Könül Surofchy, LMFT
My approach is rooted in presence, tact, authenticity and respect for the individuality of those I work with. Since 2013 I have had the privilege of sitting with others as they come to rediscover themselves and find acceptance as well as inner alignment through deep introspection, allowing us to make the unconscious, conscious.
This process requires patience and reverence for the defenses we’ve unconsciously built over the years, as they have served to protect our vulnerabilities and guarded our true essence from past harm. Fortunately, by becoming aware of the past and how much of the present is re-lived through the lens of the past, we gain choice. The choice to let go of what no longer serves us, grieve that which can and can not be changed, resolve inner conflicts, step out of outdated beliefs/patterns/narratives, explore new choices and ultimately navigate life from a place of freedom, balance and agency.
I weave together psychoanalytic/psychodynamic and cognitive thinking with experiential eastern spiritual teachings, to help us make sense of you and your experiences. Over time I have observed that what truly heals comes from the combination/integration of conscious understanding with the freedom and growing capacity to fully feel, in the presence of and in relation to another who sees, survives and holds the messiness of our being-human.
I bring forward a relational style in the room, meaning, over time our relationship can be used as a tool for us to examine closely what comes up for you in intimate settings. The closer we get, the more your relational dynamics with others out of the room, start playing out between us in the room. This offers us the gift of working through the challenges that stand in the way of intimacy and closeness, as well as helps us gain a more comprehensive understanding of who you truly are.
My orientation to life and growth is holistic. I believe in the importance of considering and attending to our health as a whole. This includes our psyche, emotions, how we move and nourish ourselves, how we play and create in the world, our relationship with spirituality, community involvement, how we relate to others and the attitude we hold toward work and our craft.
Having undergone an intensive analytic training, coupled with my own analytic treatment the past 6 years has equipped me with depth and tolerance for the various shades of humanity, within myself and in others. My professional background coupled with my passion and ongoing energetic healing work from a young age has strengthened my senses in working with and understanding others. I am deeply rooted in culture and integrate this dimension into my work given my own Middle Eastern background and upbringing. I hold a strong connection to and am enlivened by weaving together the tangible and intangible, alchemy, mysticism, experiential truths and archetypal meanings!
I have been a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist since 2019 but have worked with people since 2013. I hold a Master of Science in Counseling with a specialization in Marriage Child and Family Therapy. Prior to licensure I worked as an Associate Therapist in the Mission District of San Francisco, providing culturally competent and community-based treatment to adults, children and families. During this time, I also gained experience in teaching, facilitating workshops and leading culturally integrative courses throughout the county of San Francisco. I also furthered my evidenced based experience with certifications in DBT, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Nutrition for Optimal Health and Wellness and Triple P Facilitation (Positive Parenting Program).
My greatest clinical growth, however, has come from devoting the past 6 years to becoming a psychoanalyst through the San Diego Psychoanalytic Center. This rigorous training has required ongoing personal psychoanalysis at 4x a week, clinical supervision, class attendance and maintaining analytic cases. This training has shaped the clinician I am today and refined my clinical expertise.