• Clinical Experience
• Academic Experience
• Research Experience
• Speaking Engagements
• Teaching Experience
• Education
• Publications
• Organizations
• References

Publications (top)

Hess, Esther: Introduction to Floor/Time: A Developmental/Relational Approach to the Treatment of Autism. In: Southern California Regional Play Therapy Association Newsletter, January, 2009Hess, E.B.: Narcissistic Mothers as a Risk Factor in the Development of Borderline Personality Disorder in their Offspring, 1996.

Shekim, W.O., Cantwell, D.P., Hess, E.: Blood Cell Monoamine Receptor Activity in Adolescents with Affective Disorders. Sci Pro American Academy Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 35th Annual Meeting, 1988, p.64.

Shekim, W.O. Antun F., Hess, E.B.: S-adenosyl-l-methonine (SAM) in adults with ADHD, RS. Results from an open trial. Psychopharm Bul., September 1988.

Shekim. W.O., Asarnow, R.F., Hess, E.: A clinical and demographic study of hyperactive adults. Presented at the 141st Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association, Montreal, May 1988.

Guest Editor May/June 2004, Los Angles Psychologist

Hess, E.B.: Helping Families with the Challenges of Raising a Special Needs Child, in Los Angeles Psychologist, May/June 2004.

Hess, E.B.: Clinical Support Necessary When Supporting Parents Through the Diagnosis of Autism in their Child”, in American Play Therapist Newsletter, Dec/2004.

Hess, E.B.: "Floor Time: An Intervention with Children Impacted with Developmental Delays”, in American Play Therapist Newsletter, September 2005.

Hess, E.B.: “I Look at Life from Both Sides Now”, in TAPS Magazine, March 2006

Hess, E.B.: “Why Is It So Hard To Say ‘No’ to Our Children with Special Needs”, In TAPS Magazine, June 2007

Hess, Esther: “Play Therapy with a 4 Year Old Girl Impacted with Selective Mutism”, In: Play Therapy Magazine, December 2008

Hess, Esther: “Introduction to Floor/Time: A Developmental/Relational Approach to the Treatment of Autism”. In: Southern California Regional Play Therapy Association Newsletter, January, 2009

Hess, Esther: “Introduction to Floor/Time: A Developmental/Relational Approach to the Treatment of Autism”. In: Play Therapy Magazine, March, 2009. Reprinted with permission from the Southern California Regional Play Therapy Association.

Hess, Esther B.: “Mining Report: Best Practices in Autism”. Association for Play Therapy, April, 2009.

Monthly columnist for Family Magazine as “Ask the Developmental Doctor: Dr. Esther Hess”, as of July 2009 to present.

‘Ask the Expert’, Guest columnist for American Play Therapy Journal, March 2010.

Hess, Esther B.: “DIR/Floor Time and Early Onset Bipolar Patterns in Children”. In Play Therapy Magazine, Volume 5, Issue 3, September, 2010.

Hess, Esther B.: “DIR/Floor Time: A Developmental-Relational Approach towards Play Therapy in Children Impacted by Autism” in Gallo-Lopez, L. and Rubin, L. (eds.): Play-Based Intervention for Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Rutledge, Taylor and Francis Publishing, January, 2012.

Hess, Esther B.: “Clinical Implications of the Timing of Intervention for Children Impacted by Selective Mutism in First Generation Asian-Americans” Selective Mutism Group Newsletter, February 2012.

Hess, Esther B. Breaking down barriers. Helping Asian American parents seek play therapy for their children with selective mutism. Play Therapy Magazine, 2012;7(3)6-9.

Monthly columnist for SpecialNeeds.com as “As the Developmental Doc”: Dr. Esther Hess, as of February, 2012 to present.

Hess, Esther B. DIR®/Floortime™: Evidence based practice towards the treatment of autism and sensory processing disorder in children and adolescents. Int J Child Health Hum Dev 2013;6(3):00-00.

Fox News Blog: LA Parenting Experts Column, December 2012-present.

Monthly columnist for ExpertBeacon.com, October 2013-present.

Monthly columnist for ParentingAutism.com, June 2015-present

Hess, Esther B.: “The DIR/Floor Time Model of Parent Training for Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder” in Kaduson, H. and Schaefer, C. (eds.): Short-Term Play Therapy for Children: Third Edition, The Guilford Press, June 2015

Hess, Esther B.: “DIR/Floortime: A Developmental/Relational Play Therapy Approach Toward the Treatment of Children with Developmental Delays, Including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Sensory Processing Challenges” in O’Conner, K.J., Schaefer, C.E., and Braverman, L.D. (eds.): Handbook of Play Therapy: Second Edition, Wiley Press, 2016.

Hess, Esther: “DIR/Floortime: A Developmental/Relational Play Therapy Model in the Treatment of Infants and Toddlers Exhibiting the Early Signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder” in Courtney, J., (ed.):  Infant Play Therapy Foundations, Models, Programs and Practice, Routledge Press, 2020.

Hess, Esther B. Alfie: You and Me are Twins; The Life and Times of a Therapy Dog. Amazon Press, 2020.

Hess, Esther B. Alfie Helps A Family with the Premature Death of a Parent: The Life and Times of a Therapy Dog. Amazon Press. 2022.

Organizations (top)

Training Professional ICDL, March 2012

Member Los Angeles Parenting Association, October 2010

Member of WOSEP (women’s organization of special education professionals), November 2009.

Joined the board of directors for Autism Speaks, November 2009

Joined North Los Angeles County Task force of the California Senate on Autism and Related Disabilities, October 2009

Board member Childhood Anxiety Network, January 2009

Diplomat in Counseling, March 2007

Founding board member Switzer School; Autism Spectrum Disorder Division, Torrance, California, January 2006

Diplomat in Clinical Psychotherapy, August 2005

Diplomat in Child and Adolescent Psychology, September 2004

Member: Interdisciplinary Counsel for infancy and early childhood development. Dr. Stanley Greenspan, founder, 1998.

Associate member of the American Psychological Association, 1988

Board member of Nefesh. National Organization of Orthodox Mental Health Workers, February 1997

References (top)

Available on Request.