Barbara Lefdal, LPC-MH

Barbara Lefdal is a licensed counselor (LPC-MH) with 30 years of clinical experience in South Dakota. She focuses on helping people manage anxiety, depression, grief, stress, and major life changes. Her work often centers on concerns common in later life and the strains faced by caregivers.

Barbara uses a calm, listening-first style in sessions. She helps people name what is most painful, notice patterns that keep problems going, and try small changes that make daily life easier. Sessions emphasize clearer communication, better self-care, and practical steps to reduce overwhelm.

Her practice often supports people coping with loneliness, isolation, and the emotional effects of aging and caregiving. She also addresses grief, end-of-life concerns, guilt, shame, and codependency in straightforward terms. The goal is to help people find steadier footing during hard transitions.

Clinically, Barbara draws on approaches such as client-centered work, cognitive behavioral techniques, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, and psychodynamic perspectives. She combines these methods to match what each person needs in the moment rather than following a single formula.

People who choose her can expect a steady, patient presence and practical tools to use between sessions. To begin, prospective clients follow the site's matching steps to connect and schedule with her according to availability.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online work

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening, acceptance, and responding to what each person needs. It helps people who want a steady, understanding therapist who follows their pace and priorities.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts and behaviors interact and teaches practical skills to reduce anxiety and lift mood. It is helpful for stress, depression, and patterns that keep people stuck.

Barbara sees finding the right approach as a collaborative process. She will work together with each person to choose which methods to try based on goals, preferences, and what feels most helpful in early sessions.

If you are considering online therapy, confirm the available session formats before booking since they are not listed here. Many people appreciate online work because it can make scheduling easier, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when days are busy. Online sessions can also make it simpler to include exercises such as mindfulness practices or homework that fit into daily life. Licensed professionals, including therapists, can adapt client-centered listening and CBT skills to remote sessions while helping clients build practical coping tools.