Esther Perel

Here at The Couple Summit, there are several world-class professionals whom we admire, both for their academic achievements and for the path that they've gone on to pave for themselves within the world of relationship building. For years, we studied the works of hundreds of individuals. Of those hundreds of authors, scientists, poets, researchers, and noteworthy individuals, we'd like to give extra appreciation and praise towards this specific individual. As part of our 'Masters' series, we’d like to introduce you to our second Master, Esther Perel.

Esther is a famous psychotherapist who has left a profound impact on the field of relationship science. Throughout her professional career, she’s had her name attributed to a number of famous studies on love that have allowed relationship professionals to further understand the ways in which humans build relationships with one another.

Who Is Esther Perel?

Esther Perel is a world-renowned psychotherapist and a New York Times bestselling author who is well known in today’s relationship science community. With her very own therapy practice based in New York City, and an organizational consultant for a number of different international Fortune 500 companies, Esther has become an influential force in the field. Fluent in more than 9 different languages, Esther is a skilled and passionate wordsmith, whose writings have intertwined a poetic melody between eroticism and science. 

Her ability to delicately and carefully analyze the erotic necessities of all human beings has made her work important not only in the field but for humanity at large. With a number of celebrated TED talks that have amassed more than 20 million views worldwide, along with her bestselling title, Mating In Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence, which is available in 25 different languages, Esther Perel stands as a master of the field.

Esther Perel’s Work

When speaking about her approach to relationships, Esther Perel says, “I believe that the quality of our relationships determines the quality of our lives,” and that’s something that her work has supported throughout her vast professional career.

Best known for promoting the concept of Erotic Intelligence, Esther believes that intimacy is, “the enemy of sex.” In other words, in order for couples to maintain intimacy and to ensure that their relationship continues to grow and evolve, it is important to make distancing an important cog in the wheel, in addition, things like transgression, surprises, and of course, play. In other words, Esther’s concept revolves around the idea that human beings must be able to take a step back from one another so that we can continue to view them with a sense of mystery, which she believes is what most relationships are founded on.

Along with her world-renowned concept, Esther has gone on to become the host of two notable podcasts titled, Where Should We Begin?, and How’s Work?. Each podcast looks to address many of the concepts that she promotes and applies within her own private practice, as well as bring in several colleagues who wish to address relationships within the workplace. 

Throughout her extensive career, Esther’s publications include, Mating In Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence (2006), and The State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity (2017).