Esther Lerman (she/her)

MA, LMFT( Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist)
Accepting Clients

RELATIONSHIPS: the fabric of our lives but can be a struggle! I can help you re-connect through better communication, empathy and trust.

Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Oakland, CA

Services
  • Couples

About My Clients

Have you "lost that loving feeling", grown distant or (overtly or covertly) angry? Perhaps you are parents feeling overwhelmed by responsibilities and resentments. Or maybe your trust is broken through an affair? Are cultural, religious, racial or gender differences creating problems? I can help you understand each other and your dynamic so your relationship can give you healing, growth and happiness instead of suffering. I offer you my guidance, empathy, insight and, occasionally, humor.

My Background and Approach

I have worked with a great many couples by facilitating communication and building empathy for one another. We will examine family and relationship history to see what old "baggage" each person is bringing into the relationship. We will look at the history of your current relationship and where and why the problem started that's bringing you into therapy now. The process of un-packing all this combined with my offering you basic communication skills can heal your wounded relationship. I have done couples therapy with many diverse couples over the past 30+ years. At JFKU I studied Family Systems, which is a basic part of understanding your underlying relationship dynamics. I have studied many approaches to this work and, therefore, my style is quite eclectic. I designed and facilitated numerous Couples Workshops for Building Communication and Intimacy Skills. I have also supervised and taught interns about working with couples. My style is warm and supportive.

My Personal Beliefs and Interests

I was lucky enough to grow up a "pink diaper baby" with parents who valued social justice and equality above all else. My mother's family was destroyed in the Holocaust, which gave me great sensitivity to issues of racism, oppression and injustice from an early age. I began my therapy career as a volunteer counselor at the Berkeley Women's Health Collective, as part of my involvement in the Women's Movement. I have supervised interns at the Berkeley Free Clinic, The Pacific Center (LGBTQI counseling), and the Women's Therapy Center, which has a strong commitment to social justice. I have loved having a very diverse practice over the years. In my current life I am a volunteer at the Prisoners Literature Project, sending books to incarcerated people. I am blessed with a wonderful bi-racial granddaughter, which has increased my awareness about white privilege. My passion in my personal life is creating collage and assemblage.

I offer online counseling in the following states:
I have experience with the following
  • Agnosticism
  • Atheism
  • Buddhism
  • Judaism
  • Wicca/Paganism
  • Interfaith
  • Multifaith

At A Glance

  • Experience: 38 years of practice
  • Rate: $165 - 185/session

Info

510-548-6241 Email Esther
6239 College Ave.
Suite #303
Oakland, CA 94618

Reach out to Esther