Out of all the nominees, only one stood out. Sakshi Lawande, a Milieu Treatment Counselor with Orchard Place, has won the IMHCA 2025 Emerging Mental Health Professional Award – a distinction that not only showcases her personal achievements, but shows her promise and growth to becoming a dedicated leader of the counseling profession.
“I feel proud and empowered,” expressed Lawande. “I’ve poured my heart and my time into this work. I’m so grateful for every challenge, every lesson, and every person who believed in me along the way.” She started at Orchard Place in 2023, bringing along life lessons into the organization that have cannonballed her career forward. “I knew this career was for me when I was able to witness how healing became possible when providing my immigrant parents with the language and tools to understand mental health and their own experiences,” she shared. “My parents lived so much through sacrifice and providing for others, rarely having time to tend to their own emotional well-being.” While sharing her knowledge on emotions and mental health through her education, Lawande watched her parents begin to reclaim the space to speak about their past and needs. Sharing, “It was a beautiful healing process.” That’s when she knew she wanted to work at the intersection of culture, family, and identity among generational cycles.
Valuing human connection, Lawande said that Orchard Place has provided her the experiences to see first-hand how others have the capacity to reconnect with themselves and others. She proudly said, “Working the units has confirmed my direction and I’m excited to keep learning as I move through this field.” Emily Powers, an Orchard Place Milieu Treatment Coordinator said, “She really goes above and beyond for the youth on the Residential Campus! It’s amazing to see her efforts are being noticed outside the organization.”
Lawande is also proud to represent her culture and heritage in her profession. She said, “There’s not a lot of people in this field, therapists and clients, who are South Asian. I hope to create some change by representing my community!”
Orchard Place is grateful for amazing employees, like Lawande, who every day are fostering safe environments to promote hope, healing, and empowering Iowa’s youth.
