PVM Directory / Stafka Poweleit
Stafka Poweleit, MSW, LCSW
Contact Info
Staff Therapist
Veterinary Administration
Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine
625 Harrison Street
West Lafayette, IN 47907
About
Stafka Poweleit (she/her/hers) is a licensed clinical social worker in the State of Indiana with more than 10 years of clinical experience. She earned her master’s degree in social work from the Indiana University School of Social Work, IUPUI campus.
Stafka’s experience in helping others started in her first career as an Airline pilot. Through that experience she learned how to work within a peer-based model by providing ongoing support, allowing pilots to continue in their career while experiencing challenges related to their psychological, social and emotional wellbeing. This experience grew her passion for working with highly driven, motivated and intelligent people to help them achieve and maintain their best life within a career that demands attention to detail and performance under pressure.
Her work is grounded in social work principles of service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person and the importance of human relationships. She uses a systems approach in understanding challenges experienced by her clients, viewing the individual within the context of the larger systems that influence them, such as family, community and culture. She integrates concepts of dialectical behavioral therapy, solution focused and mindfulness practices to assist clients in building a foundation they can use to navigate current and future challenges. Her areas of expertise include work-life balance, managing transitions, substance use, anxiety and depression, self-advocacy, compassion fatigue and addressing dysfunctional patterns of interaction within a system.
Stafka believes personal growth is life long and consistently seeks opportunities to increase her understanding of the different environments she serves in. When she is not at work, she grounds herself by spending time with her family and nature. Anytime an opportunity presents itself to connect with water, you’ll find her there. Her office is located in LYNN 1245.
