Meet Catholic Social Services Talented Team Members

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.

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 grew up in Aberdeen, SD then attended SDSU where she earned a degree in pharmacy. After working as a pharmacist in the Black Hills for decades she felt called to consider serving people in a more personal way and decided to pursue a Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from SDSU. After graduating, she chose to maintain her pharmacy license while shifting careers to counseling and is presently enjoying the transition as she walks out her values utilizing Solution-Focused, Person-Centered, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy counseling theories. Loving people and developing genuine therapeutic relationships with her clients guides her day to day.

In Jennifer’s spare time she enjoys reading, playing piano, and getting together with family and friends. She and her husband also love to travel and be outside camping, hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, and biking. They raised their four kids in Rapid City and appreciate spending time with them, their spouses, and their dogs whenever they can.

Though she is originally from Dallas, Texas, Kayla spent most of her childhood in Pierre, South Dakota. While attending SDSU, Kayla was involved in serving as the president of both Ceres Women’s Fraternity and Colleges Against Cancer. Upon graduation with a B.S. in Psychology, she then attended SDSU’s graduate program. She is currently working towards her M.S. in Counseling and Human Resource Development with a specialization in Clinical Mental Health.

Personal pursuits include going to Reptile Gardens scratching the necks of Aldabra Tortoises or admiring the juvenile Komodo Dragon. She is looking forward to exploring the Black Hills with her five-year-old German Shepherd Dog, learning more about western South Dakota, and serving her new community.

Erika is a student at Chadron State College where she is pursuing a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling while balancing working as a Counselor for Catholic Social Services. Raised in Spearfish, South Dakota, she attended Black Hills State University and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Special Education. She parlayed that degree into teaching for a decade in grades K-12.

An overwhelming calling to serve the community drove her to pursue the field of mental health and wellness. Her counseling practice utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy and person-centered therapy as well as acceptance and commitment therapy. Erika’s therapeutic style is collaborative, honest, warm and understanding. She believes every person has dignity, wisdom, and worth, and thus, views the therapy process as a collaboration between therapist and client.

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!