Esin Pinarli was double majoring in English literature and psychology when her own life started to look like the kind of story she was studying—the one where the character you're rooting for can't get out of her own way. She was anxious, fearful of her future, and going through her own addiction.

She almost became a professor. Instead, her pain redirected her entire life.

She went through the full course of treatment and experienced firsthand what it feels like to sit in that chair and wonder if any of it is going to work. That experience became the foundation for everything she built after. She started her career as a primary therapist at an inpatient facility, learned from every clinician and client she worked alongside, and eventually became a clinical director before launching her own practice.

Today Esin is a licensed clinical social worker, holistic psychotherapist, and wellness coach. She treats anxiety, depression, trauma, and addiction, bringing her own recovery into the room not as a credential but as an ethos: I've been where you are, and I know what it takes to get to the other side of it.

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This episode is sponsored by Guardian Recovery. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction or mental health challenges, Guardian can help. Visit https://www.guardianrecovery.com or call 888-721-3790 for confidential support and guidance.