Dr. Brian Esterling, NC Psychologist 2085, FL Psychologist PY9451

Dr. Brian Esterling is a licensed psychologist with three decades of clinical and leadership experience. He began his career on the faculty at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC, where he provided outpatient care and supervised psychiatric interns during their clinical rotations. Later he served as Clinical Director for a national managed care organization, overseeing best-practice treatment planning and therapeutic methods among more than 5,000 practitioners across inpatient, partial and intensive outpatient, and outpatient settings. He currently serves as the Chair of the Graduate Psychology program at a major online university in Florida.

Clinically, Dr. Esterling works with individuals affected by depression, anxiety, stress, self-esteem and motivation issues, career challenges, addictions, relationship and family concerns, grief, anger, and coping with life changes. His therapeutic approach blends client-centered principles with solution-focused strategies, helping people define a clear roadmap for what they want to achieve and the steps needed to get there. He uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - which explores links among thoughts, feelings, and behaviors - alongside mindfulness techniques to reduce barriers to short- and long-term goals.

Dr. Esterling earned his undergraduate degree in Psychology and Biochemistry from Rutgers College in New Brunswick, NJ, and his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, FL. He also completed an MBA at Pfeiffer University in Charlotte, NC to better understand financial models that support quality behavioral health care. He is licensed as a psychologist in North Carolina (NC Psychologist 2085) and Florida (FL Psychologist PY9451).

Outside of his professional roles, he is a competitive rower and a devoted father who enjoys spending time with his wife and children, traveling, home improvement projects, and restoring and maintaining his classic sports car.