The stigma of mental health has loosened since COVID”, says Stacy Keyser, Owner & President of Rapid City Counseling. “It’s normal that we all go through phases where we need healthy support. Counseling isn’t about a diagnosis or a label, it’s about helping you process whatever you’re going through.”
Stacy, a Licensed Clinical Practicing Mental Health Counselor and Clinical Supervisor, found her path into counseling in the South Dakota National Guard and Reserve. She found she had a natural ability to help soldiers work through issues in their lives and get them to a place where they were more confident in themselves and their decisions. Through this work, Stacy decided to develop this skill into a profession. She received her master’s degree in counseling from the SDSU Graduate program for Human Resource Development and Counseling via the University Center in Rapid City.
This allowed her to do her studies, practicum, and internship locally while residing in the Black Hills. Stacy always knew she wanted to open her own practice. After graduating in 2011, she opened Rapid City Counseling as a private practice and now manages a group practice employing six full-time counselors and two support staff. She’s dedicated to combining her life experiences with the opportunity to mentor the next generation of counselors.
A misconception some might have about counseling is that you need to be in a crisis to work with a counselor. However, Stacy encourages people to start building a relationship with a counselor before an obstacle inevitably prevails. “We all go through stages where we need support; it’s not ‘if,’ it’s ‘when.’ When you’re able to build a relationship with a client, you know what makes them tick and what gets them through. Having that knowledge provides peace to clients knowing there is someone special they can turn to when facing challenges.”
A common challenge that Midwesterners face is Seasonal Affective Disorder. Stacy notes that it’s common to see this increase this time of the year, “With less daylight, our bodies are getting the signal it’s time to tune down, but we still have to do life.” She highly recommends that people stay physically and socially active this time of year. An avid outdoor enthusiast herself, she encourages everyone to stay connected to nature, even if it’s just for a few minutes a day.
Stacy also highlights that it’s important to talk to someone when the things that people are doing individually aren’t helping. “We’re not meant to be totally independent. We need healthy support, or those pent-up emotions are going to come out in a destructive non-helpful way.” She compares counseling to opening a shaken-up bottle of soda, “We’re here to slowly let the fizz out, instead of the cap being ripped off and exploding all over everything.”
One of the most fulfilling aspects of Stacy’s work is when a client is confident that they have the tools to face the future. “It’s rewarding when a client says, ‘I’ve got this. Life is going better.’ and then we’re in a place where if they need a pick-me-up, or they hit an obstacle they can just give me a call. We’re able to work through those things in a productive way as we’ve already built up that relationship.”
For those on the fence of exploring counseling, Stacy says that making that first phone call is the hardest step, but it’s also the most courageous. “It can be overwhelming for people to start therapy or counseling, but we can take it one step at a time.” She also mentions that counselors aren’t there to form an opinion on you, “There’s no judgement here, we wouldn’t be in this profession if we held any judgement whatsoever. You’ll be met on this journey with warm, welcoming people who truly deeply care.”
As we head into a season that can have an impact on so many people, Stacy encourages people to be kind to themselves if they need support, “It’s not weak to ask for help, it shows strength.” Whether it’s individuals, couples, or children, Stacy and her team strive to be a resource to walk with people through the complexities of life.
