Esther Hwang

Have you been feeling overwhelmed or hopeless? Are you struggling with feelings of anger or uncertainty? Whether for you, your child, or your family, figuring out how to start the healing process can be confusing and intimidating on your own. Finding the right guidance and support can make all the difference.

Through more than 18 years of service as a counselor, teacher, and children’s minister, Esther has cultivated a deep understanding and love for people. Her experience as a daughter, wife, and mother of two, has additionally enabled Esther to empathize with a variety of life stages and experiences. Esther’s areas of expertise include children and teen issues, anxiety, ADHD, parent-child relationships, depression, grief and loss, identity issues, and life transitions.

Valuing compassionate collaboration with her clients, Esther understands that therapeutic partnerships should be built on trust and empathy. Esther’s emphasis on multicultural sensitivity facilitates her openness to the diverse backgrounds of her clients. Esther’s personal and professional experience, including her English and Korean bilingualism and service at the Korean American Family Counseling Center, allows her to create a nurturing environment for clients with multiethnic, multicultural, and immigrant backgrounds to safely process their experiences. Esther believes tailoring her therapeutic approach to her client’s individual needs is most effective in empowering them toward healing.

As a Licensed Professional Counselor in the Commonwealth of Virginia, Esther’s therapeutic approach utilizes evidence-based interventions such as play therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and EMDR. Esther received her Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Counseling from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. She completed her internship at Millwood Hospital in Texas as well as her residency at the National Counseling Group. Esther also studied Biblical Counseling at the Biblical Counseling Foundation and can integrate this approach for clients seeking Christian counseling.