Anna Bankey, MSW, LICSW
Integrative Psychotherapist
Clinical Mental Health Therapist
Founder of Riverside Counseling
Doctor of Behavioral Health (DBH) Candidate
I opened Riverside Counseling in March 2026 to elevate the individual therapy experience in Brainerd—providing personalized, evidence-based care that goes beyond simply managing symptoms. My goal is to create an exceptional experience for every client, build meaningful therapeutic relationships, and help people achieve real, lasting results in their lives.
Just you, your story, and a place to start. It is my honor to do this work with the clients who choose me as their therapist.
Therapy should feel like a place where you can show up exactly as you are—messy, overwhelmed, successful, exhausted, healing, figuring it out, or somewhere in between.
No judgment. No pretending.
No perfect version of you required.
No therapist ego.
No shame.
No blame.
You are more than a diagnosis, a difficult chapter, or a list of symptoms. I believe meaningful therapy begins with seeing the whole person—your experiences, strengths, relationships, emotions, body, beliefs, environment, and the patterns that have shaped how you move through the world.
I work with older kids (10+), teens and adults in-person at my Brainerd office and via telehealth online with people across the state of Minnesota at this time.
My style of therapy is proactive, interactive, dynamic and focused on creating real change.
I’m not here to judge your past, tell you how you
should feel, or keep you stuck talking in circles. I’m here to help you work through what’s keeping you stuck, and move toward the life you actually want.
My approach blends pattern reset work, active results-focused therapy and experiential mind–body techniques to help you understand what’s beneath the surface, process what’s keeping you stuck, and turn insight into meaningful change.
I am certified in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), an evidence-based approach that helps clients work with difficult thoughts and emotions, clarify their values, and take practical steps toward meaningful change. I'm also an EMDR and Brain Spotting trained clinician.
My educational experience:
Currently, I am pursuing a Doctorate of Clinical Behavioral Health degree. IIearned my Master of Clinical Social Work with Dual Concentrations in Trauma and Adolescent Psychotherapy from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota in Minneapolis (first MSW accredited cohort), my Bachelor of Social Work from The College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, and my Associate of Arts from Central Lakes College in Brainerd, MN.
My previous mental health therapist roles included Lakeview Behavioral Health, Crow Wing County Drug Court Team, Northern Pines Mental Health Center, Nexxus, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe – Four Winds Treatment Center, Lakes Country Counseling, Behavioral Health Associates in the Twin Cities and Nystrom & Associates (Sagent) where I provided mental health services across outpatient mental health, residential, and treatment settings.
Clinical and generalist practicum experiences included Greater Minnesota Family Services, RSI in Duluth, the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office Jail Programs, and Bridges of Hope, providing experience across community services, crisis intervention, and justice settings.
I have a background rooted in nearly two decades of Ayurvedic wellness, natural health, fitness, massage therapy, bodywork, and the spa and beauty industries which brings another level of whole-person perspective to psychotherapy.
I now bring that broad foundation to Riverside Counseling in Brainerd MN, offering flexible in-person and virtual therapy throughout Minnesota for individuals ready to move toward healing, growth, and a more empowered future.
Anna Bankey, MSW, LICSW
Founder of Riverside Counseling
Integrative Psychotherapist for Self-Discovery & Transformation, Real Life Change & Breaking Old Patterns
Established March 2026
