experience with multicultural concerns, intellectual disability, and mood and trauma-related issues.
Sessions typically look at immediate coping skills and longer-term patterns that affect mood and relationships. Her process includes clear communication about goals and next steps, with an emphasis on practical strategies people can try between meetings.
She offers services in English and does not take international clients. Fees vary by location and use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. To begin, clients complete a short questionnaire and schedule an initial session.
Therapeutic approaches and online sessions
Barbara often uses Client-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in her work. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening closely and following a person's pace while helping them name what matters most. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and behavior and teaches practical techniques to reduce anxiety and improve mood.She also incorporates Mindfulness practices to help people notice their experience without judgment and develop small, usable skills for managing stress. Together, these approaches aim to combine short-term coping tools with exploration of longer-standing patterns. Deciding which approach to use is a collaborative process - the therapist and client review goals, preferences, and how the work is progressing to find the best fit.
Confirm the current online session options before booking, as specific formats are not listed in the biography. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time. Barbara will help plan sessions so they fit into everyday life and support the steps a person wants to take between meetings.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
30+ years
Listed in
South Dakota
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, grief, depression, coping with life changes, and compassion fatigue, plus related areas such as social isolation, codependency, and caregiving stress.
What is her therapeutic style?
Barbara mixes Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing, and Psychodynamic Therapy to match each person's needs.
How much experience does she have?
She has 30 years of clinical experience working with adults in South Dakota.
What credential does she hold and where is she located?
She is an LPC-MH (Licensed Professional Counselor-Mental Health) practicing in South Dakota.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions paid for?
Fees vary with location and use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin a first session?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule your first session.