My goal is to help you achieve your goals
About Dr. Francisco Surace
Dr. Francisco Surace is a bilingual (English and Spanish-speaking) licensed psychologist in the state of Florida, Massachusetts, and New York. He is also credentialed with the National Health Services Psychologist and PsyPact.
He received his doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Massachusetts, Boston and his bachelor degrees in Psychology and Philosophy from Florida International University.
He completed four years of clinical training rotations and one-year pre-doctoral internship at Harvard Medical School. His training culminated in his postdoctoral residency in the Veterans Healthcare System treating veterans who primarily identified as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Gender Diverse.
Dr. Surace’s training included providing individual and group psychotherapy to clients experiencing a range of life stressors and clinical conditions such as anxiety disorders, depression and mood disorders, personality disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and chronic mental illness.
Currently, Dr. Surace provides individual, couples, and sex therapy. He specializes in the treatment of anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, and stress produced from life changes, transitions, and traumatic events. In addition, Dr. Surace has attained specialized training as a sex therapist addressing concerns related to sex, sexuality, and gender. He holds an appointment of Teaching Associate at Harvard Medical School where he provides trainings to psychology interns.
Approach to treatment
In my practice, I seek to construct a safe therapeutic space where my clients can slow-down, breathe, and reflect. My clients have described my style as warm, humorous, candid, and with their best interest in mind. Using a collaborative framework I help my clients cultivate emotional intelligence, deepen honest self-reflection, and increase motivation to reduce suffering, improve human connection, and live more meaningful lives.
Holistic
Understanding individuals requires looking at the whole picture rather than isolated parts. I consider my clients’ past experiences, present challenges, and future aspirations while taking into account their identity, culture, emotions, thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors. This comprehensive perspective ensures a more complete understanding of their needs and goals.
Dynamic
Human psychology is ever-changing, shaped by conscious and unconscious forces as well as life transitions. My therapeutic approach acknowledges this fluidity, adapting to my clients’ evolving needs as they navigate new challenges, pursue personal growth, and seek balance in an ever-changing world.
Integrative
No single therapeutic approach fits everyone. I draw from humanistic, psychodynamic, and cognitive behavioral theories, tailoring interventions to each client’s unique history, personality, and difficulties. By integrating techniques from humanistic, psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral therapy, I provide a flexible, personalized treatment approach.
What is Humanistic Therapy?
Humanistic therapy is a type of talk therapy that focuses on helping people understand themselves better and reach their full potential. It’s based on the idea that everyone has the ability to grow, change, and find meaning in life.
Instead of focusing on what's "wrong" with a person, humanistic therapy emphasizes personal strengths, self-acceptance, and living a fulfilling life. This approach encourages people to take control of their own lives, make positive choices, and develop a deeper sense of self-awareness and purpose. It's often used to help with stress, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and personal growth.
We will engage in conversation that promotes active self-reflection with the aim of guiding you towards greater self-awareness. We will work towards increasing awareness of your emotions, make sense of them, and use them as a guide for positive and healthy change.
What is Psychodynamic Therapy?
The psychodynamic approach to therapy is based on the idea that unconscious thoughts, emotions, and past experiences—especially from childhood—shape our current feelings, behaviors, and relationships. This therapy helps people explore and understand these hidden influences to achieve greater self-awareness and emotional healing. This approach aims to understand the root causes of your struggles rather than just managing symptoms. It can be helpful for those dealing with anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, low self-esteem, or unresolved trauma.
We will engage in open conversation, discussing your thoughts, feelings, dreams, and early life experiences. Together we will identify recurring patterns, conflicts, and unresolved emotions that may be affecting your present life. A key focus of our exploration will center on relationships—both past and present—since early attachments often shape how we interact with others as adults.
We will also identify and explore defense mechanisms, which are unconscious strategies that people use to protect themselves from painful feelings. By identifying these patterns, therapy can help you develop healthier ways of coping with emotions, reduce distress, and improve relationships.
What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
The cognitive behavioral approach to therapy focuses on how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are connected. It helps people recognize present negative or unhelpful thought patterns and learn practical ways to change them, leading to healthier emotions and behaviors.
Together we will identify thoughts that may be making you feel anxious, depressed, or stuck in unhealthy habits. We will work on challenging these thoughts and replace them with more balanced, realistic ones. You will also learn coping skills and strategies, such as relaxation techniques, problem-solving, and behavior changes, to manage stress and improve daily life.
Multiculturalism & Pluralism
In my work as a psychologist, I believe it’s important to embrace and respect the many different backgrounds, beliefs, and identities people bring to therapy. Pluralism—accepting and valuing diverse perspectives—helps me create a space where my clients feel safe to be themselves without pressure to fit into any one way of thinking or being.
I also incorporate multiculturalism into my approach, not just by recognizing these differences but by celebrating and integrating them into the therapy process. Our cultures and experiences shape how we see the world and affect our mental health, so I adjust my approach to be as understanding, inclusive, and supportive. My goal is to build trust and create a space where my clients feel heard, empowered, and truly understood as they navigate life’s challenges.