Hi, I’m Esther Terpenning

I’ve always gotten so much meaning from building genuine connections with other humans.

It’s one of the great joys of being a therapist that I get to do this with my amazing clients. I look forward to getting to know you and building an authentic therapeutic connection that will help support you in your goals.

I’ve always been a people person who wanted to help others, but it took me a while (as it does for a lot of folks!) to figure out how I wanted my life to look. After teaching high school for several years, I found myself reevaluating my priorities while home with my young children in the early days of the pandemic. By becoming a therapist, I have a career that keeps the parts of teaching I loved best – building genuine connections with people and adding value to families’ lives – while giving me the balance I crave as a mom. My approach is nurturing, compassionate, intuitive, and grounded in evidence-based practice. I have a particular interest in helping parents of young children and pregnant and postpartum couples navigate the challenges that come with life with kids.

My therapeutic style is warm, nurturing, LGBTQIA-affirming, accepting of all bodies, anti-diet, and kink-aware. Some of my particular specialties include: 

  • Couples who love each other, but feel disconnected and want to get back to feeling seen, understood, and valued by their partner.

  • Pre-marital & Pre-baby Couples, who want support in getting off to the right start or preparing their relationship to withstand the transition to parenthood.

  • Parents who are struggling with how their relationship has changed after having kids.

  • Pregnant and postpartum moms who want to find peace with their changing lives and bodies.

Discovery Call
Let's discover if we are right for each other. Request a free discovery call with me today.
For my established clients, please visit my booking portal to schedule a session.
Existing Clients

Therapy for New Parents

The time around when a baby is born can be challenging, scary, transformative, and full of fear and joy. As a mom, I understand how important it is to have space to process birth, parenthood and all that it brings. I love helping folks navigate their pregnancies and transition into parenthood with as much support and love around them as possible. 

Couples Therapy

Our relationship with our partners can give us so much when they’re healthy – security, love, comfort, playfulness, and excitement. Yet when we feel disconnected from the person we love it can be incredibly painful. This happens for many of us, often in times when we’re dealing with other big changes and stressors like a new marriage, a new baby, or just a new stage of life. Your relationship can be a safe harbor that keeps you grounded when the world is stressful. I use Emotionally Focused Therapy to help couples find their way back to feeling connected, build genuine connection, and security in their relationship.

Intuitive Eating Counseling & Therapy for Body Image

Body image hasn’t always been easy for me, especially through the transition to being a mom. I’ve worked hard (and I’m still working!) to get to a place where I feel confident in my body and relaxed around food. I’m passionate about helping clients feel this way too. As a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, I love working with postpartum moms who have more important things to do than worry abut their weight! I’m also passionate about helping parents stop the cycle of dieting in their families and raise kids who are confident around food and love their bodies.

My Education and Credentials:

  • Marriage and Family Therapist Candidate (MFTC.0014360)
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy from the Denver Family Institute
  • Training in Emotionally Focused Therapy including completion of the Externship, and supervision with a Certified EFT Supervisor. Core Skills training to be completed in 2023!
  • Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor. I completed the professional course put together by Elyse Resch and Evelyn Tribole, the creators of intuitive eating. I also completed group supervision with Evelyn Tribole.
  • Masters in Music Education & Masters in Ethnomusicology
  • 6 years of experience teaching high school music – working with parents and kids to create healthy and supportive community and safe spaces for kids to learn.
  • Member of American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) & The Association for Size Diversity and Health (ASDAH)

”I define connection as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.”

– Brene Brown