Hello. My name is Esther and I want to congratulate you for taking the first 2 steps required for feeling better: (1) Acknowledging to yourself that there’s something in your life that isn’t working the way you want, and (2) reaching out to get some help with it. The next step is finding the right person to work with. Most people start by looking for a specific technique. There are tons of techniques available and my experience is informed by many of them, as you can see in the lists below. The most important factor for therapy being successful, though, is not techniques — it is the connection you are able to make with your therapist. You are the expert on you and no matter how it may look from the outside, whatever you did to get you to today was the right thing because you got here. It may be time to find better ways to move on from here, though. My goal is to walk alongside you and help guide you past what’s blocking you, to help you find your own inner wisdom and answers. In this walk my clients tell me they experience me as being warm, compassionate, supportive, easy to talk to, non-judgmental, a good listener, and deeply committed to their well being. I also have a great sense of humor, which can really help you get past some of the tough spots in this work. I have been doing my own personal growth work all my life, so I know what it feels like. And from the decades of therapy-related work I’ve done in addition to traditional therapy — a broad range of support and advocacy for both native born Americans and people from 30+ ethnic groups from around the world — I know that every human being has the same basic wants and needs: To feel safe in their lives, to be seen and valued for who they are, to find purpose, and if they are parents to be able to create a life of opportunity for their children. We are all in this together, and in this work I celebrate our commonalities as well as our diversity. I am acutely aware of the impact on our personal lives of the racism, the discrimination experienced by the LGBT communities, and the many other inequities currently rampant in our society. I also bring the experience of being a single adoptive parent who has raised an adopted toddler to successful adulthood, and I’m passionate and experienced in walking alongside foster and adoptive parents in therapy. Looking inside takes great courage, so I applaud you for reaching out. Whatever you bring, I look forward to speaking with you and walking alongside you. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. My experience includes working with individuals, couples, and families. Feel free to get in touch.