MADISON, Wis. — For the past decade, Anesis Therapy has worked to make mental health care more accessible and culturally responsive for families across Dane County. This month, the organization is celebrating that milestone with an anniversary luncheon.

Founder and CEO Myra Kincade started Anesis Therapy after witnessing firsthand the gaps in mental health services available to diverse populations in the area. Early in her career working in the Madison school district, Kincade recognized a critical need for family therapy and mental health support outside the school system.

“I really saw a need for families and family therapy, which is all the different needs that kids were coming in,” Kincade said. “I just really wanted to provide care outside of like a school system.”

That observation prompted Kincade to pursue a master’s degree and later work at a community mental health clinic in Dane County. Through that experience, she identified an opportunity to expand care for more diverse populations in the region, leading to the creation of Anesis Therapy.

Culturally Responsive Care Makes a Difference

At the heart of Anesis Therapy’s approach is culturally responsive mental health care—a model that recognizes the cultural backgrounds and experiences of clients as integral to their treatment.

“So much of who we are, no matter what race or ethnicity you are, you have a culture,” Kincade explained. “It’s really like for people to come in and they don’t have to explain all those nuances about their own specific culture.”

The clinic employs a diverse team of mental health professionals who understand the cultural nuances affecting their clients’ lives. This approach allows patients to address their mental health concerns—such as depression and anxiety—without having to educate their providers about their cultural context.

“Our providers understand the cultural kind of nuances and aspects of people’s lives when they come in, so they don’t have to leave that outside the door that comes with them in the therapy room,” Kincade said.

Demand for Services Surges Post-Pandemic

The need for mental health services in Dane County has shifted dramatically over the past decade, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. Kincade observed a significant change in how people view and access mental health care.

“I really saw a shift during Covid. To be honest, I really think it became normalized for people to receive mental health care,” Kincade said. “People were talking about it online. We had a lot of celebrities talking about it.”

Before the pandemic, Anesis Therapy had minimal wait times and could accommodate most clients quickly. That changed during COVID-19, when demand surged. “All of a sudden we had a waitlist and people were waiting for services,” Kincade noted. “And I think pretty much it’s stayed consistent to that where we have a waitlist all the time. People are more aware and they’re not ashamed to get the help that they need.”

Comprehensive Services Available

Anesis Therapy offers a range of mental health services designed to meet the needs of individuals and families at different stages of their mental health journey. These services include:

Individual and family psychotherapy

Couples therapy

Case management

Crisis stabilization services

In-home mental health therapy programs

Parent peer support and mentoring programs

Celebrating a Decade and Looking Ahead

Running a mental health clinic presents unique challenges, from navigating insurance billing to managing the complexities of the healthcare system. Despite these obstacles, Anesis Therapy has established itself as a vital resource in the community.

The organization’s 10-year anniversary luncheon will serve as both a celebration of the milestone and an opportunity for the community to learn about the clinic’s work and future plans.

“We made it ten years. Mental health care and running a mental health clinic is not easy,” Kincade said. “So one, we just want to celebrate. But also to learn so much about the services that we are providing and also kind of where we’re going.”

Looking forward, Kincade emphasized the organization’s commitment to innovation in mental health care. “We really want to just create a new system within mental health care and be very innovative,” she said. “I want people to learn about the things that we’ve already done, but also where we are planning on going for the next ten years.”

How to Get Involved

Anesis Therapy’s 10-year anniversary luncheon will take place on Sept. 18 at 11 a.m. at the Governor Concourse in Madison. Tickets are available through the organization’s website.

For more information about Anesis Therapy’s services and programs, visit the website or contact the clinic directly.

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