Matthew Esselstrom
Calm, practical guidance for life changes
- Credentials
- LMFT
- Experience
- 22 years
- Licensed in
- California
- Languages
- English
- Format
- Online sessions
About Matthew
Matthew Esselstrom is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) practicing in California with 22 years of professional experience. Matthew focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, and motivation struggles. He also addresses relationship difficulties, anger, addiction concerns, grief, and mood conditions like depression and bipolar disorder.
He aims to treat each person with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. Sessions are tailored to what each person brings in. Matthew listens, asks practical questions, and helps map small steps forward.
Background and approach
In the therapy room he works collaboratively to clarify goals and try approaches that fit a person’s life. He adapts his conversations and plans to the situation rather than using a one-size-fits-all method. That means some sessions focus on coping skills while others look at patterns in relationships or routines.
Matthew draws on evidence-based therapeutic techniques to address issues such as trauma, addiction, ADHD, and intimacy-related problems. He also supports people facing life changes, caregiver stress, or complicated family dynamics. His background includes work with a wide range of concerns including eating and sleeping problems, attachment issues, and codependency.
People who meet with Matthew can expect straightforward guidance and practical strategies. He frames the work as a joint effort toward clearer thinking and healthier habits. For those ready to take steps toward change, he offers steady support and a plan that fits individual needs.
Approaches that translate to online care
Matthew uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that translate well to remote sessions. One approach focuses on building practical coping skills for stress and anxiety, teaching breathing, grounding, and problem-solving steps people can practice between meetings. Another approach addresses patterns in relationships and self-esteem by helping people notice unhelpful thoughts and try different ways of relating to others and themselves. These methods are practical and centered on real-life change.Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Matthew works with each person to choose techniques that match their goals, needs, and preferences. Together they review what helps and adjust the plan as therapy progresses so the work stays relevant and useful.
Online therapy offers flexibility for busy lives. Video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging let people connect in ways that fit their schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to keep momentum, practice new skills during the week, and fit therapy into a varied routine.
Frequently asked questions
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Anger management
Also works with
- Abandonment
- Addictions
- ADHD
- Antisocial personality
- Attachment issues
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Bipolar disorder
- Blended family issues
- Career difficulties
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Co-morbidity
- Coaching
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Compassion fatigue
- Control issues
- Coping with life changes
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Dependent personality
- Depression
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Divorce and separation
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Eating disorders
- Emptiness
- Family conflicts
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Gender dysphoria
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- Impulsivity
- Infidelity
- Intellectual disability
- Intimacy-related issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- LGBT
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Mood disorders
- Narcissism
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Parenting issues
- Personality disorders
- Phobias
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Self esteem
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sleeping disorders
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Trauma and abuse
- Young adult issues
- Experience
- 22 years
- Licensed
- California
- Languages
- English
Next step
Talk to Matthew
- Takes a few minutes
- Nothing to set up just to look
- Stop at any point