Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Chandra Estefan, Ph.D., LMFT, PMH-C.
Dr. Chandra, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I may be one of those few lucky ones who knew their life’s path since childhood. I still recall the moment of epiphany in third grade: I stood on the school balcony, looking out to the play yard where the occasional battered stray dog would wander in looking for food and shelter. Growing up in Taiwan, it is not unusual to see stray animals (in fact, they tend to be very clever and resilient). However, we school children always took it upon ourselves to care for those wounded ones, bringing them our leftover breakfast buns and snacks. I had always wanted to be a veterinarian so that I could help the most vulnerable. Seeing yet another dog wander into our schoolyard that day, however, it occurred to me that I could never save them all…”no matter how many animals I rescue, there will always be humans who will hurt them. So if I want to save them, I have to help the humans first,” I thought. Then and there, I decided that I will be a therapist. I believed that if I can help just one person heal their emotional wounds, they will love those around them better, who in turn can love others better, and that makes for a happier world for all. I still believe in this ripple effect today– as a Doctor in Marriage and Family Therapy specializing in trauma and perinatal mental health.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Having set my professional goals since the third grade, my academic path was extremely smooth. What has shaped me most as a person and therapist is my experience with becoming a mother.
We all know that having a child changes your life, but one cannot understand the breadth and gravity of this change until one is living it! I am thankful that I had a very smooth pregnancy and birthing process. What I struggled with the most in the early months–aside from the physical pain of sleep deprivation and the relentless anxiety about absolutely everything baby-wellness related– were the shifts in interpersonal relationships. Adjustments were necessary, yes, but unspoken expectations, expectations that could not be met, and old wounds became vortexes of conflict.
Prior to my giving birth, my private practice focused primarily on trauma work with women. The majority of the presenting issues I addressed with my clients were their wounded relationships with their parents or significant others– exploring and integrating their layered values, identities, and goals. Upon embarking on the journey of motherhood, especially after childbirth and growing through those new relational vortexes, my therapeutic ears became even more attuned. They now listen even more acutely to the narratives surrounding womanhood, mothering, the grief of changed family roles and unmet expectations, the challenges of reforming– and reforming again– one’s identity with every milestone.
My experiences as a mother have enriched my personhood, as well as served as a catalyst for a new therapeutic passion. I am now a Certified Perinatal Mental Health Practitioner through Postpartum Support International, the flagship organization for the training and certification of perinatal health specialists. I am also a Certified EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) Therapist, which means I use science-backed techniques to help my clients work through stuck feelings and thoughts tied to their anxiety, depression, or trauma—including those related to pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Being able to bring both clinical skill and personal experience into the therapeutic room makes for more compassionate and meaningful healing. I’m so proud of the mom and therapist I’ve become!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I formed my private practice in 2016 in the West Texas town of Lubbock. As my life journeyed forward, I carried my slight Texas twang and goal of creating healing ripple effects to Miami in 2021. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, a Certified EMDR Therapist, and a Certified Perinatal Mental Health Practitioner. I am one of the few practitioners in South Florida who addresses the various individual and relational traumas that occur throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum using the EMDR approach. I offer individual and family therapy, as well as postpartum planning and professional consultation. Working with women, moms, and families make my soul sing!
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
God has always had a hand in everything! He likes to sprinkle breadcrumbs for me to follow– whenever I accomplish a goal, He introduces the next through unexpected connections and opportunities. That is not to say that I’ve not encountered difficulty or doubt, or that the honing of my craft has not required dedication and hard work. There were many moments when I felt that I had lost the trail. However, my life’s experience has taught me to be patient, turn inward, and tune into what I’m called to do in the moment. That is where I find the most peace and the ability to carry on. That is also where I usually find the next crumb!
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.bestofmecounseling.com
