Navigating Mental Health in Today’s Agricultural Climate with Colleen Stegenga

About the Guest:

I’ve lived in Sioux Falls for the past 30 years, but I’m a farm girl at heart.

The sight of a sorghum field or a glimpse of a cow and her calf instantly floods me with memories of home — of milking cows alongside my siblings, of playing with the dogs in the open fields, and of the sweet smell of fresh cut alfalfa.

When it came time for college, I didn’t imagine myself going back to the farm, at least for a while. I was looking ahead to marriage and raising a family in a lifestyle with fewer constraints.

Away from the farm, I spent nearly a decade at an elementary school as an office secretary. My job title implied that my day-to-day work would consist of handling various administrative duties; however, as I would soon discover, my work would also involve fostering a sense of belonging among the students who walked through the school’s doors.

I interacted with kids all day, every day, and witnessed the reality of children’s basic needs going unmet. I spent hours engaged in conversation with the kids, and I realized that I wanted to ensure somebody heard them, listened to them, and gave them time. I wanted to help them find their voice. I wanted to empower them and let them know that they mattered. I wanted them to know that I cared.

So in 2013, I enrolled in the University of South Dakota’s Master of Social Work program. My educational pursuits would lead me to a career at a mental health agency, where I further developed my counseling abilities with both individuals and groups.

After working as a therapist in the city for about seven years, one of my siblings had a medical emergency on the farm. Suddenly, I was back at the farm again and back into the routine of caring for crops and cattle. For the first time in a long time, I felt a strong sense of peace. I was home.

And today I want nothing more than to give back to the rural community that raised me. At Embracing Change Counseling, I work alongside farmers and ranchers to navigate the unique challenges of life in agriculture. My commitment to serving this community comes from a place of authentic understanding and a desire to be the support system I know these families need and deserve.

While I predominantly work with farmers, their families, and rural communities, I continue to serve additional populations, including adolescents, women, and seniors.

My approach to therapy is informed by my own healing journey. My path through therapy, forgiveness, and healing allows me to meet clients exactly where they are with genuine understanding and hope. No matter what population I’m serving as a therapist, my goal is – and has always been – to help people overcome what holds them back, so they don’t miss out on all that life has to offer.

At the core of Embracing Change Counseling is my belief that every person deserves to feel heard, valued, and empowered. I strive to create a warm, family-like environment where clients can explore their deepest thoughts and feelings without judgment, always reminding them that their feelings are valid and they can still go out into the world and do amazing things.
🌐 https://embracingchangecs.com/

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* Disclaimer - As always, this information is not intended to provide business or medical advice. To ensure that your own circumstances have been properly considered and that action is taken based on the latest information available, you should obtain professional advice from qualified business or medical professionals before acting on any of the information in this post.
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