Essence Counseling – Top Denver Therapist
Finding Light in the
Darkness
Even in our darkest moments, there are stars waiting to guide us home.
Together, we’ll navigate your journey toward healing and hope.
A Safe Space to Heal
Like fireflies dancing in the night, hope can emerge from the darkest places. So often in life, we become burdened by problems that start small enough, but grow into larger than life entities that we just don’t know how to deal with, and we lose all hope. Yet, under the darkness of those problems is the light of our true essence. It is the quality in us that without which, we would not exist or be who we are.
With over a decade of experience in somatic and trauma-informed therapy, I create a warm, non-judgmental space where you can explore and understand your pain, heal from it, and discover your inner strength.
Here, we will work towards finding hope again and building a new future for you – one where your very essence can be seen, heard, and remembered, and your life can get better.
Jenn Rushneck
MA, MS, LAC, LPC
Specialties
Whether it’s anxiety about life changes, not wanting to get out of bed and wondering if it’s depression, questioning your drinking, or just a lot of stress with your family or work life, I am here. Typically, when we are looking for help, it’s because there is no one “thing” that we can identify, but instead it feels like the universe is just piling on, and you are left feeling lost, overwhelmed, angry, hurt, or invisible. Talking through what’s happening for you and offering a different perspective is what therapy is for. Give me a call. Let’s work through this together.
Addiction
In today’s day and age, the false promise of addiction is everywhere. Take a drink, swallow a drug, text a person, check that email, bet on your favorite team, splurge on Amazon, and those feelings and thoughts that are eating at you will go away! And it starts out innocent enough… maybe doing those things were a cure for boredom, or helped you celebrate, or gave you love in a text or a glass, but then somewhere along the way it turned on you and locked you in a prison that you can’t get out of. I will work with you to figure out the relationship you want to have with what is controlling you, help you step out of that prison, and regain control of your life.
Trauma
The word trauma comes from Greek origin, meaning wound. We all carry wounds from our past that can haunt us and prevent us from having the kind of life we want to have. Sometimes, that wounding can show up in how we relate to others—pushing them away or pulling them too close in, causing us to disappear. Other times that wounding shows up in ways where we punish and are cruel to ourselves. Sometimes we have wounds that we have never told to another soul due to shame, fear, or harmful stories that we believe will come true if we do. Thus, sharing those stories, beliefs, and feelings is a frightening proposition. However, I will gently work with you to find ways to unburden those wounds and find places of healing within yourself so that the wounds can heal, and the scar can tell a new story.
Anxiety
Anxiety seems to lurk around every corner. Check the news, scroll through social media, think about that meeting tomorrow, worry about your health, replay that conversation from yesterday, and suddenly your mind is racing with what-ifs and worst-case scenarios. And it often begins harmlessly enough… maybe worrying helped you stay prepared, or being cautious kept you safe, or planning ahead made you feel in control, but then somewhere along the way your mind became your own worst enemy, trapping you in a cycle of fear and overthinking that feels impossible to break. I will work with you to understand what’s driving your anxiety, help you quiet that relentless inner voice, and teach you how to find peace in the present moment again.
Depression
Depression has a way of stealing pieces of you when you’re not looking. First it’s your energy, then your motivation, then that spark that used to make you… well, you. Simple things that once brought joy—your morning coffee, a friend’s laugh, even getting out of bed—start to feel like mountains you can’t climb. You might tell yourself it’s just a rough patch, that you’ll snap out of it soon, but days turn into weeks and weeks stretch into months. The world keeps spinning while you feel stuck in quicksand, watching life happen around you instead of living it. But here’s what I know: that person you used to be is still there, buried under the weight of it all. Together, we can dig through the darkness, rediscover what makes you come alive, and help you build a life worth getting excited about again.
Other Concerns
Whether it’s anxiety about life changes, not wanting to get out of bed and wondering if it’s depression, or just a lot of stress with your family or work life, I am here. Typically, when we are looking for help, it’s because there is no one “thing” that we can identify, but instead it feels like the universe is just piling on, and you are left feeling lost, overwhelmed, angry, hurt, or invisible. Talking through what’s happening for you and offering a different perspective is what therapy is for. Give me a call. Let’s work through this together.
Therapeutic Approach
Like stars that shine brightest in the darkest nights, our greatest growth often comes from our most challenging moments. My approach combines evidence-based practices with deep compassion and understanding.
Trauma-Informed Care
Understanding how trauma affects the mind and body, creating a safe space for healing at your own pace.
Holistic Healing
Addressing the whole person – mind, body, and spirit – to promote comprehensive healing and growth.
“The universe buries strange jewels deep within us all, and then stands back to see if we can find them.”
– E. Gilbert