- Client-centered approach
- Goal focused
- Mindfulness informed
About Brian
Dr. Brian Esterling brings a client-centered, solution-focused approach to helping people navigate stress, anxiety, depression, and life transitions. He has more than 30 years of experience and frames therapy as a practical process. He works with individual concerns such as self-esteem, career issues, addictions, relationship strain, grief, and anger.
He began his career on the faculty at Duke University Medical Center where he saw clients and supervised psychiatric interns. Later he served as Clinical Director for a national managed care organization, overseeing treatment planning and therapeutic practice across many settings. He now lives in south Florida and chairs a graduate psychology program at a major online university.
Dr. Esterling uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and mindfulness techniques to help people notice how thoughts, feelings, and actions connect. He supports clients in setting clear goals and mapping practical steps toward them. Motivational Interviewing and Solution-Focused Therapy inform short-term planning and change-oriented work.
Sessions focus on clear, doable strategies rather than jargon. He helps people identify obstacles and small changes that build toward bigger goals. His background includes training and clinical leadership across inpatient, outpatient, and intensive care settings, and he draws on that experience when planning treatment.
Outside of work he is an avid competitive rower and a father who enjoys travel, home projects, and restoring a classic sports car. This personal side shapes his practical, goal-minded style in therapy.
How his approaches translate to online therapy
Dr. Esterling uses Client-Centered Therapy to focus sessions on each person's priorities, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to map how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact. Client-Centered work emphasizes the person's own goals and choices, while CBT helps identify practical steps and homework to test changes between sessions. He also draws on Mindfulness Therapy to teach attention and breathing skills that reduce reactivity and support consistent practice.Finding the right blend of approaches is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with the client to choose methods that match goals and preferences, adjusting plans as progress is made. Sessions can include goal-setting, brief skill practice, and reviewing small experiments that clients try in daily life.
Specific session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. In general, online work can help fit therapy into busy schedules, reduce travel time, and make shorter check-ins easier to arrange. It also supports steady follow-through on tasks like CBT homework and mindfulness practice without requiring in-person visits.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
30+ years
Listed in
Florida, North Carolina
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does he address?
He works with stress, anxiety, depression, self-esteem and related concerns such as career strain, addictions, relationship issues, grief, anger, and coping with life changes.
What is his therapeutic style?
The approach is client-centered and solution-focused, using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and mindfulness to link thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to practical steps forward.
What experience does he bring to sessions?
He has 30 years of clinical and leadership experience, including faculty work at Duke University Medical Center and a role overseeing clinical practice for a national managed care organization.
What are his credentials and where is he based?
He is licensed as a North Carolina Psychologist 2085 and a Florida Psychologist PY9451 and is based in Florida.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with him?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin the process?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.