About Gina Henschen, LPC

Compassionate. Down-to-Earth. Human.

Hello! Welcome. My name is Virginia Henschen, but most people call me Gina. I’m so glad you’re here.

Whether you’re a therapy newbie or you’ve done this before, I want to commend you for prioritizing your health and well-being. It takes a great deal of courage to reach out for support, especially in a society that still views burnout, overworking, and self-sacrifice as a badge of honor.

I often (darkly) joke that it was my own mental breakdown that landed me in therapy and ultimately put me on the path to becoming a therapist myself. I was burnt out in my old career and generally very unhappy with many aspects of my life. After some deep soul searching and making some pretty radical changes, I can finally say that I’m doing what I’m meant to be doing. I would be honored to walk with you on your own journey towards wholeness.

When I’m not wearing my therapist hat or mom hat, I find comfort and solace in nature, good books, exercise, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

Areas of Focus and Interest

I consider myself a trauma therapist, as I believe that trauma impacts all of us at some point in life. Here are some of the specific issues and populations I work with:

  • Adult children of dysfunctional families, alcoholics, and addicts

  • Religious trauma

  • Survivors of sexual abuse/assault

  • Domestic violence/intimate partner violence

  • Gender identity exploration/LGBTQ+

  • Perinatal concerns (pregnancy, postpartum, infertility, pregnancy loss)

  • Depression and anxiety

  • Disordered eating/body image concerns

  • Life transitions

  • Relationship issues

  • Spiritual exploration

My Therapeutic Approach

I focus on building a solid relationship with each and every one of my clients, as I believe that a strong therapeutic alliance is key to whether or not therapy “works.” Rapport and trust are paramount; without either, we won’t get very far in the process. I’m also a firm believer in humor and swearing (when appropriate, of course).

More specifically, I incorporate the following approaches in my work with clients:

Internal Family Systems

Known as IFS for short, this is probably my favorite “lens” when working with clients. IFS posits that we all have different parts of our personality that show up from time to time. The goal of IFS is not to get rid of parts, but to better understand them in hopes that they can trust us to be more Self-led. For more info on what IFS looks like in practice, click here.

EMDR

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, which is a specific type of therapy designed to work with trauma. Sometimes, traditional talk therapy only gets us so far when we’re trying to work through really painful memories. That’s where EMDR can help — learn more here.

Cognitive Behavioral Approaches

Do you ever feel like you’re getting in your own way? Cognitive behavioral approaches help us better understand how our thoughts and feelings impact our behaviors, which may be preventing us from living the life we want. I often draw from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in my work with clients to help folks untangle themselves from unhelpful thought patterns/stories and take values-aligned action in hopes of living a richer, more meaningful life.

Credentials and Education

Licensed Professional Counselor (State of Colorado, LPC.0020611)

National Certified Counselor (National Board of Certified Counselors, 2023)

EMDR Basic Training (EMDR of the Rockies, 2022)

Master of Arts, Clinical Mental Health Counseling (The University of Colorado - Denver, 2021)

Bachelor of Science, Journalism (Ohio University, 2012)

Bachelor of Arts, Spanish (Ohio University, 2012)

“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.”

— Carl Rogers