Hi, I’m esther boykin.
The list of things I do professionally is long but there’s really only one thing you need to know...
I am committed to creating spaces for folks just like you to be seen, heard, honored, and supported in your growth, whatever that looks like for you.
Whether I’m on tv, hosting a podcast, in my office with clients, or consulting with other therapists, my purpose is clear. I strive to be a voice of wisdom and compassion and my focus is to offer an opportunity to do deep and transformative work to help people live full and joyful lives.
If you are looking for a guide and companion on your journey to deeper self-awareness, more loving connections, and truly meaningful work, I’m the one you’re looking for.
Click the button to see how we can we work together or keep reading below for details on my professional expertise and endeavors.
the official story
Esther Boykin is a psychotherapist who wants to live in a world where everyone believes that Therapy Is Not A Dirty Word. Whether in her role as CEO of Group Therapy Associates, a coach, consultant, author, or media expert, she works daily to make mental health accessible, innovative, and culturally relevant for all people.
In 2004 with a Master of Science from Virginia Tech and a vision of making mental health widely accessible to all, Esther Boykin began her career as a marriage and family therapist. Five years later, with her passion for therapy and relationships growing, Esther began her entrepreneurial journey by opening Group Therapy Associates—a psychotherapy practice in the Washington, D.C. metro area.
After several years as CEO of Group Therapy Associates, Esther expanded the company to include a new division called Therapy Is Not A Dirty Word. This new brand is focused on bringing therapy ideas and therapists outside of the office and into modern culture through media, events, and retreats with a focus on her relentless mission to increase access and reduce stigma.
In addition to her role as a licensed marriage & family therapist and entrepreneur, Esther stays engaged in academic and professional development circles. Her presentations on compassion fatigue in therapists of color and the role of marketing in mental health advocacy have been well-received in industry circles. She also served as an adjunct professor at Virginia Tech teaching a course developed by her called the Business of Therapy, which is also the foundation for her small group consulting program by the same name.
Esther is also author of two books and a sought-after relationship and mental health expert by media and corporate influencers. She was recently named a top 21 relationship expert by Cosmopolitan magazine and has appeared on NBC’s Today show, Bravo’s Real Housewives of Potomac, HuffPost, Good Morning Washington, The Wall Street Journal, Refinery 29, and a myriad of other media outlets.
When she’s not running a business, being a therapist, or wowing an audience, Esther is geeking out on design, searching for the perfect espresso, and figuring out how to make spaces around her even more beautiful. You can connect with her online via Instagram and Twitter
My businesses
Group Therapy Associates
At Group Therapy Associates, you’ll find creative and compassionate therapists who are committed to helping you break out of the patterns in your life that no longer serve your best life.
A private practice serving clients in person and online, with clinicians skilled at giving you the tools to create a new story and expand into a fuller version of yourself. We will teach you how to transform these therapeutic conversations into real life change.
Get to know my therapy team better at www.grouptherapyassociates.com.
therapy is not a dirty word
Born as the brain child of Esther and her friend Erica Turner, LMFT, Therapy Is Not A Dirty Word began as a social media campaign designed to encourage open conversations about therapy and mental health.
The hashtag and accompanying posts got so much love that the campaign has grown into an entire division of merch, media, virtual and in-person events, all designed to give you a new way to get to know therapy and therapists.
Learn more at www.therapyisnotadirtyword.com