Esther Perel

Esther Perel is a Belgian-American psychotherapist and New York Times bestselling author known for her work on modern relationships, sexuality, and couples therapy. Perel addresses topics such as infidelity, desire, jealousy, and sex, engaging a global audience with her expertise in relationship dynamics. Fluent in nine languages, she describes her work as creating stages for conversations that need to happen but are often difficult to initiate. Her career began with a focus on intercultural, interracial, and interreligious families in cultural transition, later expanding to broader explorations of erotic intelligence and infidelity.

Perel holds a Bachelor of Arts in educational psychology and French literature from Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a master's degree in expressive art therapy from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She served as a clinical instructor at New York University School of Medicine for more than a decade. Perel is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, an AASECT certified sex therapist, and a member of the American Family Therapy Academy and the Society for Sex Therapy and Research. She maintains a therapy practice in New York City and consults for Fortune 500 companies on organizational culture and workplace relationships.

Perel is the author of "Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence," which introduced the concept of erotic intelligence and has been translated into multiple languages. She followed with "The State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity," which examines cheating through the lens of meaning, identity, and modernity. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Guardian, and The New Yorker. Forbes included her in the 50 Over 50 list, and she was named to Oprah Winfrey's SuperSoul 100 list of visionaries and influential leaders.

Perel has established a significant multimedia presence. Her TED Talks have received more than 30 million views, and her books have reached audiences worldwide. She is the executive producer and host of the podcast "Where Should We Begin?" and also hosts "How's Work?," both of which explore communication, connection, and conflict in personal and professional relationships. Perel has toured internationally with the live show "An Evening with Esther Perel: The Future of Relationships, Love and Desire."

Perel's influence extends to television, with appearances on programs such as Today with Hoda & Jenna, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, and Real Time with Bill Maher. In 2026, she was chosen as the host of Apple TV's first-ever dating documentary series, "The Last Person on Earth," where she will lead a team of matchmakers in exploring whether opposites attract. She teaches a relational intelligence class with MasterClass and leads therapy training and supervision events. Her work integrates cultural transitions, trauma, and attachment theory, positioning her as a leading authority on love, sexuality, and human connection.