Outpatient Mental Health
Our qualified staff are listed below:
Medical Staff:
Dr. Robert Giebink, M.D., psychiatrist (Watertown)
Dr. David Stengel, D.O., psychiatrist (Milbank)
Dr. Shawn Van Gerpen, M.D., child psychiatrist
(Watertown and via telemedicine)
Carrie Dylla, P.A., (Watertown)
Psychologists
Dr. Charles Sherman, Ph.D.
Dr. Melinda Yexley, Ph.D.
Dr. Robert Packard, Ph.D.
Outpatient Therapists
Kari Johnston, LPC
Berny Korf, MSW-PIP
Deb Baune, MSW-PIP (Sisseton)
Josh Seezs, MSW
Shane Larson, MA
Behavioral Health offers the following services:
Psychological Testing
The psychologists of Behavioral Health are available to administer a variety of professional psychological tests that are designed to assist clients, families, and counselors in diagnosing and better understanding the exact nature of psychological problems and disorders. These tests also assist clients, families, schools, and counselors in the best means of coping with and treating these problems and disorders. Examples of psychological tests that are commonly used are intelligence tests, personality tests, neuropsychological tests, ADHD tests, memory tests, and tests for dementia and childhood developmental delays.
Psychological Evaluations
There are two licensed psychologists in Behavioral Health who are available to provide professional psychological evaluations which involve meeting with the client and conducting a clinical interview as well as interpreting psychological test results for the purpose of better understanding the client’s problems, personality, and the best way of assisting them with their concerns and problems.
Psychologists, clinical social workers, and mental health counselors provide confidential individual counseling for individuals who are experiencing emotional distress, difficulties in coping with stress, or for those who wish to better understand themselves and to grow personally.
Marriage and Family Counseling
Family and marital counseling is available through Behavioral Health to provide assistance in helping couples and families solve interpersonal problems and to improve the quality of their relationships.
Domestic Violence Group
HSA Behavioral Health utilizes the Duluth model, which includes a structured treatment program for those who have difficulties with anger control and domestic violence. This model is widely regarded as the most appropriate and effective model for the treatment of these problems in the United States. A licensed clinical social worker facilitates this program and has been formally trained in the Duluth model.
Adolescent Anger Control Group
This group meets weekly and is designed to teach coping skills and to help adolescents who are having difficulty understanding their feelings of anger and aggression. This group also helps adolescents who are having difficulty appropriately expressing feelings of anger, taking responsibility for their feelings and actions, and who experience difficulty in resolving interpersonal conflict in constructive and responsible ways.
Adolescent High Risk Group
This group meets once weekly and is intended for adolescents who are identified as being at significant risk for major problems relating to authority figures either at home, school, or with law enforcement. This group is also for individuals who may be at significant risk for substance abuse, and other interpersonal problems. This group is particularly effective for individuals who have oppositional and defiant tendencies.
Adolescent Individual Counseling
The staff of HSA Behavioral Health includes professional adolescent counselors who are available to provide individual counseling to those adolescents who could benefit from the opportunity to talk in a safe and confidential setting about their feelings, experiences, and relationships.
Psychiatric Evaluations
Psychiatric evaluations involve a one-on-one clinical interview with a psychiatrist for the purpose of determining the need for psychotropic medications and to determine which type and dose of psychotropic medication would be most effective.
Psychotropic Medication Management
The psychiatrists and Nurse Practitioner in Behavioral Health are available to prescribe medications for depression, anxiety, psychosis, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and other problems.
