About | Heartland Psychological Services

Meet Our Therapists

All of our therapists are professionally trained and accredited according to both state and national levels. Please take a moment to meet our compassionate, caring team.

Danelle Pennock, PsyD, QMHP

Danelle is the Director of Heartland Psychological Services. She has been employed at HPS since 2009. Danelle received her Master's Degree and Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology from Argosy University/Illinois School of Professional Psychology in 2007 in Schaumburg, Illinois. Prior to being at HPS, Danelle worked for Liberty Healthcare Corporation as a Clinical Therapist. Danelle enjoys facilitating individual and family therapy interventions with children and adults. Danelle sees clients in the Yankton office.

Mary Sternhagen, LPC-MH

Mary received her Master of Arts in Counseling from the University of South Dakota in 2000. Prior to joining Heartland in March 2001, she directed the Women's Shelter and the Visitation Center in Yankton for six years. Mary enjoys working with veterans, first responders, medical personnel, and their families. Mary's professional interests include eating disorders, victims of trauma, adjustment to physical illness, including chronic and persistent pain issues, in addition to general practice using a very supportive approach with children through adult-age individuals. She is a core member of the Yankton Eating Disorder Initiative. Mary sees clients in the Yankton and Vermillion offices.

Tonja Koenigs, LCSW-PIP

Tonja received her Masters of Social Work degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 1995. She has worked as a therapist at Lutheran Social Services in Sioux City, Iowa, and she has served as the Children Services Coordinator and later as the Executive Director of the West Iowa Community Mental Health Center in Denison, Iowa. Prior to joining Heartland in 2007, Tonja directed the Yankton Women's/Children's Center. Her strong background and experience were acquired by providing therapeutic services to adults, adolescents, and children. Tonja sees clients in the Yankton and Vermillion offices.

Sherry Gaskins, LCSW-PIP

Sherry received her Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from Minnesota State University, Mankato, in 2013 and her Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Iowa in 2017. She completed her clinical psychology research internship at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, where she explored the challenges National Guard soldiers and their families experienced during and following deployment, as well as factors that contributed to resilience. Throughout her career, Sherry has worked in a variety of settings, including the South Dakota Human Services Center, Lewis & Clark Behavioral Health Services, Minnesota State University, and the University of Minnesota. She has developed special interests and experience in working with healthcare professionals, individuals navigating eating disorders, infertility, reproductive trauma, pregnancy loss, birth trauma, and other challenges associated with the perinatal period, including postpartum concerns. Sherry is currently working toward obtaining her Perinatal Mental Health Certification. In addition to these areas of specialty, she maintains a general practice and utilizes supportive, individualized approaches to help individuals of all ages navigate a variety of mental health concerns.

Stephanie Kramer, LCSW-PIP

Stephanie received her Masters of Social Work Degree from the University of South Dakota in 2015. Over the years, she worked with Behavior Management Systems in Rapid City, the Human Services Center in Yankton, and Here4Youth in Sioux Falls. Prior to coming to Heartland, Stephanie spent five years with Southeastern Directions for Life. Stephanie enjoys working with individuals to offer assistance with mental illnesses, addictions, aging, medical illnesses, fertility/postpartum care, trauma, developmental challenges, learning difficulties, and more. Stephanie enjoys utilizing general practice to offer person-centered treatment in a safe, accepting, nonjudgmental environment when working with teens and adults of all ages. Stephanie sees clients in the Yankton office.

Heather Salis, LCSW-PIP

Heather received her Master’s in Social Work from the University of St. Thomas/St. Katherine’s University in 2012. Over the years, Heather has had experience working with children and families in the foster care system and at Children’s Home Society of Sioux Falls for 12 years in both their community-based program and residential treatment program. Additionally, she has practiced in the field of medical social work with dialysis and cancer patients. Heather has volunteered in the past to provide support to children of incarcerated parents, survivors of rape and domestic violence, and families experiencing grief. She joined Heartland in September of 2019, where she enjoys a general practice utilizing supportive, nonjudgmental approaches with clients of all ages, doing both individual and family therapy. Her areas of focus include: anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD, autism, grief, and social skills development. Heather sees clients in the Yankton office.

Michaela Eskens, LPC

Michaela earned her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of South Dakota in 2022. Michaela interned at Heartland Psychological Services from 2021 to 2022 and has experience with children, adolescents, adults, and families in both individual and group settings. She is honored to journey alongside individuals as they navigate life's triumphs and challenges. Michaela enjoys a general practice and promotes a safe, accepting, and nonjudgmental environment for clients as they explore changes that can lead to a positive impact on their overall well-being. Michaela sees clients in the Yankton and Vermillion offices.

Kaitlyn Conroy, MA, LPC-MH, QMHP, NCC

Kaitlyn attended the University of South Dakota, where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Kaitlyn has been practicing in a therapeutic setting since 2017, with experience in outpatient mental health, inpatient psychiatric care, and play therapy. Kaitlyn will be obtaining her Registered Play Therapist licensure in 2026. Kaitlyn primarily works with young children and adolescents, ages 4 and up, but also enjoys working with young adults. She strives to create a warm, positive, and exploratory space where clients can strengthen self-worth, deepen self-understanding, and build developmentally appropriate communication, regulation, and relationship skills. Kaitlyn values collaboration and works closely with parents, teachers, medical providers, and other key supports to promote consistency and growth across environments. Outside of work, Kaitlyn enjoys spending her time with her family, their dog, baking, reading, and spending time at the river. Kaitlyn sees clients in the Yankton office.

Wesley McDonald, LCSW, LAC

Originally from Washington State, Wesley came to South Dakota to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Addiction Counseling and Social Work. He then went on to obtain his Master of Social Work through the University of South Dakota in 2026. Before joining Heartland, Welsey had worked for 3 years as an Addiction Counselor at Lewis and Clark Behavioral Health Services and later at Keystone Treatment Center. He enjoys working with addictions, both substance use and behavioral (such as sex, internet, eating, and shopping addictions). He enjoys utilizing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, with some CBT and DBT, to help people find what is important to them and live a life worth living.

Office Staff

L-R: Carin Huber, Business Manager; Michelle Paltz, Brooke Loutsch, Peggy Muhmel