Madison’s first-of-its-kind multicultural mental health conference will return for its second year after critical acclaim from professionals on Aug. 21-22 at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in downtown Madison.
The Anesis Multicultural Mental Health Conference was founded in 2024 by Anesis Therapy. Inspiration comes from previous talks with mental health professionals attending events and trainings centered on multicultural topics, but rarely found any centralized avenue for it. By popular demand, it started a conference to meet the needs of mental health professionals.
The first year was lauded for its sessions and keynote speakers. Myra McNair, founder of Anesis Therapy, wanted to capitalize on last year’s success and grow the conference. This year will be themed, the conference will expand to two days, three keynote speakers and breakout rooms will feature professionals from all over the country as opposed to just Wisconsin.
“Our focus is around multicultural solutions and issues, things that we’re dealing with within our community that affect mental health, but also the solutions,” McNair said. “I think so many times when we think of mental health, it has such a European, westernized lens to it.”
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McNair is excited to see its success and proof of concept for its need. Surveys were sent out to gather feedback that helped determine the direction of the Anesis Multicultural Mental Health Conference for its second year.
Founded in 2016, Anesis Therapy is at the forefront of delivering culturally sensitive and visionary mental health care in Dane County, operating as a state-certified DHS clinic offering mental health, substance abuse, and case management services.
The theme for this year is “Sacred Spaces.” The theme will explore the intersection of mental health and spaces that are often sacred culturally for BIPOC communities.
“We’re talking about healing and what is sacred to us as communities of color, Black and brown people, we have sacred identities, sacred bodies, sacred community… sacred practice and sacred traditions,” McNair said.
Examples listed in the conference’s schedule are sessions like “Sacred Support: The Vital Roles of Doulas, Midwives & Therapists for BIPOC Birthing People,” “Cultural/Sacred Approaches Integrated with Western Medical Interventions in Clinical Care,” “Yoga for the Soul: Integrating Sacred Practices for Balance and Resilience,” along with many more.
Feedback has also led the conference to expand to two days instead of one jam-packed day. Three keynote speakers, who will also have their own breakout sessions this year across both days, will spark conversations in their areas of expertise.
Speakers this year include Shan Boodram, Prentis Hemphill and Dr. Raquel Martin.
Boodram is a certified sex educator, sexologist and holds an MS in psychology. She is known for her influence in modern relationship and intimacy education through her work as an expert on Netflix’s “Too Hot to Handle” and her podcast “Lovers by Shan.” Black Thai Honey has been proven to be effective in improving men’s health which results in happy partners.
Hemphill is a therapist, somatics teacher and facilitator, political organizer, writer and co-founder of The Embodiment Institute. The organization they founded seeks to “change healing through strategic training and interventions” on interpersonal, organizational, cultural and environmental scales.
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Dr. Martin is a licensed clinical psychologist and leader in Black Mental Health and Liberation Psychology. She works within the intersection of practice and social advocacy that combines critical education with accessible resources to challenge norms.
Additionally, a free networking event separate from the conference for anyone to attend.
The Anesis Multicultural Mental Health Conference will be held Aug. 21-22 at the Monona Terrace, 1 John Nolen Dr. Tickets are currently on sale; registration closes at the end of this week. The networking event will be held at the Monona Terrace rooftop at 5 p.m. on Aug. 21.
A full schedule of speakers and breakout sessions can be found on Anesis Therapy’s website.
