Esther Chelladurai, MS, LPC -MHSP, LADAC II

Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Drug and Alcohol Counselor
$125 per 50-minute session

“You are not alone; We can remold together!”

Life happens. We can feel overwhelmed and powerless. There can be situations that can crush us. Sometimes, it’s hard to remember that we have the potential to find solutions to problems or just realize our self-worth. However, we need not be dazed or confused. We might need a helping hand along the way, and that is okay! Self-harm or suicide is NOT an option. 

We can find hope and healing together!

About Me

I am a dual-licensed professional. Currently, I hold LPC-MHSP and LADAC-II licenses. License #5956; #1562. These licensures enable me to practice as a Mental Health Counselor and as a Licensed Addiction Specialist. 

I have experience working with people from ages 3 to 85. This wide array of personal and professional experiences has contributed immensely to my ability to relate to my clients, regardless of age, gender, and culture.

First and foremost, I strive to establish a safe place for my clients. It is a huge success when we feel at ease, relaxed, and relieved during the session. It gives us an opportunity to be present in the moment and process our thoughts and feelings without any judgment. 

Areas of Speciality

Currently, I work with children, teens, young adults, and adults.

Adolescents & ADHD

I help the adolescent population identify their niche in life. Together, we strive to resolve identity issues due to disruptions from the past, explore different parts of self, promote confidence and assertiveness, and promote transition to healthy adulthood. 

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder that requires medical and mental health diagnosis. As an experienced professional who has worked with clients of all ages in this area, I help clients reframe their negative perception about this diagnosis. Next, we team up to identify tools that can help them best manage their challenges. I join hands with parents to best help their children struggling with symptoms of ADHD. Together, we connect, nurture, empower, and promote skill building for long term solutions. 

Addiction

In addition to being a Licensed Professional Counselor (provisional), I am also a licensed alcohol and drug abuse counselor. 

If you are currently involved in any risky use of substances or alcohol and

  • experience severe withdrawal symptoms 
  • engage in daily substance abuse despite severe consequences
  • unable to cut down or stop using or drinking
  • experience unmanageability in multiple areas of your life

You will need a higher level of care than just weekly therapy sessions. 

If you are starting to sense your dependence on substances, and you want to proactively change your lifestyle by adopting a healthy routine that does not involve the use of any alcohol or substances, we can recover together! 

Please DO NOT drive or operate any vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Compulsive Overeating (Binge Eating, Emotional Eating, Bulimia)

If you are someone with restrictive eating and or purging behaviors, we can collaborate and overcome self-sabotaging behaviors. Many of my clients have successfully resolved negative core beliefs and have identified healthy, best practices for their life. 

If you currently experience

  • significant amount of weight loss. Weight is less than 75 percent of target body weight or BMI is less than 16. Acute weight decline with clinically significant food refusal even if not below 75 percent of healthy body weight. 
  •  Any of the following sustained medical complications: bradycardia <40, blood pressure <90/60 mmHg, body temperature <97, potassium level <3, electrolyte imbalance, dehydration, or evidence of cardiac, hepatic, or renal compromise as per laboratory testing.
  • experience dental issues and moderate to severe lack of nutrition
  • Unable to control purging behaviors
  • Suicidal thoughts and plan
  • Co-occurring mental health/psychiatric issues 

You will require a higher level of care- partial hospitalization, inpatient treatment, etc.  

Help for Parents of Children and Adolescents

Raising a child requires parenting skills that are not taught in any school. We find ourselves repeating some of the same negative parenting techniques employed by our parents and expect different results. Sometimes, we struggle to understand the needs and demands of our children or teens. As a therapist, I can coach you on parenting and communication skills that result in a trusting relationship with your child. Striving to establish a healthy relationship early on in their development is of utmost importance.

Together, we can identify customized interventions needed to promote trust and authentic relationships.

Trauma Healing

Sometimes, it’s hard to understand what can constitute trauma and why our body reacts the way it does. One can experience panic attacks, anxiety, depression, isolation, and may not recognize the underlying reasons that might contribute to these symptoms. It is crucial to resolve the past and not be stuck in the past. Another definition of insanity is “the need/want to change our past.” This might contribute to distress and unmanageable negative ruminations. Processing our past traumas or blockages can help us to embrace our past, reinvent who we are, and who we are meant to be. We can explore freedom together!

I am a Phase one and high acuity trained therapist in brainspotting. Find more information on Brainspotting.

https://brainspotting.com/about-bsp/what-is-brainspotting/

Grief and Loss

One of the biggest losses one can experience is the loss of self-identity. It is crucial to realize our identity without the noises that drown us. Additionally, Grief/loss can disable our day-to-day activities. It is extremely important to seek support during such trying times. Many of us overlook the losses we have experienced over the years. We question ourselves as to why life seems so meaningless, and why we feel apathy? We can heal together from the losses and unravel new meanings to our existence. 

When we realize that we need a change, we need to TAKE ACTION. Therapy helps us best when we learn about our wants and we are open to take action to change the trajectory of our life!

My areas of specialty are:

  • ADHD
  • Life Transitions – Teen, Adolescent, and Adult populations
  • Grief Counseling
  • Body Image/Eating struggles
  • Parenting Skills; Parent-child relationship
  • Addiction counseling  
  • Trauma-Focused Therapy - Level 1 trained in Brainspotting. 
  • Grief Counseling
  • Career Counseling

I specialize in helping clients with the following challenges:

  • ADHD
  • Anxiety
  • Attachment
  • Behavioral and emotional Regulation
  • Career Counseling
  • Codependency
  • Coping Skills
  • Depression
  • Dual Diagnosis
  • Grief
  • Peer and Parental Relationships
  • School Issues
  • Self Esteem
  • Self-Harming
  • Spirituality
  • Stress
  • Substance Use
  • Suicidal Ideation
  • Trauma and PTSD

How I Help Clients Heal and Grow:

As a huge believer in epigenetics, I love the fact that our genes are not “set in stone” but are restorable through both nature and nurture. Neuroplasticity is the fascinating ability of the brain to reorganize synaptic connections, especially in response to learning or experience. Science has proven yet again that we need not remain stuck in the past, but we can build a better future. And here’s the great part: you don’t have to do it alone!

I foster hope and confidence in every client I meet. I take time to understand the person’s story and the systems that interact with them. Together, we integrated evidence-based strategies that will serve clients best.

Together, we break it down into simple steps by being SMART☺

Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic/ relevant, and Time bound.

I aim to offer holistic wellness, and I engage with a problem differently that strives to cut through physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs.

I recognize the roles played by different parts of the brain. By doing so, I grasp the underlying reasons for different emotional and behavioral issues seen in ADHD, Anxiety, depression, and so on.

Also, I have found immense success in bringing together healthy relationships and engaging members of the families to build each other up. I actively explore different support systems with my clients and elicit motivation to create a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle. I help them visualize a future where they not only live but thrive!

It gives me immense joy to see my clients bloom and reap the benefits of their hard work.

Treatment Modalities:

  • Brainspotting
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
  • Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy
  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
  • Reality Therapy
  • Psychodrama
  • Somatic processing
  • Trust Based Relational Interventions

My Story and Background

About half a decade ago, life circumstances led me to stop, think, and reflect on how I wanted to live the rest of my life. Though I was a successful entrepreneur at that point, I wanted to serve humanity in a more fulfilling way and write my own story differently. I wanted to be that pillar of change for my family. As I explored and meditated on the paths to take, I was divinely led to counseling. Though I had no prior knowledge about this field, having a computer science engineering background, I wasted no time in my quest for meaning!

I had only heard about miracles. It’s bizarre to realize that I am currently living in one. My individual experience has paved the way to impart the same hope and exploration to my clients as well. Sometimes it takes a miracle to realize our passion!

I chose to study at Lipscomb University, the only Southern university that offered clinical mental health counseling with an addiction specialization. The education gave me a dual perspective on life’s problems. I love the brain and how it works! Learning more about the brain and its connections to our temperament helped me conceptualize problems and collaborate effectively with my clients.

What are you waiting for? “We can either have reasons or results; we cannot have both.”

I am so glad to be part of TN Mental Wellness because I love Emily’s vision, mission, and neurological focus. I was encouraged to build on my passions and give back to the community. I am delighted to be part of an authentic and compassionate team!

A Little Fun

When I am not counseling, I love being outdoors with my family. I also love gardening, working out, cooking, trekking, and dancing! Although I have never considered myself adventurous, after moving to Tennessee, I have enjoyed whitewater rafting and ziplining in the Smokies!

If reasons have kept you from change and you need results, there is still hope, healing, and authentic support!

Next Steps

Call/text 615-510-4551 to schedule an appointment, or Contact us to make an appointment! We offer a free 15-minute phone consultation if needed. Have your questions ready! In-person therapy is highly recommended; we also provide telehealth options.