Esther Loring Richards (June 6, 1885 – July 6, 1956) was an American physician and child psychiatrist, based in Baltimore.

She was on the faculty at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and psychiatrist-in-charge of the outpatient department at the Henry Phipps Psychiatric Clinic from 1920 until 1951.

[6] Richards was on the faculty at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and psychiatrist-in-charge of the outpatient department at the Henry Phipps Psychiatric Clinic from 1920 until 1951.

[8] Richards presented at the First International Congress on Mental Hygiene in 1930, in Washington, D.C.[9] She opposed the Eighteenth Amendment, and joined the Woman's Organization for National Prohibition Reform in 1931,[10] saying "prohibition, whether of the use of alcohol or anything else we may want or wish to do, will never develop in us or any people self control, a sense of social responsibility, or the ability to make wise choices for ourselves.

[32] The Esther Loring Richards Children's Center in Owings Mills, Maryland, was opened in 1958, and named in her memory.