About Esther Terpenning

Hi, I’m Esther.

Staying connected to your partner can be tough - even when there’s a lot of love in your relationship. In fact, being in love can make it that much more painful when you feel far away from or unheard by your person. I use Emotionally Focused Therapy to help couples who love one another deeply, yet feel like they are missing each other. 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.

I bring my personal and professional experience to my work with individuals as well. 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. In my work with individual clients, I'm passionate about helping clients feel this way too. I especially love working with postpartum moms and parents who want to stop the cycle of dieting in their families and raise kids who are confident around food and love their bodies.

Esther Terpenning smiling at the camera

My Specialties

My therapeutic approach is warm, welcoming, 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.

  • Intuitive eating counseling with folks who want to get out of the cycle of dieting and heal their relationship with food.

Esther Terpenning smiles on a hike in the mountains wearing a pink t-shift and a backpack
headshot of Esther Terpenning smiling

Education & Experience

  • Marriage and Family Therapist Candidate (MFTC.0014360)

  • Postgraduate Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy from the Denver Family Institute

  • Advanced Training in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). I’ve completed over 80 hours of in-depth training in EFT including the EFT Externship and Core Skills.

  • 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.

  • In my former life - a Masters in Music Education & Masters in Ethnomusicology! Then 6 years of experience teaching high school music - working with parents and kids to create healthy and supportive communities and safe spaces for kids to learn.