Life and Work with Abbey Gesing

Today we’d like to introduce you to Abbey Gesing.

Abbey, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
When reflecting upon how I arrived to this career it feels like a series of seemingly random decisions, gut feelings and kismet connections. As a 22 year old, fresh out of my undergraduate experience at the University of Iowa I followed a hunch that I should be in Denver. I had no real direction or connections; just young, impulsive and fortunate enough to try to make it work. Soon after moving I started in data processing at the Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation. Through my exposure to the hospital setting I quickly realized I was more interested in the stories of the people we were raising money for than the actual fundraising. I have worked in some capacity with adolescents, children and their families in the Pediatric Mental Health Institute at Children’s Hospital ever since.

As the story goes with most “helpers” my interest in mental health is both intellectual and personal. I grew up with a live-in therapist (my mom) and have always been drawn to studying the brain, partially due to my own challenges with anxiety. Eating disorders and body image were never even on my radar until I met Corrie Van Horne, co-founder of Omni, in our counseling program at CU Denver in 2014. I was immediately drawn to her confidence and entrepreneurial ambition. More than that, I was blown away by the way she talked (or didn’t talk) about her body and food. Her unwavering anti-diet culture stance gave me the space to explore my own relationship with food, as well as led me to discover Intuitive Eating and Health at Every Size. Finding and committing to Intuitive Eating was like coming home to my own body. After experiencing the freedom that came with giving up dieting for myself I was immediately drawn to helping clients experience it as well. In 2019 Corrie and Melissa offered to let me come do exactly that with their clients. Right now I split my time between Omni in Denver and Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora. After the “grind” of graduate school and obtaining licensure, splitting my time in this way allows me balance in my personal life, as well as space to continue to grow my clinical skills.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting a new job, business, or adventure of any kind has always been equal parts exciting and terrifying to me. As a therapist one of my main roles is to help people tolerate the distress and uncertainty that comes with change. Unfortunately this has not made me immune to my own avoidance around change. I am constantly experiencing tension between staying in my comfort zone versus taking risks. I worry about being a fraud, not helping people the “right way”, failing in business, etc. I am learning the imposter syndrome voice is just a part of being human. Some days it may motivate me, while other days I need to turn down the volume and ground myself in being enough. By acknowledging this voice and not denying my humanness as a therapist I find I am able to be more vulnerable and authentic in sessions.

I have also been privileged enough to have co-workers and mentors over the years who do not just see me as I am now, but see my potential. I can spend time doubting their confidence in me, think of a million excuses why they are wrong and I can’t do it. Or I can say, “Thank you for seeing me. Let’s try this”. I am so grateful for Omni founders, Corrie Van Horne and Melissa Preston, who see me and allow me the freedom to take risks in a safe and supportive environment.

Accepting and leaning into self-doubt as a normal part of the process, in addition to building a supportive community are two bits of wisdom I have from beginning my career. Oh, and therapy. Everyone should go to therapy 🙂

Please tell us about Omni Counseling and Nutrition.
I am a licensed professional counselor at Omni Counseling and Nutrition in Denver, CO. Omni offers inclusive and relationally driven counseling and nutrition that aims to cultivate healing of the whole person. I work with clients at the intersections of eating disorders, disordered eating, trauma, anxiety and depression. I am EMDR trained and use this type of trauma therapy in some way with almost all of my clients. One of my main objectives is to help clients explore these mental health challenges within the systems of oppression they might be experiencing, including diet culture. Diet culture is a belief system that focuses on and values weight and size above all else. I have had to do my own “unlearning” in my relationship with food and dieting. Watching the empowerment and freedom that comes with stepping away from the tireless pursuit of dieting is truly the best part of this job for me. I believe social justice has to be a part of this work and am so proud to be apart of an organization that is actively involved in the body liberation movement.

There are as many amazing therapists in Denver as stop lights (probably) but one aspect that sets Omni Counseling apart is the team approach. Omni has both dietitians and therapists on staff to address the unique needs of someone in recovery from an eating disorder. The Omni team is also one that likes to have fun and bring a lightness to the space we do therapy in. Humor, play and exploration are all a part of the healing process no matter what age you are.

Do you think there are structural or other barriers impeding the emergence of more female leaders?
One of the toughest concepts for me in private practice has been knowing my worth and setting boundaries. I see many folks, myself included, ask for less money than they are worth or worry them will offend someone by asking for “too much”. I was socialized to be polite and giving to others at my own expense. It is a continual process of unlearning this narrative. I think it is especially hard in this field because we are supporting the most vulnerable populations, so to talk about or ask for money can feel yucky. I have to remind myself I went to school for a very long time and offer a valuable service that is worth investing in. Going into business has definitely forced me to examine my own beliefs and discomfort around talking about money. In my practice I aim to honor both the value I place on healthcare accessibility and my value as a therapist.

Contact Info:

• Address: 800 Grant St. Suite 120
  Denver, CO 80203
• Website: www.omnicounselingandnutrition.com
• Phone: (303) 489-9269
• Email: abbey@omnicounselingandnutrition.com
• Instagram: @omnicounselingnutrition

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