Esther Perel is a Belgian psychotherapist of Polish-Jewish descent who has explored the tension between the need for security and the need for freedom in human relationships. Perel promoted the concept of Erotic Intelligence in her book Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence, which has been translated into 24 languages. After publishing the book, she became an international advisor on sex and relationships. She gave a TED talk in February 2013 entitled The secret to desire in a long-term relationship, and another in March 2015 entitled Rethinking infidelity... a talk for anyone who has ever loved. Perel is the host of the podcast Where Should We Begin?, which is based inside her therapist's office as she sees anonymous couples in search of insight into topics such as infidelity, sexlessness and grief. In 2016, Perel was added to Oprah Winfrey'sSupersoul 100list of visionaries and influential leaders.
Professional career
Perel is Jewish, the daughter of two Polish-bornHolocaust survivors. She was raised in Antwerp and attended the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel. She grew up amongst Holocaust survivors in Antwerp, Belgium and noted two groups around her: "those who didn't die, and those who came back to life". Her observation was that "those who didn't die were people who lived tethered to the ground, afraid, untrusting. The world was dangerous, and pleasure was not an option. You cannot play, take risks, or be creative when you don't have a minimum of safety, because you need a level of unself-consciousness to be able to experience excitement and pleasure. Those who came back to life were those who understood eroticism as an antidote to death." In December 2019, Perel spoke at the annual End Well Symposium about the nature of lifelong need for connection even as serious illness and death challenges personal notions of fidelity, companionship and identity. Perel subsequently trained in psychodynamic psychotherapy before finding a professional home in family systems theory. She initially worked as a cross-cultural psychotherapist with couples and families. For 13 years she was a clinical instructor at the New York University School of Medicine. Perel has worked as an actress and has run a clothing boutique in Antwerp.
Perel is the host of two podcasts: Where Should We Begin? and How's Work?
Where Should We Begin? brings the listeners inside Perel's therapist's office as she sees anonymous couples in search of insight on everything from infidelity to sexlessness to grief. The unique format combines live recordings of the therapy session, with Perel's reflections on what she heard, and what techniques she tried. The New York Times writes: "it feels more like an unraveling mystery story than a relationship advice show." The couples include both heterosexual and same-sex couples. The first episode aired on Audible in May 2017, and became publicly available on iTunes on October 9, 2017. Three seasons have been released as of December 2019. Where Should We Begin? received a 2018 Gracie Award.
How's Work? is Perel's second podcast. It follows a format similar to the couples therapy session in Where Should We Begin? — but this time the couple seeking Perel's advice are cofounders or colleagues, navigating the challenges that play out in work relationships. HuffPost describes each episode as a "one-time therapy session between Perel and various co-founders, members of family businesses and partners with a thriving operation but deteriorating relations on the job." As described in one review: "The podcast aims to shine light on the things that form us as individuals and how those things relate to life in the workplace. Because, honestly, a lot of people hold their careers and workplace relationships as dearly and tightly as they do their romantic relationships." How's Work? is created by Gimlet Media, and available exclusively on Spotify. The show first aired in November 2019
Filmography
Perel appeared in the 2017 film, Newness, as herself.
Publications
Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence
The State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity
Recognition
2016: Named to Oprah Winfrey's Supersoul 100 list of visionaries and influential leaders.
