Esme Peng

Therapist, LMHC

Locations: New York (Virtual)

Insurance: Aetna, Allied Benefit Systems – Aetna, Self-Pay (Out of Pocket)

Languages: English, Mandarin

Availability: Accepting new patients

Out-of-network rate: $200 per session (sliding scale pricing on a case-by-case basis)

To book a free 15 minute consultation, contact us here.

Esme Peng is a bilingual Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with extensive experience supporting children, adolescents, and adults in various clinical settings. She is passionate about working with clients across the lifespan and from diverse cultural and lived backgrounds.

Esme specializes in helping individuals navigate anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, identity development, acculturation stress, and relational challenges. Honoring each person’s unique lived experience, she strives to tailor her approach to meet each client’s individual needs and goals.

She takes an integrative, humanistic approach to therapy, grounded in a trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and strength-based lens. Esme is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and incorporates evidence-based practices including person-centered therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), psychodynamic therapy, and mindfulness-based approaches. Her therapeutic style is warm, collaborative, and non-judgmental, dedicated to creating a safe and supportive space where clients feel heard, seen, and respected.

Esme earned a B.S. with honors in Applied Psychology and an M.A. in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness from New York University. Prior to her training in mental health counseling, she worked in research focused on culture, parenting, and child development—an experience that continues to inform her culturally responsive and developmentally attuned care.

“I see therapy as a meaningful journey clients embark on to reflect on their past, stay grounded in the present, and grow toward a future aligned with their values and beliefs. I view my role as a supportive ally who walks alongside them, helping them recognize their inner strength and build resilience to navigate life with greater clarity, self-acceptance, and confidence.”