Ben  Esch
Zencare Vetted

Ben Esch

He/Him/His

Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, AMFT
California Accepting Online
Pasadena Accepting In-person
Updated April 11, 2023

Specialties & Expertise

  • Anxiety
  • Life transitions
  • Parenting
  • Premarital counseling
  • Relationship issues
  • Creative blocks & writer's block

Professional statement

Ben Esch is a therapist who specializes in working with senior citizens, childhood anxiety and OCD (both working with children as well as their parents), couples therapy, and creative challenges.

Ben utilizes a strengths-based, solution-focused, and research-informed approach to his work, which emphasizes the healing power of the therapeutic relationship. Ben works with individuals, couples, families, and groups.

In addition to earning his MMFT at Phillips Graduate University, and training at the California Family Counseling Center, Ben has pursued further education through training in Brainspotting (Level 1), Gottman method (level 1), Prepare-Enrich (certified facilitator), and Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) by Dr. Eli Lebowitz from the Yale Child Study Center. Prior to becoming a therapist, Ben was a published author and journalist.

Ben sees clients in-person in Pasadena (in The Florence building on Colorado Boulevard), and throughout the state of California on telehealth.

AMFT #133743

Supervised by Nick Bognar, LMFT #99915


Message to clients

You want to feel better. There are many reasons for seeking therapy, but they usually boil down to that. You might be adjusting to a new challenges in life as a senior citizen, and feeling disconnected from meaningful activities. You might be a parent who feels helpless in the face of your child's overwhelming worry. You may be fighting with your partner too much or connecting too little. You might feel blocked as an artist or creatively unfulfilled.

No matter what brought you here, therapy can be a great way to see your problems in a new light, treat yourself more kindly, identify exciting new goals, and ultimately...feel better.

If you would like to work with me, or if you're curious how therapy could help you, I invite you to schedule a free consultation session with me today. During this session, we'll talk about you, your reasons for seeking therapy, and how our work together can bring you closer to overcoming your problems, achieving your goals, and ultimately...feeling better.


Specialties

Anxiety - Coping with excessive worry, nervousness, or stress; intense discomfort in social settings (social anxiety); sudden and intense feelings of panic (panic disorder)

Life transitions - Coping with difficult or impactful life changes, such as moving to a new area, relationship transitions, child rearing, or career changes; learning self-care to better manage resulting stress

Parenting - Helping parents develop and implement strategies to address challenges that arise throughout childrearing; managing stress and increasing support

Premarital counseling - Providing a safe and neutral environment for couples to explore expectations and prepare for the rewards and challenges of marriage

Relationship issues - Understanding one’s wants and needs in relationships; exploring patterns of interaction, addressing concerns, and strengthening satisfaction in relationships and dating

Creative blocks & writer's block - Setting goals and creating road maps to move beyond perfectionism, procrastination, and self-doubt; building self-awareness and skills to accomplish goals and fuel creativity




Clientele

  • Adults (24+)
  • Children (<12)
  • Couples
  • Families
  • Parents
  • Seniors (65+)
  • Teenagers (13-18)
  • Young adults (18-24)

Insurance

Ben Esch is not in-network with any insurances.

Read about the benefits of seeing an out-of-network provider here.


Out-of-pocket fees

  • Individual sessions: $150 (50min)

Additional session information

Out-of-network billing options

This provider can support you in getting reimbursement from your insurance company if you are seeking out-of-network reimbursement. Here are the out-of-network billing options they provide:

  • Super billing
Payment options
  • Credit Card
  • Debit Card
Session frequency

Frequency of sessions this provider offers to see clients once you are an established client.

  • Weekly
  • Every other week
Therapist's note

I offer a free consultation session on the phone or Zoom prior to starting therapy to see if we're a good fit to work together, or if I can refer you to one of my trusted colleagues.


Location(s)

Online Sessions (California)
Accepting new clients online
Currently Available Times
  • Morning (Before 10am)
  • Daytime (10am - 1pm)
  • Afternoon (1pm - 5pm)
  • Evening (After 5pm)
  • Weekends
Regular Hours
  • Mon 11 AM-5 PM
  • Tue 11 AM-8 PM
  • Wed 11 AM-5 PM
  • Thu 11-AM-8 PM
  • Fri Closed
  • Sat Closed
  • Sun 8 PM-11 PM

Pasadena practice
766 E Colorado Blvd, Suite 108, Pasadena, California 91101
Accepting new clients in-person
Currently Available Times
  • Morning (Before 10am)
  • Daytime (10am - 1pm)
  • Afternoon (1pm - 5pm)
  • Evening (After 5pm)
  • Weekends
Regular Hours
  • Mon 11 AM-5 PM
  • Tue 11 AM-8PM
  • Wed 11 AM-5 PM
  • Thu 11 AM-8 PM
  • Fri Closed
  • Sat Closed
  • Sun Closed

Work and Education

Years of Experience: 1 year


Brainspotting, Level 1, 2023
SPACE, Training, 2023
Gottman Method, Level 1, 2022
Phillips Graduate University, MMFT, 2022
Prepare-Enrich , Facilitator, 2021
UC Berkeley, BA, 2005


Licensure

California: 133743


Languages

English


Therapy Groups

Ben  Esch
Online Class for Parents of Children with Anxiety Problems

Is your child struggling with anxiety? Our online SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) class can help! Learn new, research-backed methods to support your child in a non-judgmental environment. Led by a SPACE-trained clinician.