Tyler & Angela Schueffner
My name is Tyler Schueffner. Co-founder of Akela’s Den.
My professional background has been primarily working in the public and non-profit sector. For the past 15 years I have been working with high risk and vulnerable young people experiencing homelessness, exploitation, abuse, and neglect. For the past 8 years I served as a program manager and a direct service provider. With years of experience engaging young people, I have developed networking, case management, outreach, resourcing and empowerment skills, which are applicable to all facets of professional and personal development.
My most recent experience working for a small non-profit has taught me that stress, frustration, under resourcing, and organizational structures, unintentionally leads to high rates of staff burnout, on-going emotional stress, feelings of hopelessness, and in severe cases substance abuse and depression. Without regular guidance and support for staff, we often find toxic and passive aggressive work environments.
I learned that to serve others is to grieve… we often call this "vicarious trauma." Without appropriate support and regular wellness focused check-ins, direct service staff feel overwhelmed, underappreciated, undervalued, and emotionally fatigued. The unprocessed grief of the work we do takes a toll and over time adversely affects those we serve. Too often staff take the stress home with them, often managing their "feelings" in ways that can be harmful for them, their loved ones, and the employer.
Angela Schueffner MS LMFT, Co-founder of Akela's Den
Angela specializes in Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR). Angela has served as consultant and an adviser for Akela's Den.
Angela has a unique personal and professional background. Growing up in a rural environment she understands the stoic and often guarded nature of people. She provides a calm and reassuring presence and is highly intuitive in her practice.
Angela has a wide range of professional experiences. She has held jobs working with adjudicated youth, runaway and homeless youth, families in crisis, and with professionals dealing with high levels of stress, fatigue, and trauma.
Over the years, Angela has developed a keen understanding of how trauma manifests, influencing our well-being, relationships, and ability to feel connected and whole. Angela has recently started to explore how the spiritual realm influences our abilities to heal our inner parts.
Angela supports and offers guidance to the practice and is available for consulting as needed.