If you can’t tell from the shockingly creative name of my website…
My name is Ben Esch, and I’m a therapist.
To be technical, I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#155415) in San Marino, serving Pasadena, South Pasadena, the San Gabriel Valley, Northeast Los Angeles, and clients throughout California via telehealth.
My practice focuses primarily on therapy for men, failure-to-launch patterns in young adults and families, and therapy-centered ketamine-assisted psychotherapy preparation, support, and integration. I also work selectively with children, teens, parents, and couples when the fit is right.
My approach is practical, direct, compassionate, and collaborative.
I’m interested in helping people understand the patterns that keep them stuck — whether that means anxiety, depression, OCD, burnout, avoidance, family conflict, relationship strain, self-criticism, chronic pain, trauma, or the feeling that something is off and needs to change.
Therapy with me is not about performing “therapy correctly.” You do not need to have perfect insight, the right emotional vocabulary, or a clear explanation of everything that brought you here.
We start with what is actually happening.
Then we work together to understand what is keeping the pattern going, what needs to shift, and what kind of support, structure, strategy, or practice may help you move forward.
My work draws from several evidence-based and clinically grounded approaches, including CBT, ACT, ERP, SPACE-informed parent work, family systems therapy, Gottman Method couples therapy, Pain Reprocessing Therapy, Brainspotting, psychedelic-assisted therapy training, and other integrative approaches.
But the point is not the acronym.
The point is whether it helps.
Areas of Focus
My current areas of focus include:
Therapy for Men
Practical therapy for men dealing with depression, anxiety, OCD, burnout, relationship strain, self-criticism, and feeling stuck.
Failure to Launch / Stuck Young Adults
Support for young adults and families caught in patterns of avoidance, conflict, low motivation, delayed independence, and parent accommodation.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy / KAP Support
Therapy-centered preparation, support, and integration in collaboration with qualified medical prescribers when appropriate.
Child, Teen, and Parent Support
Selective support for child and teen anxiety, OCD, avoidance, school-related stress, reassurance-seeking, ARFID-related accommodation, and stuck family patterns.
Couples Therapy
Practical, structured support for couples dealing with conflict, disconnection, communication problems, betrayal, premarital concerns, or major life transitions.
Education and Training
Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy
Phillips Graduate University
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Training
Integrative Psychiatry Institute, year-long training program
Pain Reprocessing Therapy Training
Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions / SPACE Training
Training led by Dr. Eli Lebowitz, founder of SPACE
SPACE Training for ARFID and Failure to Launch
Brainspotting Level 1
Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Level 2
Prepare-Enrich Premarital Counseling Certification
Professional Memberships
California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
Southern California Therapy Collective
Glendale Area Mental Health Professionals Association
License Information
Benjamin Meyers Esch
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
California LMFT #155415
Issuance date: May 30, 2025
Expiration date: May 31, 2027
Free Consultation
If you’re interested in working with me, or would like to learn more, the first step is scheduling a free 20-minute phone consultation.
We’ll talk briefly about what is going on, what you are looking for, and whether this feels like a good fit.