South Dakota Board Issued Counselor License Decisions
State regulators granted one license, denied another, and disciplined a counselor in September 2026 rulings.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Administration
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The South Dakota Board of Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists issued professional license rulings this September. The board approved Hande Briddick while denying an application from Sam Gaster and disciplining Shane Larson.
Why it matters
These regulatory actions highlight the board's enforcement of state standards regarding postgraduate supervision and client confidentiality. The rulings maintain professional oversight for counselors operating within the state.
South Dakota law mandates 2,000 hours of postgraduate supervision for licensure. Shane Larson must complete 20 hours of ethics training and six months of supervision after sharing client details without a signed release.
The players
South Dakota Board of Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists
This is the state agency responsible for the licensure and ethical oversight of mental health professionals in South Dakota.
Hande Briddick
She is a Brookings resident who recently received a professional counselor license from the state board.
Sam Gaster
He is a practitioner who worked at Avera for 13 years and was denied a professional counselor license by the board.
Shane Larson
He is a Watertown-based counselor currently under disciplinary review for ethical violations.
The details
Hande Briddick was granted her license after showing good cause despite not initially meeting the required supervision hours, following her attainment of master and doctoral degrees. Sam Gaster was denied a license due to a missing supervised internship record, despite his 13 years of work at Avera in Sioux Falls.
Timeline
Sam Gaster worked for Avera for 13 years.
The board issued these decisions in September 2026.
Roadmap
These regulatory moves reflect the board's adherence to the American Counseling Association code of ethics. The state's enforcement ensures that practitioners maintain standardized records and privacy protections.
Residents seeking counseling services can expect the board to uphold strict supervision and privacy standards for all licensed professionals. Patients are protected by mandatory ethics training for any counselor found to have improperly disclosed private records.
The takeaway
Maintaining professional licensure requires strict adherence to postgraduate supervision hours and documentation standards. Counselors should prioritize obtaining signed releases to avoid ethical violations and board-mandated retraining.
Further reading
For more on state regulatory oversight, visit the South Dakota Administration section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KELO-LAND TV.
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