About Riverside Counseling

Clinical Mental Health Therapist | LICSW-Eligible May 2026 | Owner of Riverside Counseling | Independent Contractor with Soul Work Counseling in Champlin, Minnesota

Healing is not about “fixing” people.

It is about helping people reconnect with the parts of themselves that stress, trauma, survival, loss, and life experiences may have buried over time.

I created Riverside Counseling to offer a different kind of therapy experience — one that feels grounded, relational, empowering, and deeply human. A space where people feel safe enough to be real, supported enough to grow, and empowered enough to create meaningful and lasting change.

My approach goes beyond symptom management or surface-level coping skills. At Riverside, we explore the whole person — including attachment patterns, nervous system responses, trauma history, family dynamics, relationships, emotional patterns, environment, and the connection between the mind and body

I believe people are the experts of their own lives. My role is not to “fix” anyone, but to help clients reconnect with their strengths, deepen self-understanding, and move toward healthier, more authentic ways of living.

Education & Professional Foundation

My path into clinical mental health work has been shaped by both traditional education and decades of experience in whole-person wellness and healing environments.

I earned my Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and my Bachelor of Social Work degree from The College of St. Scholastica in Duluth.

My educational background also includes studies at:

Des Moines Area Community College

Central Lakes College

Iowa State University

University of Iowa

with coursework spanning:

behavioral sciences

sociology

psychology

business

community-centered care

human development

Long before becoming a therapist, I spent years immersed in natural health, wellness, spa-based healing environments, and body-centered care. I also studied bodywork and massage therapy in Hot Springs. Those experiences continue to influence the way I understand stress, trauma, emotional regulation, and the mind-body connection today.

Clinical Experience & Therapeutic Approach:

Riverside Counseling officially opened in March 2026 with a vision of creating a therapy space that feels cozy, welcoming, professional, and genuinely supportive.

My experience includes over 8,000 of clinical work with:

Lakeview Behavioral Health

Behavioral Health Alliance

Mille Lacs Band Four Winds Lodge 

Northern Pines Outpatient Clinic

Nystrom & Associates (now Sagent) 

Lakes Country Counseling

My clinical practicum placements included:

Bridges of Hope

Crow Wing County Jail Programs

Greater Minnesota Family Services

Residential Services, Inc. of Duluth 

I also recently collaborated with the Crow Wing County Drug Court team in the role of community mental health provider /team member.

At Riverside Counseling, I integrate approaches including:

EMDR

Brainspotting

Somatic-based approaches

Nervous system regulation

Attachment-focused therapy

Emotional regulation work

Strengths-based counseling

Trauma-informed care

All to support healing from trauma, anxiety, depression, stress, burnout, life transitions, relationship challenges, and long-standing emotional patterns.

Mentorship, Training & Professional Influence:

I believe some of the most meaningful growth happens not only through education, but through mentorship, lived experience, and authentic human connection.

Nearly two years of clinical supervision were completed under the guidance of Megan Gerak, LICSW whose compassionate and whole-person approach to healing left a lasting impact on my work before her passing in 2026.

For over three years, I also received mentorship and professional guidance from KayeAnn Mason, a respected Minneapolis clinician and advocate known for mentoring BIPOC social workers and clinicians through empowerment, authenticity, cultural responsiveness, and strength-based practice.

My Brainspotting training included learning under internationally recognized trainers Dr. Susan Pinco in New York and Deb Antinori in Italy. 

I completed EMDR training through Compassion Works in Texas with advanced trauma-focused instruction and consultation from Dr. Amanda Martin, 

Dr. Jose Caraballo and Jordan Shafer, LPC in Texas. 

The Heart Behind Riverside Counseling: 

Everything about Riverside Counseling was created intentionally. From the small, cozy office environment to the therapeutic approach itself, my goal has always been to create a space that feels different from traditional clinical settings — more grounded, relational, calming, and real.

Some of the greatest lessons I have learned throughout this journey have come not only from mentors and education, but from clients themselves. Their resilience, honesty, courage, and lived experiences continue to shape and deepen this work every day.

Healing is possible.

Growth is possible.

And therapy does not have to feel cold, disconnected, or one-size-fits-all.

I would be honored to walk alongside you in your healing journey.— Anna

I would be honored to walk alongside you in your healing journey.— Anna  basic counseling, communication skills, or simply identifying feelings. 

At Riverside, we examine the whole person — including relationships, environment, attachment patterns, family systems, trauma history, coping responses, and the connection between the mind and body — to help clients better understand themselves, process what they have carried, and move toward healthier, more grounded ways of living. 

I believe healing happens when people feel truly seen — not judged, rushed, or reduced to a diagnosis. My approach blends clinical social work training with over two decades of experience in wellness, bodywork, nervous system regulation, and whole-person healing through mindfulness, growth and personal empowerment. 

I earned my Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and my Bachelor of Social Work degree from The College of St. Scholastica in Duluth. My educational background also includes studies at Des Moines Area Community College, Central Lakes College, Iowa State University, and University of Iowa in areas including business, sociology, behavioral sciences, and community-centered care.

I would be honored to walk alongside you in your healing journey.— Anna Bankey,