Sari Surkis

I grew up with a deep curiosity about people—their stories, their resilience, and the patterns that shape how they move through the world. That curiosity eventually became a career built around helping people feel understood, supported, and empowered. Before becoming a therapist, I earned an undergraduate degree in Accounting and spent eight years in technology and process‐improvement roles, where I learned how systems work, how people navigate them, and how meaningful change happens when clarity and compassion come together. My volunteer work in mentoring and career advocacy ultimately pulled me toward social work, leading me to pursue my Master of Social Work in New York.

I’m now a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than a decade of experience providing therapy in outpatient, telehealth, and integrated‐care settings. My clinical work focuses on anxiety, depression, trauma, identity development, life transitions, and substance use, and I have a particular passion for supporting helping professionals, caregivers, and people who are used to being the one others rely on. My approach is grounded in evidence‐based modalities including CBT, DBT‐informed care, motivational interviewing, and trauma‐informed practice.

Therapy with me feels like a mix of warmth, honesty, and steady support. You’ll have room to explore what’s heavy, and you’ll also leave sessions with insight and tools you can use right away. My goal is for you to feel understood, empowered, and genuinely supported—not just during sessions, but in the life you’re building outside of them.

A first session with me is calm, collaborative, and centered on helping you feel comfortable. We’ll start by talking about what brought you in, what you’re hoping for, and what feels most important for us to focus on right now. I’ll ask thoughtful questions to understand your story, your strengths, and the patterns that may be shaping your experience, but there’s no pressure to share anything before you’re ready. We’ll move at a pace that feels safe for you, and I’ll check in along the way to make sure the space feels supportive. By the end of the session, you’ll have a clearer sense of how we might work together and what your next steps could look like, without any expectation to have everything figured out on day one