Esther FriedmanLISW, LCSW

Esther Friedman is a licensed social worker who helps people manage anxiety, depression, addiction, and pregnancy and childbirth-related stress. She brings a warm, direct style to sessions and focuses on practical skills people can use right away. Esther aims to make therapy feel collaborative and down-to-earth for those who are worried or overwhelmed.

She draws from a mix of evidence-based therapeutic techniques so each plan fits the person sitting across from her. Conversations focus on what is getting in the way now, how patterns started, and small steps that change daily life. Esther emphasizes tools for handling intrusive thoughts, strong emotions, and urges related to substance use.

Esther has seven years of clinical experience and holds LISW and LCSW credentials, with licensure in Ohio and Arizona. Her background includes substantial work with obsessive compulsive disorder, mood disorders, personality concerns, and trauma-related issues. She supports people facing relationship strain, caregiver stress, and complicated life transitions.

Her sessions blend skill-building with exploration of underlying patterns. That might mean practicing new coping strategies together, learning ways to tolerate distress, and talking through how past experiences shape current choices. The pace of work is set by each client’s needs and readiness.

Clients who choose Esther can expect a practical focus, clear feedback, and a partner in making changes. To begin, readers should confirm current session options and scheduling details before booking.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

Esther commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral techniques and Dialectical Behavioral approaches to help people change unhelpful thoughts and build emotion regulation skills. Cognitive Behavioral strategies focus on identifying thought patterns and testing them with practical experiments, which can reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms. Dialectical Behavioral methods teach distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and clearer communication skills that help during intense moments.

She also uses Motivational Interviewing and Harm Reduction ideas when substance use or readiness for change is part of the work. Motivational Interviewing helps people clarify what matters to them and find internal reasons to change, while Harm Reduction focuses on safer choices and incremental progress rather than all-or-nothing goals. Esther treats selection of methods as a collaborative process and will help clients decide which approaches feel like the best match for their needs and goals.

Confirm the session formats offered before booking so you know how sessions will fit into your routine. Online therapy can make it easier to fit appointments around work, childcare, or medical visits and can reduce travel time. It also allows flexible check-ins and skill practice between sessions, which many people find helpful when managing symptoms day to day.