- 22 years experience
- Emotionally focused support
- Practical skill building
About Matthew
Matthew Esselstrom is a licensed marriage and family therapist practicing in California with 22 years of professional experience. Matthew focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, relationship struggles, anger, motivation, and low self-esteem. He aims to meet people where they are and treat them with respect, sensitivity, and compassion.
He creates therapy plans around each person's needs rather than using one fixed approach. Sessions center on clear, practical conversation about problems and small steps that people can try between meetings. Matthew emphasizes empowerment and supports people as they work toward a more satisfying life.
People come to him for a range of concerns, including grief, trauma and abuse, addictions, codependency, and issues with intimacy. He also helps with life changes such as career moves, parenting stress, or coping after separation. The work often mixes problem-solving, skill-building, and processing emotional experience.
Clients can expect a warm, direct style that balances challenge with encouragement. Matthew listens for patterns that keep a problem going and suggests experiments to test new ways of relating. He adjusts pacing and focus to match each person’s goals and comfort level.
Matthew speaks English and practices in California as an LMFT. He asks people to be ready to share what they hope to change so sessions can start addressing priorities from the first meeting.
Approaches that guide online care and practical change
Matthew uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that help people manage emotions and build skills. One common approach focuses on identifying unhelpful patterns - noticing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that repeat and then testing small changes to shift them. This is useful for anxiety, low motivation, and codependency challenges.Another approach centers on emotion-focused work that helps people name and sit with feelings so those feelings lose power over choices. That method can be useful for grief, relationship strain, and anger. Both approaches are practical and goal-oriented, aimed at changing day-to-day experience rather than only talking about the past.
Finding the right method is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to figure out which techniques fit their needs, goals, and preferences. That decision happens together, and the plan can change as progress is made.
Confirm current session options before booking to know which online formats are offered. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life - it can reduce travel time, allow shorter check-ins during a workday, or avoid the need to be on camera when that helps people feel more comfortable. These practical benefits often help therapy feel more manageable alongside everyday responsibilities.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Experience
22+ years
Credentials
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Matthew commonly help with?
He works with stress, anxiety, relationship issues, anger, self-esteem, addictions, grief, trauma, codependency, and related struggles.
What is his general therapeutic style?
He uses straightforward, practical conversations that focus on small changes and skill building. Sessions combine listening, reflection, and simple experiments to try between visits.
How much clinical experience does he have?
Matthew has 22 years of professional work experience supporting people with a wide range of concerns.
What credentials and location are on record?
He is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) practicing in California.
Which languages are available for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with him?
He does not accept international clients at this time.
How do sessions and payment work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with him?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule based on therapist availability.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.