Esther Boykin

Esther Boykin is a licensed marriage & family therapist and entrepreneur. 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. Esther received her Master of Science from Virginia Tech in 2004 and began her career as a marriage and family therapist. Five years later, she opened 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 which focuses on bringing therapy ideas and therapists outside of the office and into modern culture through media, events, and retreats that focus on her relentless mission to increase access and reduce stigma.

Esther stays engaged in academic and professional development circles, and often presents on compassion fatigue in therapists of color and the role of marketing in mental health advocacy have been well-received in industry circles. Esther is also the author of two books and a sought-after relationship and mental health expert. Esther has been 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, Coveteur, and a myriad of other media outlets.

You can connect with her online via Instagram @estherbmft.