Dr. Brian Esterling

Dr. Brian Esterling is a licensed psychologist with three decades of clinical experience. He draws on client-centered care to help people reduce stress, manage anger, and cope with life changes. He combines practical tools and respectful listening to help people move toward goals they care about.

He trained in clinical psychology and has worked in university, inpatient, outpatient, and managed care settings. He taught and supervised trainees at Duke University Medical Center and later oversaw treatment quality across a national organization. He now chairs a graduate psychology program at an online university in Florida.

In sessions he focuses on concrete steps clients can take right away. He uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to look at how thoughts, feelings, and actions connect. He teaches mindfulness techniques to help people notice patterns and respond differently in stressful moments.

He also uses solution-focused methods and motivational interviewing to set clear, attainable goals and to build momentum toward them. Those approaches are often paired with coaching-style guidance for career concerns and behavior change work. Clients leave with small, practical actions they can try between sessions.

Outside of practice he rows competitively and spends time with his wife and two children. He enjoys travel and working on classic sports cars. His background blends clinical work, program leadership, and teaching.

How his approaches translate to online therapy

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on the client's goals and priorities, using listening and reflection to shape the work. It helps people clarify what matters and decide next steps. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and teaches practical skills to break unhelpful patterns. It is often used for anxiety, depression, and anger. Mindfulness Therapy trains simple attention practices to notice stress reactions and choose different responses, which can reduce reactivity and improve focus.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work collaboratively to match methods to the client's needs, goals, and preferences. Together they will try techniques, review what helps, and adjust the plan as needed so sessions feel useful and manageable.

Confirm current session options before booking, because the biography does not list specific formats. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a workday, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when needed. It also gives more flexibility for scheduling around life demands while keeping the focus on practical skills and goal progress.