Esther Chen, MA

Hello, I’m Esther. I grew up in Taiwan and now live in France. I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), and I offer online therapy in both English and Mandarin for individuals and couples living across different countries.

Over the past few years, I have found that I am particularly drawn to working with couples. Every relationship carries its own unique story and rhythm. Being able to accompany couples as they navigate conflict, sadness, and uncertainty, and gradually rediscover understanding and connection with each other, is something I find deeply meaningful.

My path toward becoming a couple therapist is closely connected to my own life experience. I grew up in a highly competitive environment in Asia, where expectations from family and society were often very strong. During that time, I began asking deeper questions about how our family background and cultural context shape the way we see ourselves and relate to others.

These questions eventually led me to pursue a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy in the United States. During my training and clinical work, I had the opportunity to work with individuals, couples, and families from many different cultural and social backgrounds. Through these experiences, I became increasingly interested in how culture, migration, and language influence the ways people experience intimacy, conflict, and emotional connection.

Personally, I have also experienced living and studying in different countries, including my years in the United States and my current life in Europe. Learning a new language, adapting to a different culture, and finding a sense of belonging in a new place can be both enriching and challenging. These experiences often involve loneliness, uncertainty, and moments of self-doubt. Because of this, I try to approach my work not from a position of authority, but with humility and curiosity toward each person’s unique journey.

Before becoming a therapist, I completed another master’s degree in philosophy. My years studying philosophy nurtured a deep interest in fundamental questions about life, such as what it means to live a meaningful life, how we understand happiness, and how we navigate difficult choices and relationships. In many ways, these philosophical questions are closely related to the conversations that often unfold in therapy.

For me, therapy is not only about solving problems or “fixing” something that is broken. It can also be a space where people pause, reflect, and explore deeper questions about their lives, relationships, and values.

In my therapeutic work, I believe that meaningful change often emerges through genuine human connection rather than through labels or diagnoses. My hope is to create a warm, safe, and respectful space where clients feel free to explore their inner world, and gradually discover that the capacity for change already exists within themselves.