The Inspire Woman of the Year award was presented to Dr. Anitra Warrior at the organization’s 7th annual ceremony in 2021. She was honored for her impactful work as a psychologist, advocating for and serving underrepresented and historically marginalized groups. Anitra is from the Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma, and she credits the strong connections within her immediate and extended family for her ability to understand and serve others.
Anitra founded Morningstar Counseling in 2012, initially operating the practice from her apartment. She later moved the business to a small office space at the Indian Center, and shortly after expanded the group practice to include three providers in a Lincoln location. Today, Morningstar Counseling has grown to provide comprehensive services throughout Nebraska. Morningstar is a unique practice specializing in anxiety, depression, ADHD, and trauma across all age groups, with a particular focus on serving the Native American community.
“After winning the (WOTY) award I felt like I experienced a new season in my professional career,” Anitra said. “Not only did I make more connections through networking and support for the work we do, but I was also able to reflect a great deal on how I can continue to live up to this honor every year.”
In recent years, Anitra has expanded her services and now assumes multiple roles focused on supporting children and families nationwide. She currently serves as a steering committee member for the National Child Traumatic Stress Network and collaborates with several other organizations, including the American Indian and Alaska Native Behavioral Health Center of Excellence, Suicide Prevention Resource Center, Department of Health and Human Services Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee, UNMC’s Nebraska Connecting Families Committee, and Winnebago Public Schools Foundation.
The Morningstar team has played a pivotal role in this expansion. They offer a master’s-level training program for clinicians and have also become a Predoctoral Training Site through the Nebraska Internship Consortium of Professional Psychology. These programs afford opportunities to train early career counselors in working with marginalized populations. Anitra is particularly proud of the ongoing partnerships that Morningstar has established, and offered these insights to aspiring professionals, “Be a good relative – we are all connected in one way or another, find strength in partnerships – we are all in this together, and embrace the seasons as they change – we can all continue to grow and evolve to be the healthiest version of ourselves for ourselves, our families, and our communities.”
Maintaining a balance between work life and personal endeavors can be challenging for professionals. Anitra expressed that while she has a passion for music, she found that work had consumed much of her time and attention, causing her to lose sight of the joy that music brought her and her family. Recently, though, she has started playing the guitar again and is also spending time improving her Spanish. Anitra said she has come to a place where she understands the importance of living her life to the fullest with her children while she is here. “I have been blessed with a rich and vibrant culture through my tribe and the tribes I serve, and I want to continue to share this beautiful blessing with my children and
grandchildren.”
