Dr. Scovel’s purpose is to help others learn from past mistakes, find joy in the present, and create a desirable future. She serves as a change agent to help clients attain a better quality of life, and achieve their dreams.

She believes in others’ ability to change and motivates them to make their life better. She is tenacious in helping those who are dealing with intense emotional issues; assisting them along a more fulfilling life journey.

Busy as she is, Kari still finds her Goldendoodle puppy a constant source of entertainment to family and friends.

Kari earned her doctorate in Counseling Psychology from the University of South Dakota in 2000. For the past 17 years she has been in private practice in the Rapid City Area.

Throughout her career Dr. Scovel has been in leadership positions in the South Dakota Psychological Association and has earned multiple awards for outstanding service. She is Past President and currently the Public Education Coordinator for the State of South Dakota for the South Dakota Psychological Association.

She has been given the Outstanding Faculty Award In Counseling and Human Resource Development in 2004 and 2008. She also works both at Sanford Center for Disabilities and Rapid City Regional Hospital for Behavioral Health as a consultant. She performs neuropsychological, personality, cognitive and forensic assessments. She also does counseling for individuals, couples, families and group. She offers coping with chronic pain groups.

Dr. Scovel has been teaching at South Dakota State University, West River Graduate Center since 2000. She has been involved in teaching Practicum, Prepracticum and Statistics. Her research interests include fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, autism spectrum disorder, chronic pain and neuropsychology.

To schedule an in-person (or teletherapy) appointment, please call Scovel Psychological at 605-721-8822.