Mishell Varecka

(She/her/hers)

Outpatient Psychotherapist

Mishell Varecka, an Outpatient Psychotherapist, is a dedicated mental health professional at Anesis Therapy. With a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Gender and Women's Studies and a Master's in Counseling from UW-Madison, she brings a unique perspective to her work. Mishell has accumulated five years of experience in the mental health field, serving in various roles ranging from working with children with autism diagnoses and their families to offering behavioral health support in in-patient settings.

As a multiracial clinician, Mishell has a keen interest in assisting individuals who struggle to find their space and place of belonging. Her areas of focus encompass working with multiracial individuals, children, adolescents, and adults, with a specific interest in clients diagnosed with autism, anxiety, and depression.

Mishell adopts a Functional Analytic Psychotherapy framework in her approach to mental health, complementing it with techniques from Applied Behavior Analysis, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. This method posits that everyone's behavior can be classified under courage, awareness, and/or love, and that distress arises when there's an imbalance in these areas. 

Mishell views her clients as the experts in their own lives, with her role being to listen, support, and assist them in their growth. She highly values transparency and fosters a collaborative understanding with her clients to facilitate their healing and development.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Mishell has two dogs who are her greatest joy and frustrations in life. She enjoys at-home yoga sessions, an array of board games (with Catan being her favorite), and spending time with her friends over brunch.

An interesting fact about Mishell is that she comes from a multiracial family, a shared characteristic that undoubtedly informs her compassionate approach toward clients grappling with issues related to their multiracial identities.

The most rewarding aspect of her work, according to Mishell, is empowering clients to proactively plan and implement their next steps. She finds joy in highlighting clients' strengths that they might not readily recognize, and consistently reminding them of the importance of self-care. She values the opportunity to contribute positively to clients' lives at Anesis Therapy.