Lighting A New Way Counseling Services (LANW)
Welcome To Lighting A New Way
The Barn on Sycamore
In life, we need a little shelter from the many storms that come our way.
Lisa J. Stellinga MS, LPC-MH, LAC
Education · B.S. in Alcohol and Drug Abuse Studies, University of South Dakota 1989 · M.S. in Counseling and Human Resource Development, South Dakota State University 1997. Licenses and Certifications · Qualified Mental Health Professional · Licensed Professional Counselor – Mental Health · Licensed Addictions Counselor · Trust Based Relational Intervention Certified
Practice Areas and Specialties
· Adults/Individual Counseling · Depression/Anxiety .Trauma
· Couple/Family therapy · Post-Adoption Coaching
After completing her Bachelor of Science degree at the University of South Dakota, Lisa moved her budding career as a prevention specialist to the golden state of California. At a school in Pasadena, she first witnessed amazing resiliency working with gang kids abused from struggling neighborhoods. After a couple of years in the Los Angeles area, she felt drawn back home to Sioux Falls, SD where she decided to explore the possibility of a degree in interior design. Through investigation of this area of study, she realized that she was more interested in the interiors of people than the interiors of buildings. Reconstructing and enriching continue to be her passions whether in her career improving intangible human advancements or in her hobbies refurbishing physical structures. During her second round of college at South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD, she transitioned to a master's program in Counseling and Human Resource Development. All the while, she was employed part-time at a residential home for individuals with developmental delays and mental health issues. Following graduation, she accepted a position at Keystone Treatment Center in Sioux Falls as a Student Assistant Professional teaching mental health and drug prevention in large group assemblies for high school and college students. This led her to an opportunity at Southeastern Behavioral Health, a non-profit community mental health center, where she completed an eight-month internship before graduating with her master's degree (1997). Armed with a background in the addictions field, Lisa saw her clientele transitioning from chemical dependency to broader or co-morbid issues such as depression, anxiety, broken attachment, identity issues and trauma. As the number of foster and adopted children in her practice rose, she discovered her natural ability to relate to and interact with kids and their families as they were adjusting to significant life changes using art, pyschodrama, somatic processsing and music. With limited resources for post-adoption services in the local area, her practice was full, there were trainings at schools and churches, various speaking engagements and classes held. Hence, the dream of The Barn was born. Created as an office complex housing several independent counseling practitioners, The Barn succeeded in multiplying the number of hands to help with needs in the community. Coming full-cirlce, Lisa's efforts to help foster and adoptive families, is limited to teaching and supporting parents through consultation. Presently, she is happy to see adults and teens with various issues as her days of playing on the floor and orchestrating movement of the whole family systm are over. As a testament to her over 25 years working with the foster &/adopted children, Lisa published a book (see link below) in April of 2022 for parents, giving them knowledge and tools to help their children heal and recover from the trauma of orphanhood. In the meantime, she loves seeing individuals and couples with her longstanding practice, and she feels blessed to go to work everyday!