As a mental health therapist in private practice in the Black Hills and a Lecturer at South Dakota State University, Dr. Lena Big Crow-Abourezk is deeply committed to supporting individuals on their mental health journeys. Passionate about increasing the number of Indigenous counselors and ensuring culturally competent care for Indigenous clients, Lena strives to empower both students and professionals to create more inclusive and effective mental health services. Whether in therapy sessions or the classroom, Lena is dedicated to fostering resilience, understanding, and meaningful change in the field of mental health. Lena is a licensed professional counselor of mental health in South Dakota.She obtained her masters from South Dakota State University and her Counselor Educator and Supervision doctorate from Adams State University. Her clinical experience includes counseling in an agency setting, an air force base, and in private practice. Lena’s counseling focus is working with Indigenous people, working with teenagers, and providing a safe space for LGBTQ2+ clients. Her research interests include Indigenous counselors-in-training, posttraumatic growth, and North American, Indigenous women. She is an enrolled member of a tribe in the United States. She enjoys teaching the hands-on courses of Pre-Practicum, Group, and Practicum, as well as multicultural counseling.