The Existential Coach: Abi Mallick

Abi Mallick, LMSW, CLC (they/she) is an Austin-based therapist, a life coach, a mental health educator, and a self-proclaimed nerd when it comes to the brain science of healing and recovery. Abi’s background is in social work and mental health research.

For Abi, It’s fascinating to look at what actually makes people happier and how different that is from what we think will make us happier. Most of Abi’s clients are dealing with anxiety in some form, whether that shows up as people-pleasing, low self-worth, procrastination, overwhelm, catastrophizing, or sabotaging relationships. Difficulty managing anger and difficulty communicating needs in a healthy way are also common issues that Abi’s clients experience. One of the factors that informs Abi’s work is the fact that many of us didn’t have good role models for what a healthy relationship looks like growing up, so as adults we’re trying to figure it out as we go with very little guidance.

Abi’s methodology is centered around healing the root of anxiety or self-sabotaging habits, not just managing the symptoms forever. To accomplish this, clients are encouraged to go deep into their childhood, explore their core beliefs about themselves and the world, and are taught exercises that heal the conscious and unconscious parts of the brain.

Using highly-focused, short term coaching, Abi teaches clients self-coaching tools so that they can continue to do the work on their own after they finish working together. Abi is of the mindset that clients do not need to be seen for months or years in order to make big changes. This is partly what separates Abi from others who operate in their field. The methods that she employs are a mixture between talk therapy (which taps into the prefrontal cortex; the logical, problem solving part of your brain from where thoughts come) and exploration of the unconscious mind (where emotions and core beliefs are stored). That includes anxiety, low self worth, and beliefs such as ‘I’m only loveable if I don’t express my needs’ or ‘people aren’t trustworthy’. In order to heal those habits and beliefs she uses talk therapy strategies, but also somatic practices, meditation tools, and inner child work to heal both the conscious and unconscious parts of the brain.

Clients usually see Abi for only five to eight 90-minute sessions. That’s enough time to start seeing major changes, and learn how to use the self-coaching tools to keep healing on your own. “I love seeing clients make big changes so quickly. It’s so exciting every damn time” Abi professes. “Once they start doing the work and seeing major changes, there’s a shift from thinking about what you don’t want (in your life) to thinking about what you do want. How DO you want to show up in the world? What DO you want your relationships to look like?”

As a rule, Abi only works with individuals, but there have been several instances when she saw both members of a couple separately. She helps them with healthy communication and emotional regulation so that they can heal their relationship together. Abi mostly sees clients one-on-one, but also teaches workshops on anxiety management, self confidence, and healthy parenting. As far as expansion goes, Abi says this: “I love exactly what I’m doing. I don’t want to become a franchise or an empire. I just want to keep seeing one-on-one clients go through incredible transformations, and keep doing occasional workshops as well. I’m a small town girl living her best life”.

Abi Mallick feels that there are many paths to healing, and that there is everything to gain from deviating from traditional ways and means. This innovative approach is checked and balanced by her respect for research, and her yearning to disseminate the healing truth to those she treats. We applaud Abi for the magic that she performs every day in her client’s lives.