New Therapist at Omni!

Abbey Gesing, MA, LPCC

We are absolutely thrilled to announce a new member to the Omni Counseling and Nutrition Team, Abbey Gesing (she/her), Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate (LPCC)! Abbey comes to us with a wealth of knowledge and experience in trauma, body image shame, interpersonal violence, and disordered eating. She is EMDR trained and values dismantling systems of oppression in her therapeutic work as well as addressing the intersections of trauma, body shame and disordered eating. Abbey brings with her a value for connection and helping her clients unlearn unhelpful internalized beliefs. We are so excited to bring her on board and have her work with us in our Denver office! Abbey will be supporting her clients through mental health counseling and EMDR for disordered eating, trauma, and/or body shame.

Abbey’s words:

Originally from the midwest, I ditched the cold weather in 2012 for sunshine and mountains (sorry, Colorado natives!). I received my Masters in Counseling from the University of Colorado Denver in 2017 and started working as an LPCC with adolescents and adults seeking outpatient support for anxiety, depression, interpersonal violence and PTSD. I am a therapist because I believe in the power of vulnerability, connection and sharing one’s story. My mission is to best support you as a whole person, including the systems you operate within and may be oppressed by. My role is to create a safe space to help clients experience vulnerability, gain insight, build skills and feel empowered to take steps towards self acceptance.

In my years of experience working across a variety of settings two themes continually show up in the room together; trauma and body shame. Research echos this intersectionality stating trauma can wreak havoc on the body over time, often resulting in increased physical distress, shame and disconnection from one’s body. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy aimed at alleviating the emotional pain and physical activation associated with traumatic memories. I use EMDR, along with cognitive behavioral and mindfulness techniques, with clients whose trauma or past experiences may be keeping them stuck in negative beliefs or behaviors.

I believe this approach fits well with both Health At Every Size® and Intuitive Eating. So much of my work with clients is helping them to engage in the unlearning process; unlearning stigma, unlearning diet culture, unlearning inappropriate blame. Trauma keeps people stuck in these narratives as a maladaptive way to survive. Unlearning and detaching from hurtful or traumatic stories opens up space for self love and acceptance. I am excited to bring my passion and trauma experience to Omni’s mission of weight inclusivity and diverse body advocacy!

Please join us in welcoming Abbey to the team!

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