Meet Catholic Social Services Talented Team Members

The life-changing work done by Catholic Social Services of Rapid City would not be possible if it weren’t for our team’s relentless commitment to offering uplifting services and support for the people we serve in the Black Hills and across South Dakota.

Counseling

James T. Kinyon, MS, LPC-MH, LMFT, QMHP

Executive Director and Counseling Director

See Jim's Bio

Jim Kinyon, executive director, earned his Master’s in Counseling from SDSU in 1990. He has been the executive director at Catholic Social Services since 1992. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health (LPC-MH) and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). Because of his administrative duties, his counseling time is limited, but his passion for helping marriages is still strong. Jim leads workshops on Marriage as a Mission, Drug and Alcohol Prevention, Boundaries and Conflict Resolution, Personalities in the Workplace, and Poverty and Justice in SD. He also facilitates retreats such as Marriage Matters, Men’s Spirituality, and Reflections on Michelangelo’s Art and Life.
John Olenyik, MDiv., LPS, QMHP

Outpatient Therapist

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Hi, I am John Olenyik. I am a mental health counselor for Catholic Social Services. I have been with CSS since March 1, 2019. Previously, I was a mental health counselor in Wyoming for ten years. I came to CSS to be in Rapid City where my wife and I plan to retire. Before getting into mental health work, I was a United Methodist pastor for nearly 25 years. My approach to counseling is just that – I listen, I ask questions and then I counsel or give advice based upon my years of experience and my educational perspective. I approach the counseling experience as short term, solution based, meaning we identify the issue you want to work on, develop a plan of action and then get after it. I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to get at the distorted thinking that might be causing you distress. I enjoy doing what I do and most folks say I am pretty good at it, so if you are seeking some help with your life, let’s get together and make things better.
Jennifer Mayforth, MS, LPC-Supervisee

Outpatient Therapist
Kayla Rounds

Counseling Intern
Erika Kling

Counseling Intern

Uplifting Parents

Jessica Perkins, MSW

Uplifting Parents Director

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I’m Jessica Perkins, Director and Mentor for the Uplifting Parents Program. As a former Military Child, I lived around the world until my family planted roots in Warner Robins, Georgia. I attended Georgia Southern University where I obtained my BS in Psychology and BA in Spanish. After undergrad, I wanted to turn my love of help others into a career. That is when I decided to go to Valdosta State University in Valdosta, GA where I earned my Master of Social Work Degree. The world of Social Work has provided me with amazing opportunities to watch lives transform. While in Georgia, I assisted individuals faced with mental health and substance use disorders, as well as families involved with the Child Welfare system.

Georgia is also where I met my Active-Duty Military husband, John. The military life would take us to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma where I continued my work as a Social Worker, working with families involved in the Child Welfare System, Medical Social Work, and Social Service Program Management with the US Army. My time in Oklahoma will always be remembered, not only because the wonderful opportunities provided there, but also because it is where we brought our two sons, Lucas (3 years old) and Warren (1 year old) into the world. Now, our family of five (including our Basset Hound mix, Max) are living in Rapid City where we get to enjoy some of our favorite things. On the afternoons and weekends, you can find me and my family outdoors, fishing, playing games, or in the kitchen whipping up a new recipe!
Cindy Weidenbach

Uplifting Parents Mentor

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Hi. I’m Cindy, and I’m a mentor with the Uplifting Parents Program. I am originally from a small town in eastern South Dakota. After graduating from the University of South Dakota with a Bachelor’s degree In Psychology, I moved to Rapid City. This is where I met my husband of 20+ years. My years of work experience involve helping people in need. I enjoy making a positive difference by helping and serving others whether that be through work, volunteer opportunities, or just helping out a neighbor. As a nature lover, I like to spend my free time walking, hiking, boating, gardening, or anything that involves being outside. I also enjoy traveling– seeing other parts of the country and the world. I am looking forward to helping others as a mentor with Uplifting Parents and am thankful for this opportunity.
MARISSA LAYTON

Uplifting Parents Mentor

I’m Cortney Carmody, Recruitment Coordinator and Mentor for the Uplifting Parents Program. I graduated from Dakota State University with a BA in Marketing and spent the last nine years in advertising. However, two years ago, I made the decision to go back to school. I am currently finishing my MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of South Dakota. My role at Uplifting Parents allows me the opportunity to use my marketing experience as I work to recruit new candidates for our program while also allowing me to shift into the world of human services as a mentor. I also work on the clinical side at Catholic Social Services as a Counseling Intern.

On a more personal note, I was born and raised in a small town in eastern South Dakota but have always loved the Black Hills community. I moved here about ten years ago and then have bounced between Sioux Falls and the Black Hills for the last few years. However, my husband and I are happy to finally call this place home. We love everything the Black Hills has to offer and spend a lot of time hiking, biking, kayaking, camping, and checking out the live music scene. On any given weekend, you will probably find us enjoying the outdoors with our dog and fur baby, Lola. I am also an avid runner and am training for my next half marathon.

I am so happy to be a part of the team at Catholic Social Services. Over the course of my professional career, I have come to realize that I really enjoy working with people. I appreciate the opportunity to hear individuals’ personal stories and am consistently mesmerized by what people are able to achieve when they work at it. Being a part of Uplifting Parents allows me a front row seat to witness what our amazing parents in our program are able to accomplish. I am grateful for the opportunity to play even a small role in this program.