Surinder Bal Counseling
1866 Independence Square, Dunwoody, GA 30338
Email: counselorsurinder@gmail.com
Phone: 404 662 6077
Meet Surinder Bal, PhD, LPC
Depth-Oriented Therapist in Atlanta
Understanding the Complexity Beneath the Surface
"The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are."
Carl Gustav Jung
Surinder Bal, PhD, LPC, Licensed Professional Counselor in Atlanta, Georgia
Therapeutic space for building trusting relationships
Since beginning my counseling practice in 2011, I have become increasingly interested in the complexity that lies beneath the surface of people's lives.
I have worked with many capable, responsible, and accomplished adults who have learned to navigate demanding lives, meet expectations, and care for others. Yet their outward competence does not always reflect what they are experiencing internally.
Through this work, I have come to appreciate that many of life's difficulties cannot be resolved through achievement, willpower, or practical problem-solving alone. Sometimes the questions we face ask us to look more deeply at ourselves:
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Why do I keep repeating the same patterns?
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Why doesn't success feel as fulfilling as I expected?
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Why do I feel disconnected from myself?
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What comes next?
These questions have long interested me, both personally and professionally. They reflect my belief that meaningful change involves more than addressing individual problems as they arise. It also requires a willingness to understand the deeper influences shaping how we think, feel, relate, and live.
My role as a counselor is not to tell you who you should become, but to help you develop a deeper understanding of yourself and discover possibilities for living more consciously and authentically.
My Journey
I was born in India and moved to England at the age of six, growing up between two very different cultures.
Living between cultures taught me early that identity, belonging, family expectations, achievement, and personal values are rarely straightforward. Over the years, I have lived and worked in England, Hong Kong, and the United States, experiences that deepened my appreciation for the many influences that shape who we become.
Before becoming a counselor, I worked in business, management, human resources, and entrepreneurship. These roles gave me firsthand insight into leadership, workplace dynamics, professional responsibility, and the pressures that often accompany achievement and success.
During my years in private practice in Hong Kong, I worked extensively with professionals from finance, business, education, healthcare, and corporate leadership. This experience strengthened my understanding of the challenges people can face while navigating demanding careers and complex personal lives.
Perhaps most importantly, my personal and professional experiences have taught me that every person's story is unique. While labels and diagnoses can sometimes be helpful, they rarely capture the complexity and individuality of a human life.
These experiences continue to shape my counseling work today. I bring an appreciation for the interplay of personal history, cultural influences, professional responsibilities, and individual aspirations, while recognizing that each person's path toward greater understanding and fulfillment is their own.
My Approach to Therapy
At the heart of my work is a simple belief:
People need more than solutions. They need understanding.
Therapy involves more than reducing symptoms of anxiety, burnout, depression, or relationship distress. It also offers an opportunity to explore the experiences, relationships, and beliefs that influence how you understand yourself and navigate life.
I approach this work collaboratively, helping you recognize patterns that may be contributing to current difficulties while developing greater awareness of the choices and possibilities available to you.
My work is informed by psychodynamic, Jungian, existential, trauma-informed, and wellness-based perspectives.
I am particularly interested in the ways people lose touch with important parts of themselves while adapting to life's demands, relationships, responsibilities, and expectations. Therapy can provide an opportunity to reconnect with those neglected parts and develop a fuller understanding of who you are and who you are becoming.
Experience and Training
Education
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B.S. in Chemistry - University of London, United Kingdom
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M.S. in Mental Health Counseling - Walden University, United States
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Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision - Walden University, United States
In addition to private practice, I served as adjunct faculty in Lamar University's Master's in Mental Health Counseling Program, helping to train future counselors and contribute to the development of the profession.
Over the years, I have worked with clients from a wide range of cultural, racial, religious, socioeconomic, and professional backgrounds. My experience includes helping individuals navigate anxiety, burnout, trauma, addiction issues, relationship difficulties, life transitions, identity concerns, and questions of meaning and purpose.
Additional Certifications
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Enneagram Personality System
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Dream Work
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EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
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Hypnotherapy
These approaches are not used as techniques for their own sake, but as tools that can deepen understanding, support healing, and encourage personal growth when appropriate.
Professional License
Georgia Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
License Number: LPC009342
Professional Credential
National Certified Counselor (NCC) — National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)
Professional Memberships
American Counseling Association (ACA)
International Enneagram Association (IEA)
Jung Society of Atlanta (JSA)
Finding the Right Fit
Choosing a therapist is an important decision.
Research consistently shows that the quality of the therapeutic relationship is one of the strongest predictors of meaningful change. Feeling understood, respected, and emotionally safe matters.
If you're looking for a therapist in Atlanta or throughout Georgia who values depth, curiosity, authenticity, and meaningful self-understanding, I would welcome the opportunity to speak with you.
My approach recognizes that many of life's struggles cannot be resolved simply by working harder or coping better. Sometimes they invite us to look more deeply at ourselves and the ways we have learned to navigate life.
Together, we can explore not only what is troubling you, but also what may be asking for attention, healing, and growth within your life.