Soo Cho Lee, Ph.D., PMH-C
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Perinatal Mental Health Specialist
Midtown + Virtual
At first, therapy can seem daunting as it requires courage to confront your vulnerabilities and face the rawness of your pain. However, your interest in seeking therapy is already a testament to your internal strength and resilience – you have already taken the first step towards meaningful and enduring change.
Through the process of therapy, you will be able identify and understand the stressors and conflicts that have impeded your ability to grow into your most authentic self. Therapy can also help gently excavate hidden desires and wishes that were burrowed deeply inside your mind and thus were difficult to access on your own. I believe that therapy is a powerful tool that can help you rewrite a more integrated, rich, and satisfying narrative of your life.
My approach to treatment is to first cultivate a genuine and collaborative relationship with you. I am a strong believer that a safe and secure therapeutic space is key to beginning an honest dialogue. I primarily work from a psychodynamic framework, drawing on principles of psychoanalytic theory and relational psychotherapy. I will follow your pace and listen closely for how your current struggles, internal and interpersonal conflicts, and life’s history have consciously and unconsciously impacted your perception of yourself and your relationships with others. I also integrate techniques from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) when this is deemed fruitful for immediate symptom relief. As your therapist, I will guide you to not only effectively cope with stress and overwhelming affect, but also gain more confidence and satisfaction in understanding who you are as an individual. Through this process, I aim to help you achieve deeper insight into your thoughts and emotions, and also find freedom, creativity, and a sense of vitality that will enrich your understanding of your purpose and direction in life.
As a psychologist with a Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMH-C), I specialize in supporting mothers and families during the critical stages of pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. With a deep understanding of the beauty and challenges of this significant life transition, I am committed to providing compassionate care that empowers individuals and fosters resilience. My approach addresses the emotional, physical, and practical aspects of perinatal mental health, ensuring personalized support for a healthy and fulfilling journey into parenthood.
In addition to my expertise in perinatal mental health, I have worked with a wide variety of populations throughout my career, including adults, adolescents, children, families, and couples. As everyone’s goals for therapy are different, my treatment is tailored to your specific needs and concerns. I also have keen interest in the impact of sociocultural issues and complexities on the formation and understanding of one’s identity. I am fluent in Korean and English and can also offer therapy in Korean.
Training
I earned my M.A. in Psychology from Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea, and earned my M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Long Island University, Brooklyn. My research focused on the personality traits, interpersonal relationship styles, and implicit attitudes of individuals who are indifferent to social relationships, avoid intimacy, and show limited emotional expression. During my training, I have held clinical positions in a variety of settings, including Long Island University’s Psychological Services Center, Jewish Child Care Associates Foster Care Services, Jacobi Medical Center, and Lenox Hill Hospital. I completed my pre-doctoral internship at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
심리치료를 시작하는 일은 용기가 필요합니다. 자신의 마음을 깊이 들여다보는 과정이 쉽지 않기 때문입니다. 그러나 심리치료를 찾으셨다는 사실만으로도 이미 내적인 강인함과 회복력을 보여주신 것이며, 이는 의미 있는 변화를 향한 첫걸음이 됩니다.
심리치료는 혼자서는 다루기 어려웠던 감정과 갈등을 이해하고, 마음속 깊은 소망을 탐색하는 과정입니다. 저는 내담자가 안전하고 지지적인 공간에서 스스로를 더 깊이 이해하고, 삶을 새로운 시각으로 바라볼 수 있도록 돕습니다. 주로 정신역동적 접근을 기반으로 하며, 필요할 경우 DBT나 CBT 기법을 함께 사용해 실제적인 변화를 지원합니다.
저는 산전, 산후 정신건강 전문가 (PMH-C) 자격을 갖춘 심리학자로, 임신, 출산, 산후 시기의 여성과 가족을 돕는 데 전문성을 가지고 있습니다. 이 전환기는 큰 기쁨과 함께 예상치 못한 어려움도 동반할 수 있습니다. 저는 이러한 시기를 보내는 분들이 자신감을 회복하고, 부모로서의 여정을 건강하고 충만하게 경험할 수 있도록 정서적, 실용적 지원을 제공합니다.
그 외에도 성인, 청소년, 아동, 가족, 부부 등 다양한 내담자들과 함께한 경험이 있습니다. 저는 심리치료가 각자의 목표와 필요에 맞춰야 한다고 믿으며, 개인을 둘러싼 사회/문화적 맥락이 정체성과 자기 이해에 미치는 영향에도 주목합니다. 한국어와 영어 모두 심리치료가 가능하니, 편안한 언어로 대화를 나누실 수 있습니다.
학력 및 훈련
서울 연세대학교에서 심리학 석사를 마친 뒤, 브루클린 롱아일랜드대학교에서 임상심리학 석사 및 박사 학위를 취득했습니다. 연구는 감정 표현이 제한적이고 친밀한 관계를 회피하는 성향을 지닌 개인들의 성격 특성과 대인관계 양식을 중심으로 이루어졌습니다.
임상 훈련은 롱아일랜드대학교 심리상담센터, 유대인아동복지협회, 재코비 메디컬센터, 레녹스힐 메디컬센터 등 다양한 기관에서 수행했으며, 박사과정 인턴십은 컬럼비아대학교 메디컬센터에서 마쳤습니다.