I’m esther boykin,
your soft life strategist.
My passion is bridging clinical insight with real-world leadership and personal insight to help people build lives and organizations that feel as good on the inside as they look on the outside.
I am here to help you create a life that lights you up and build a self-compassion practice that will sustain you through the storms.
Whether I’m working with executives on burnout, hosting life-changing retreats, or consulting on mental health equity and workplace wellness, my mission remains the same— to help people live full and joyful lives.
There are countless therapists, coaches, and consultants ready to help you optimize your life... that’s not my approach. I believe that sustainable success is rooted in self-compassion, purpose-driven action, and healthy relationships.
Check out my approach below, and if it resonates, get in touch and let’s see how we can work together.
Interviews & media appearances
the official story
Esther Boykin is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, executive coach, meditation teacher, and retreat creator who has spent over two decades helping individuals and organizations thrive at the intersection of emotional wellness, cultural identity, and authentic leadership.
As the founder of Compassion Collective Retreats, Esther curates luxury wellness experiences that center high-achieving Black women and women of color in their journey to rest, reconnect, and rise. Her retreats are a sacred pause—spaces where pleasure is purposeful and communal care is revolutionary. Whether gathered under the stars in Joshua Tree or at a beachfront villa in Tulum, participants walk away with renewed clarity, deep sisterhood, and the tools to build a life aligned with their values.
Esther is also a sought-after speaker and consultant. From C-suites to college campuses, she brings a culturally attuned lens to leadership, burnout recovery, and self-compassion as a foundation for sustainable success. Her TEDx talk, “Laziness is a Lie,” reframes hustle culture and invites audiences to redefine success on their own terms. As President of NAMI DC, she advocates for inclusive, accessible mental health care.
Her experience as the longtime CEO of Group Therapy Associates and founder of Therapy Is Not a Dirty Word laid the foundation for her unique ability to bridge clinical depth with real-world strategy. Esther’s consulting work has impacted organizations like Verizon, Vonage, and the Tigerlily Foundation, where she has helped build emotionally healthy, inclusive workplace cultures.
In addition to one-on-one therapy and coaching, Esther offers online courses that meet people where they are, making healing accessible, practical, and deeply affirming. Her work continues to inspire both introspection and action—guiding clients to step into lives that feel as good on the inside as they look from the outside.
When she’s not holding space for others, you’ll find her savoring a glass of wine, brewing the perfect French press, or cooking for family and friends. She is a mom to 2 adult children and 2 rescue dogs. She lives and works in the Washington, DC area. She can also be found on Instagram and Linkedin @estherbmft.