About Mason Kennedy.
Mason Kennedy is a Clinical Mental Health Counselor practicing under supervision in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He specializes in working with children and teens who are struggling with big emotions, anxiety, behavioral challenges, or emotional shutdown, especially those navigating trauma, adoption, foster care experiences, or complex family dynamics.
Many of the kids Mason works with have difficulty expressing what they feel, struggle with regulation at home or school, or have experienced significant life changes that make it hard to feel safe, connected, or understood. His work focuses on helping children rebuild emotional safety, strengthen trust with caregivers, and develop healthier ways of expressing and managing emotions.
Mason earned his Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University in August 2025 and brings a calm, steady, and strengths-based presence into the therapy room. He is passionate about creating a space where kids feel safe enough to explore what’s going on underneath behavior, not just the behavior itself.
Clinical Focus Areas
Mason specializes in supporting children and adolescents navigating:
Anxiety and worry
Emotional dysregulation and anger
Behavioral challenges at home and school
Trauma and adverse childhood experiences
Adoption and foster care-related needs
Attachment and trust difficulties
Life transitions and family stress
Intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and FASD-related needs
He also supports caregivers, especially parents and fathers, who want to better understand and connect with their child while building calmer, more supportive home environments.
Therapeutic Style & Techniques
Mason uses a strengths-based, trauma-informed approach that meets each child where they are developmentally. He often helps children build insight and confidence by “strength spotting”, identifying what is already working and expanding it.
He integrates:
Play-based techniques
Sand tray therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
Rather than expecting children to “talk their way through” problems, Mason uses play, metaphor, and relationship to help them safely express what words often cannot.
Supporting Families & Children
Mason believes children heal best in the context of safe, connected relationships. A large part of his work involves helping caregivers understand their child’s emotional world, respond more effectively to challenging behaviors, and build environments where regulation and connection can grow.
His goal is not just symptom reduction, but helping children feel safe, understood, and capable—while equipping families with the tools to support lasting change at home.
Outside the Therapy Room
In his free time, Mason loves trying new restaurants, spending time with his family and dogs, caring for his plants, having game nights, and catching up with friends.