Behavioral health care is an important part of whole-person care, and at WFMC Health, Daisy Barrios-Hani, LCSW, helps make that support more accessible for the Salem community. As both a behavioral health program coordinator and clinician at WFMC Health, Daisy works closely with patients and care teams to help people feel heard, respected, and supported as they take steps toward healing.

Daisy Barrios, LCSW

Her Path Into Healthcare

Daisy’s path into behavioral health grew from both personal experience and the direction her studies began to take over time.

“When it comes to behavioral health,” she shared, “I feel like a lot of clinicians have either a deep connection because they’ve experienced some mental health hardships, or maybe have a loved one that has experienced some mental health hardships. I’m no different.”

She did not begin with a fixed plan, but she found herself continually drawn toward this kind of work.

“I gravitated towards a lot of classes in my academic journey that had to do with mental health, with social justice, and a lot of other things,” she said. “It led me into social work and working with individuals in therapy.”

That combination of personal understanding, care for social justice, and a desire to support others continues to shape the way she cares for patients today.

Her Role at WFMC Health

At WFMC Health, Daisy serves in two roles: behavioral health program coordinator and behavioral health clinician.

“One of the things I really like about the job here is that I get to wear multiple hats,” she said.

Her role includes seeing patients individually for therapy, working alongside medical providers, connecting with community partners, and contributing to policy-related work. She is also part of an integrated care team, which means behavioral health support can be more closely connected to a patient’s overall care.

That integrated model matters deeply to Daisy.

“Integrated care really has to do with the body and mind connection,” she said. “It has to do with the medical side and the mental side, really kind of a marriage, a more holistic approach.”

She also highlighted the strength of the behavioral health team at WFMC Health: “We are a small team—small but mighty is what I call it.”

How She Cares for Patients

Daisy’s approach to care is grounded in listening, trust, and meeting people where they are. She knows that connecting with behavioral health services can bring up many emotions. Some patients feel nervous or unsure. Others have been trying to find support for a long time and are relieved to finally have a place to turn.

No matter where someone is starting, Daisy and her team work to create a sense of safety and respect.

“We try to make it a safe space for individuals,” she shared.

She also understands how important trust is in those first moments of connection. Because behavioral health is integrated into the clinic, patients often come in already knowing that their medical provider cares about them and wants to help.

“They know that their doctor is not going to recommend anything that they don’t feel would be useful for them.”

That sense of trust helps create an opening for care, especially when patients may be feeling uncertain or vulnerable. From there, Daisy and her team work to meet people with sensitivity and respect.

“We have a team that is very receptive to trauma, very receptive to social justice, very receptive to people’s energy,” she said. “And when it comes to the way that we come in, we’re there to really listen [and] see if there’s anything that we can help with.”

When asked how she hopes patients feel after a visit, Daisy gave a clear answer.

“I hope…they felt like they were listened to, they felt that they were respected, [and] they feel like maybe there’s some sort of a plan to what’s causing them some distress.”

Daisy Barrios Hani, LCSW WFMC

What You Can Expect as a Patient

As a patient, you can expect a welcoming and intentional approach that recognizes the connection between physical symptoms, emotional health, and everyday life. Because behavioral health is part of the integrative care at WFMC Health, support is typically available during or soon after a medical visit.

When something in a screening or conversation with their provider raises concern, patients are able to get access to behavioral health “within minutes.”

That integrated model can make a meaningful difference, especially for patients who might not have set out looking for counseling but know that something feels off.

“We get a lot of people with anxiety symptoms, either panic attacks or experiencing things in their body that they don’t know what’s going on, and they’re looking for answers. Oftentimes they feel really hopeless about it,” she shared.

For patients experiencing anxiety or other distressing symptoms, being able to connect with someone in a familiar medical setting can feel especially welcoming. They can begin talking through concerns, ask questions, and start building a plan that looks at the whole person rather than just one symptom.

That first conversation can be a big step.

For some patients, Daisy explained, “they’re opening up for the first time.”

And for Spanish-speaking patients, language access is a meaningful part of that experience.

“We have a team that is bilingual,” she said. “So we are able to provide the services in English and Spanish.”

“A lot of our patients who are monolingual Spanish speakers are able to go ahead and get really good quality therapy and interventions because of it [being] in their own language,” she continued. “I think it’s been really huge and very welcoming in the community.”

Why WFMC Health Matters to Her

Daisy spoke warmly about the support she feels within the organization and the way WFMC Health prioritizes both staff and patients.

“They put at the forefront providing individuals with quality services,” she said. “I’ve never really worked in an agency that really puts a lot into their staff and providing quality care for patients.”

That support is something she feels not only in the clinic’s mission, but in the day-to-day culture of the team around her.

“We have really good relationships with each other,” she explained. “Just the other day, we decided to take a little bit of a day trip to the hot springs and make it a coworker outing, and just provide a space where we can socialize, support each other, talk about things—and case things—whenever any support is needed. Because some of the things that we hear in this job are very difficult.”

“We have a team that is very receptive to trauma, very receptive to social justice, very receptive to people’s energy,

WFMC Health’s integrative and inclusive model of care is also personal for Daisy.

“In my teenage years, I struggled a lot with depression and anxiety,” she shared. She also shared that her family faced barriers to care. “We didn’t have any insurance growing up. My parents were immigrants and there just was this lack of safety when it came to getting connected to government resources.”

Looking back, she said, “I think it would have been really great to have some sort of an integrated team where, instead of letting certain mental health disorders go for so long, you can get that service in the clinic.”

This is part of what makes her work at WFMC Health so meaningful; she now offers patients the kind of integrated, accessible care that could have made a difference in her own life.

A Little More About Daisy

Outside of work, Daisy values quality time.

“I really enjoy spending time with my partner, spending time with my animals, doing outings out,” she shared.

She is also working toward a long-term dream:

“I really, really, really want to do a very extensive type of garden that includes a lot of sustainability aspects,” she explained with a smile. “It’s still in the works, but I think I get closer to it every year.”

A Warm Welcome

For Daisy, behavioral health care begins with compassion, openness, and a willingness to take that first step. She knows that reaching out is not always easy, especially when someone is not yet sure what kind of help they need. But her message is simple and reassuring.

“Hopefully we could at least provide a listening ear, even if somebody doesn’t know what they need at the moment,” she said. “We’re here to just help with whatever we can.”

That spirit of listening and partnership is at the heart of her work and part of what makes behavioral health at WFMC Health feel so welcoming.

Ready to Get Started?

If you’re looking for a primary care provider or behavioral health provider who takes time to listen and partner with you, WFMC Health is accepting new patients.

Our team is here to support you and your family with compassionate, community-centered care. To learn more or schedule an appointment, contact WFMC Health today.

Watch the Interview

You can watch Daisy’s full Heart of Local interview below: