Esther Heffler

Hey there! I’m Esther and a belief I firmly live by that best explains my therapeutic style is “human first, therapist second.” By modeling authenticity, I help clients build the courage to practice vulnerability — unlocking connection, resilience, and healing.

I break the mold of the “stiff, scripted therapist” stereotype while still maintaining the clinical depth of working from a trauma-informed lens and utilizing evidence-based practices.

When asked how I found my way to this work, I often say the counseling profession chose me. I’ve always had a deep passion for building connections and engaging in meaningful conversations — whether about love and joy or heartbreak and hardship. My love for San Antonio, the culture, and the people who make it home guided my path as well, leading me to earn both my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and my Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at UTSA.

As a Latina of mixed heritage, I carry with me the lived experience of navigating multiple cultural identities. This perspective allows me to speak to the unique challenges, strengths, and complexities that come with belonging to more than one world — and sometimes feeling torn between the two. I understand the importance of honoring cultural values, identity, and generational experiences in the healing process, and I strive to create a space where all parts of a person’s story are welcomed.

My journey to becoming the Licensed Professional Counselor I am today has been one I am immensely grateful for. My training and experience has come from working within different levels of care in a high acuity psychiatric hospital, in the public school system (as a mental health counselor), at non-profit agencies, and private practice.

I bring humor, gentle directness, and humanity into session while honoring your unique needs and pace. My style works especially well for people who’ve often felt misunderstood or minimized. My goal is to provide clients the space where their vulnerability is honored, so that their own sense of authenticity can flourish.

Although vulnerability is uncomfortable, it has the power to change your life. This work is deeply personal and my hope is to have the privilege of being entrusted to support you in accessing your authentic self and guiding you on your journey to growth and change.

My counseling approach is tailored to each individual and grounded in collaboration. Our work together often includes processing thoughts and emotions that feel heavy, clarifying personal goals and values to guide meaningful change, identifying barriers and practical solutions, and building insight and effective coping skills. Most importantly, I focus on empowering you to take ownership of your healing process. I work from a person-centered and trauma-informed lens and draw from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Reality Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Narrative Therapy.