Esther Loewen

As a member of the LGBTQ+ community and someone with a long history in conservative Christian spaces, I know that it can be scary to reach out to a therapist. Life itself often feels uncertain. What I believe is that even in ambiguity, you already know what you need next. When you're ready, it would be my honor to help you along the way.

I grew up in a small WA farm town within an insulated conservative Christian denomination. Before I had the courage and clarity to come out of the closet, I worked as an ordained pastor for two decades. Therapy is my second profession, and it is a much better fit! I love it because I get to be real and help my clients do the same.

My "mother tongue" in therapy is DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy), which is an amazing evidence-based approach that provides a lovely mix of mindfulness practices with practical skills. Stylistically, I also draw on Motivational Interviewing techniques, attachment-therapy, postmodern approaches, and have been trained in DBTPE for trauma.

You're much more likely to hear me say, "That's understandable, I can see how you might've reacted that way...", than "Why you'd do THAT?!?" At my core, I'm deeply empathetic and curious -- these characteristics guide how I show up in the room. My voice is calm and compassionate -- yet strong and encouraging.

Our first session will feel a little different from the rest. We'll get to know each other just a bit, and I'll ask you a bunch of questions about your life experiences (some of which you might put off until future sessions). After that, we will craft a plan together for how we will use our time in therapy to be the most helpful for you.

I work collaboratively with every patient to clarify what you want to gain out of therapy, and then agree on a plan that will help you get there. I have lots of knowledge, wisdom, and experience - but you are the expert of your own life. Along the way, I see flexibility as an asset to allow for adjusting our approach as symptoms change.