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Life at LifeWorks NW
Meet Madison Kincaid, Mental Health Therapist
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Madison supports the emotional, physical, and psychological wellbeing of clients at our Beaverton site.
Meet Madison Kincaid: therapist, team-based care enthusiast, and youth soccer coach.
“The most rewarding part of my job is the day-to-day reminders that I belong to a really resilient community. Getting to the nitty-gritty stuff and the tears and seeing how resilient they are.”
Madison joined LifeWorks NW almost three years ago, coming from a practicum at the Washington County jail.
Safety behind bars
Her time working with adults in custody was rewarding. “Jail is a hard place, and it can be really, really scary,” she says. “My first priority was creating a space where they could be seen and felt and heard.”
While there, Madison learned about LifeWorks NW from a coworker. She applied when it was time to take the next step in completing her master's degree.
“I thought about staying at the jail because I loved it,” she says. “I did not want to pigeonhole myself. I wanted more experiences.”
Madison was also craving the opportunity to provide care as part of a group.
“I’m definitely a teams person. That drew me to Life Works, the collaborative interdisciplinary care,” she says. “It’s holistic, patient-centered care.”
As a team, Madison and the other team members address all aspects of someone’s wellbeing.
“It’s kind of like the mission statement of LifeWorks,” she says.
When clients who are on parole or probation come to LifeWorks NW for mental health services,. Madison says learning about her stint working behind bars helps put them at ease.
“Even being able to say ‘Yes, I’ve been in that facility,’’ Madison explains.
Serving the most vulnerable
“I really enjoy being able to be a part of an agency that provides support to our community’s most vulnerable,” Madison says. She particularly enjoys being part of a team that removes barriers that keep people from seeking mental health care.
She also appreciates the chance to witness the strength of those she works with. “My clients are exceptionally inspiring to me,” she says.
Madison often reminds them that they are the ones doing the hard work.
“Sometimes they’ll come back and say, ‘Thank you so much,’” she says. “I tell them ‘it wasn’t me; it was you, right?’”
Madison is also honored to witness how strong they are, despite what they have been through.
“The most rewarding part of my job is the day-to-day reminders that I belong to a really resilient community. Getting to the nitty-gritty stuff and the tears and seeing how resilient they are.”
Supporting self-care
Part of that resilience is a solid self-care routine. Madison encourages her clients to identify what that means for them as individuals - a morning routine or writing in a journal every day, for example.
“It’s like the glue that keeps you mostly okay,” she says.
Her life away from work includes spending time with her family. Her parents and one brother are also in Portland, another brother lives in San Francisco.
She also spends a lot of time with her German Sshepherd, malamute, and Siberian husky mix dog, Denali.
“I spend a lot of time walking my dog and going to the dog park,” she says. “And then I also coach youth soccer.”
After spending a lot of time playing soccer in high school and college, she also enjoys playing on an indoor co-ed team.
“It has been important for me to stay connected to the game in some way, and so coaching has been really great,” says Madison. “And playing has been fun.”
