She initially worked as a cross-cultural psychotherapist with couples and families. Perel subsequently trained in psychodynamic psychotherapy before finding a professional home in family systems theory. She asserts that 'those who came back to life were those who understood eroticism as an antidote to death.' Career Perel grew up amongst Holocaust survivors in Antwerp, later categorising them into two groups: 'those who didn't die, and those who came back to life'. in educational psychology and French literature, and subsequently earned a master's degree in expressive art therapy from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts in the United States. She attended the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel, where she earned a B.A. Perel was born and raised in Antwerp, Belgium, the daughter of two Polish, Jewish, Holocaust survivors. In 2016, Perel was added to Oprah Winfrey's Supersoul 100 list of visionaries and influential leaders.

She has given two TED talks, hosts two podcasts, runs a series of therapy training / supervision events, and launched a card game.

After publishing the book, she became an international advisor on sex and relationships. Perel promoted the concept of 'erotic intelligence' in her book Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence (2006), which has been translated into 24 languages. Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence (2006)Įsther Perel (born 1958) is a Belgian-American psychotherapist, known for her work on human relationships.

Esther perel books