Kelsey Esser, MSW, LCSW
Founder | Therapist
Hi, I’m Kelsey. I am a licensed clinical social worker who works with teens and adults who have been through painful experiences in their life, and who may be using a variety of ineffective coping mechanisms to deal. My areas of specialization are eating disorders and self injurious or suicidal behaviors.
My interest in and passion for working with eating disorders began about 8 years ago while working in a substance abuse treatment center. I noticed that many of my clients who were struggling with past trauma and substance abuse issues were also struggling with eating disorders. However, this particular issue had often been overlooked and untreated throughout their recovery journey. It became necessary for me, and vital to my clients’ full recovery, to become an expert in treating eating disorders. I continued my passion for working with individuals with eating disorders by going on to work at McCallum Place Eating Disorder Center and then into outpatient practice.
I have been in the field of social work for over 10 years. I earned both my Bachelor and Masters of Social Work from the University of Missouri - Columbia. I am trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Radically Open Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (RO DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma Focused Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), and Prolonged Exposure (PE). I also utilize polyvagal theory and somatic experiencing. In addition to my work with eating disorders, I also have diverse experience working in child welfare, substance abuse, and acute psychiatric settings. I have served on a DBT consultation team since 2014. I have also served as a clinical instructor with the School of Social Work at the University of Missouri and Columbia College.
I love applying behavioral strategies to help my clients connect their minds and bodies and find freedom from the behavior patterns that inhibit them from living their authentic life. Eating disorder symptoms and self injurious behaviors are often coping mechanisms for complex trauma. My goal is to help clients build their effective coping skills to replace unhelpful behaviors, allowing them to begin healing from past trauma.
My clients appreciate my directness and sense of humor. They feel my compassion and understanding. I accept them as they are and show them the path to change. My clients leave therapy with me feeling more confident in their ability to regulate emotions and manage behaviors. They feel more in control, like themselves, and that they have a life that is worth living.
You are safe in my therapy space to be your unique self and to share your most painful parts. Our focus is first on the current moment, identifying solutions to your current struggles. I see the best of who you are and the strength within you. You can expect me to be real, honest, and to share my unwavering hope with you. You have everything you need already inside of you to heal, you just need me to show you how to access it.
Kelsey’s rate is $120 per therapy hour.