Esti Tiger, LAC

Life Does Not Have to be Perfect to be Wonderful!

Esti Tiger, LAC's style

Why Esti Tiger, LAC chose to be in the helping profession

I have always felt a strong desire to understand and support others. From a young age, I was drawn to the emotional side of people's experiences, and over time that pull grew into a deep interest in emotional awareness and human connection. I genuinely enjoy getting to know people, learning what makes them who they are, and connecting with them on a meaningful level. There's something in me that naturally tries to understand what someone may be feeling and what they might need in a given moment, even before they've found the words for it themselves. When others share their experiences with me, I feel empathy, curiosity, and a real desire to understand their perspective, not just to hear it, but to sit inside it with them for a while.

My passion for this work comes from a belief that no one should have to navigate life's challenges alone. I am deeply committed to helping people feel seen, understood, and supported through life's most vulnerable, beautiful, and confusing moments, the ones that don't always make sense even to the person living through them. Whether that looks like offering encouragement, hope, insight, or simply a compassionate listening ear, my goal is always the same: to create a space where people can show up exactly as they are. No performing, no pretending, just honesty and care. That's the kind of space I try to hold for every person I work with, one where they feel genuinely seen and genuinely supported.

Esti Tiger, LAC's approach

I view therapy as a valuable tool that can help us all live more fulfilling and meaningful lives. Sometimes, clients simply need a safe space, a fresh perspective, or gentle guidance to help uncover the answers and strengths that already exist within them. Other times, listening and uncovering strengths isn't enough, and it's helpful to use specific, research supported strategies for processing trauma, overcoming fears, setting boundaries, or communicating better. My approach is warm, genuine, compassionate, and collaborative, and I believe you'll gain the most from therapy when you feel truly seen, heard, understood, and supported.

I strive to be the type of therapist I would want for myself or my own friends and family, someone who creates a safe, nonjudgmental environment where you can show up authentically, explore personal challenges openly, and feel comfortable being yourself. I aim to meet you where you're at, while providing support, insight, and practical tools for growth and healing. I'm trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for anxiety and depression and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD and other anxiety disorders, and I also incorporate mindfulness, grounding techniques, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) tapping, and Internal Family Systems (IFS) informed approaches. I take a holistic approach with an emphasis on the mind-body connection, so you can better understand your emotional responses and triggers, calm inner restlessness and tension, and develop effective coping skills to use in everyday life between sessions. Ultimately, I want to help you break free from cycles of fear, uncertainty, avoidance, and self-doubt, so you can feel greater confidence, resilience, and peace of mind.

What you can expect from sessions with Esti Tiger, LAC

You can expect your sessions with me to feel warm, connected, and goal-oriented. My work is client-focused, so I follow your lead, while also offering gentle guidance about strategies when helpful. I'm trained in many techniques that are research supported for helping overcome specific difficulties, like anxiety, OCD, and PTSD triggers, so after I get to know you, I'm likely to suggest we use some session time to practice specific tools (these are usually informed by CBT, ERP, ACT, or a trauma processing framework). I'm also likely to suggest "homework," ways to try new strategies in between sessions, because I find that real change tends to happen as much in everyday life as it does in the room.

For example, we may use some of our session time for an exposure and response prevention exercise for OCD, a self talk script for self doubt, an imagery and tapping technique for reducing a triggered response, a grounding skill for reducing panic, or a communication skill for enhancing relationships. Of course it's okay if you don't do your homework. I find that it's empowering to come away from a session with a plan that builds skills you can actually use in everyday life, not just something to think about until our next appointment. I believe that meaningful change is absolutely possible, and I bring a positive, "coaching" style to our work together. I'll cheer you on. My sessions are nonjudgmental, supportive, and grounded, creating a safe, collaborative space, whether you're looking for a place to openly process and vent, or hoping to address deeper fears, trauma, or patterns that feel stuck. Either way, I'm here to support you in working toward your goals.

Esti Tiger, LAC's experience working with the Jewish community

In my work as a therapist, I have come to appreciate how important religion and faith can be in the therapeutic process, and how meaningful it is to have a therapist who is attuned to your religious experiences and values. I grew up in a frum community and have experience working with individuals from a wide range of hashkafos within Judaism, including those who are converting to Judaism, baalei teshuva, as well as Modern Orthodox, Yeshivish, and Chassidish communities. I see each person as an individual, while also recognizing the significant impact that religious beliefs, cultural context, and level of observance can have on the way we experience ourselves, our community support, and our personal strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes religious experiences help us feel supported and loved, while other times they bring up guilt or an unhealthy sense of unworthiness, and it's important to me to understand the way religious beliefs and experiences affect you personally, so that we can work toward enhancing positive religious supports and healing the messages that aren't serving you. I approach everyone without judgment, with culturally sensitive respect and emotional and spiritual support.

My own religious beliefs greatly shape what I do, because I believe that we are all beloved by HaShem, and that being a therapist is Kadosh work, something that should not be taken lightly. I invest in extra trainings and supervision because I believe it's my responsibility to be the best I can be, as a resource to others, and because the people who trust me with their stories deserve nothing less. I believe HaShem is rooting for us and wants us to succeed, and that belief helps me see the best in everyone I work with. It's part of what allows me to maintain a sense of hope and optimism as we work together, even in the hardest moments, and to hold that hope steady for you when you can't quite hold it for yourself.

Esti Tiger, LAC's Book Recommendation Zone

• Atomic Habits, James Clear
  This book is a perfect compliment to therapy and any self-help journey! It helps build motivation for change by showing how even tiny adjustments in how we think and manage our priorities can lead to massive transformations over time. It’s all about working smarter, not harder, to create daily routines that actually stick. It's written in a warm, encouraging style that makes perosonal growth almost feel like an exciting adventure.
• The Body Keeps Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk, M.D.
  This book helps explain how abuse and trauma effect mind and body in ways we don't commonly realize. Many people reading the book finally connect the dots in their past and can finally make sense of feelings, behaviors and patterns in themselves that have been a source of self-judgement or shame. Understanding brings the ability to be more self-accepting and also the ability to heal childhood trauma and begin feeling better!
• Gratitude Journals like The Original Gratitude Journal
  Research shows that gratitude journaling really does elevate our mood. It might sound cliched but it really works! A formal journal with prompts makes journaling more engaging and can help us stretch beyond a basic thank you list.
• The How of Happiness: A New Approach to Getting the Life You Want, Sonja Lyubomirsky
  I love this book because uses a positive psychology approach to highlight what elements of life truly promote happiness. It's based on real research- not just nice ideas, and it is full of practical tools and examples. Much of it is in workbook style so it is easy to read and implement. It's empowering to see that small changes can lead to big differences in mood and outlook!

Approaches

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Attachment-based
• Breathwork
• Career Counseling
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Couples Counseling
• Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
• Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
• Inner child work
• Internal Family Systems (IFS)

Concerns

• Anxiety
• Body image
• Chronic illness
• Dating
• Dissociative disorders
• Emotion regulation
• Infertility
• Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Prenatal, perinatal, & postpartum mental health
• Relationships
• Transitions & Change
• Trauma

1 years in practice

Licenses

• Licensed Associate Counselor by New Jersey 2026. License number Pending
• Licensed Associate Counselor by Israel

Average costs per session

$120 - $180

Payment Methods

• Insurance
• Sliding Scale
• Free consultation
• Cash
• Zelle Quick Pay

Insurances

• Aetna