Paul Estenson, Ph.D.

Paul Estenson is a licensed clinical psychologist.  He earned his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Michigan, following his undergraduate education at Carleton College, where he majored in anthropology.  Dr. Estenson has had a private practice for over thirty years; he has a great range of therapeutic knowledge and experience.

For two decades Dr. Estenson was the psychological consultant to the substance abuse programs at Chelsea Community Hospital and to Chelsea Arbor, the joint venture between Chelsea Hospital and the University of Michigan.  He was the founding coordinator of the Older Adult Chemical Dependency unit, and for many years served on the faculty of the University of Utah School on Alcoholism and Other Dependencies.  At Chelsea Hospital Dr. Estenson also served as consultant to the inpatient and outpatient psychiatric programs, the inpatient physical medicine program, and to the social workers in the inpatient head pain unit.  In addition to these hospital experiences, he has served as a consultant to school and mental health programs, including several Washtenaw Intermediate School District programs, St. Louis School for Boys, and Livingston County Community Mental Health.  These many and varied opportunities have given him a great deal of experience with a wide range of mental health issues and, perhaps more importantly, have given him a chance to understand the ways in which systems – hospitals, schools, families… – influence individuals and are often part of the problem and part of the solution at the same time.

Dr. Estenson has a generalist practice.  He sees children and adults in individual and family therapy; he also sees couples in marital therapy. His clients see him for a range of problems, including depression, anxiety, substance use concerns, compulsive behaviors, under controlled behavior, and family or marital impasses.  While he has had extensive training in psychoanalytic and structural family therapy practices, his work is most informed by narrative therapy.  This approach to therapy focuses on building on the client’s own successful practices of living to resolve or migrate away from problematic patterns.

In addition to offering therapy services, Dr. Estenson provides training through the Center’s postgraduate training program in family therapy.  He also provides supervision and consultation to other therapists.

Participates with BCBS, BCBS PPO, and MESSA.