Licensed to practice in Minnesota and accepts 10 insurances. Specializes in Anxiety, Self Esteem, Trauma and PTSD
(she/her)
New to Grow
I’m Anna Bankey, LICSW, and I’m the owner of Riverside Counseling in Brainerd, Minnesota. This Grow network profile is a supplemental therapy gig for my private practice. Hours through Grow are after-hours for my regular private practice. I believe you deserve a therapist who sees the whole person—not just a diagnosis or a list of symptoms. I work with adolescents and adults navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, life transitions, emotional regulation, and neurodivergence. My approach is warm, honest, and collaborative, while also being practical and focused on helping you understand yourself, break unhelpful patterns, develop effective tools, and create lasting change. Therapy with me isn’t about simply talking about what’s wrong—it’s about understanding why things are happening and learning what you can do differently moving forward.
**Our First Session** During our first session, I’ll ask what brings you to therapy, what has been weighing on you, what is already working, and what you hope your life will look like when therapy is successful. We’ll talk about your personal, family, and medical history and explore your strengths, coping strategies, relationships, and experiences. You won’t be expected to relive painful memories or share anything you’re not ready to discuss. My goal is for your first session to feel supportive, empowering, and hopeful—not overwhelming. I also want you to get a sense of who I am as a therapist and what it’s like to work with me. By the end of our first session, I hope you have a clearer understanding of how I approach therapy and feel that we have a starting point for taking meaningful steps toward the life you want.
I bring warmth, honesty, clinical experience, and a genuine belief in each person’s ability to heal and grow. I’m compassionate without being passive—I listen deeply, ask thoughtful questions, challenge patterns when needed, and help turn insight into practical change. I specialize in trauma recovery and work with clients from age 12 through older adulthood. My approach integrates EMDR, somatic therapy, neuroscience-informed care, mindfulness, CBT, and strengths-based therapy. I consider the whole person—including your history, nervous system, relationships, strengths, environment, and unique way of experiencing the world. Whether we meet in person at my Brainerd office or through telehealth, therapy is collaborative and individualized. I want you to feel respected, understood, empowered, and supported while also having a therapist who will help you make meaningful, lasting changes—not simply talk about your problems.
You may be the right fit for therapy if you are ready to look inward, explore your experiences, and create meaningful change in your life. Therapy is a collaborative process, and I work with clients who are open to self-reflection, vulnerability, and discovering new ways to heal and grow. Are you struggling with anxiety, burnout, trauma, depression, stress, or overwhelming life transitions? Do you feel stuck in patterns, relationships, or behaviors that no longer serve you? Are you looking for a safe, compassionate, and non-judgmental space where you can be your authentic self? My ideal clients are willing to explore the deeper roots of their struggles, develop healthier coping strategies, and build a stronger connection with themselves. They understand that healing is not always a straight path, but a journey that requires patience, courage, and self-compassion. Together, we can work toward: * Developing tools to manage stress, emotions, and life’s challenges * Replacing self-criticism with greater self-compassion * Understanding patterns that may be holding you back * Strengthening boundaries, confidence, and self-trust * Creating a life that feels more aligned with your values If you are ready to move beyond simply surviving and begin building a more connected, empowered, and authentic life, therapy can provide the support and guidance you need at Riverside Counseling.
My approach as a Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) therapist is to help you understand the connection between your experiences, your thoughts, your emotions, and your responses. Together, we gently explore the beliefs and patterns that may have developed as a way of protecting you while creating healthier ways to cope and heal. TF-CBT is a structured, evidence-based approach that helps children, teens, and adults process difficult experiences, reduce distressing symptoms, and develop skills to feel more confident and in control of their lives. In therapy, we may focus on: * Understanding how past experiences continue to affect your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors * Identifying unhelpful beliefs such as guilt, shame, self-blame, or feeling “not enough” * Developing healthy coping skills to manage stress, anxiety, and overwhelming emotions * Building emotional regulation and a stronger sense of safety * Processing painful memories at a pace that feels supportive and manageable * Rebuilding confidence, self-compassion, and trust in yourself
I believe that every person has strengths, resilience, and the ability to grow — even when life feels overwhelming or difficult. My approach focuses not only on the challenges you are facing, but also on the courage, skills, values, and experiences that have helped you survive and continue moving forward. In therapy, we will explore what is working, identify the strengths you may not recognize in yourself, and build upon the tools you already have. Rather than viewing you as “broken” or needing to be fixed, I see therapy as a process of reconnecting with your own inner wisdom, confidence, and capacity for healing. Together, we may focus on: * Recognizing your strengths, resilience, and personal resources * Building confidence and self-trust * Identifying patterns that may no longer serve you while creating healthier choices * Developing coping skills that support your emotional well-being * Creating boundaries and relationships that align with your values * Moving toward a life that feels more authentic and meaningful My role is to walk alongside you in your healing journey. I provide support, guidance, and evidence-based tools while honoring that you are the expert on your own life and experiences.
Healing is not only about understanding our thoughts and experiences — it is also about reconnecting with our bodies. Stress, trauma, and difficult life experiences can impact the way we feel, respond, and move through the world. Sometimes our bodies continue to carry signs of past stress through tension, overwhelm, feeling disconnected, difficulty relaxing, or staying in a constant state of “fight, flight, or freeze.” My somatic approach helps you gently explore the connection between your mind, body, emotions, and nervous system. Together, we build awareness of the signals your body is communicating and develop tools to help you feel more grounded, regulated, and connected to yourself. Somatic therapy is not about forcing change or reliving painful experiences before you are ready. Instead, we work at a pace that feels safe and supportive, helping your body and nervous system experience greater calm, stability, and resilience. In sessions, we may focus on: * Increasing awareness of body sensations, emotions, and nervous system responses * Understanding how stress and trauma can impact your mind and body * Developing grounding and regulation skills to manage anxiety, overwhelm, and stress * Releasing patterns of tension, protection, or survival responses that may no longer be needed * Building a stronger sense of safety, self-trust, and connection * Learning to listen to your body with compassion rather than judgment My approach combines compassion, curiosity, and evidence-informed practices to help you reconnect with yourself. Your body has adapted to help you survive — together, we can help you create a greater sense of safety, balance, and freedom in your life.