Meet Keren Khait Goldenberg

We had the good fortune of connecting with Keren Khait Goldenberg and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Keren Khait, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
As a Depth and Psychodynamic Psychotherapist, there are many quotes and sayings that I truly love. The following quote, I have had on my website since I first opened my practice:

“Promise me you’ll always remember: you’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” —Christopher Robin from Winnie the Pooh.

Many clients come through my door who struggle with their self esteem, their self worth, their battle with perfectionism, and have a negative core belief of “I am not good enough.” This quote, intended to be read by children, is a powerful one, showing that our perception of ourselves is often times less than what we truly are. In my work, I help clients gain insight about where their limiting beliefs come from, and help them see their strengths and positive attributes.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I run a small therapy practice, called SunRay Psychotherapy. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family therapist, and the owner & the lead therapist of my practice. Recently, I also became a clinical supervisor to associates. My practice focuses on trauma (complex trauma, sexual trauma, intergenerational trauma), high stress careers, self esteem, grief & loss, perfectionism & imposter syndrome, mood problems, anxiety issues, and complex family dynamics. I specifically niche on working with first generation Americans and immigrants like myself. My passion for intergenerational trauma also sets me apart from other therapists in the field, as I interweave ancestral history into my sessions with all clients.

My practice is unique in the modality I use: As a PhD student of Depth Psychology with an emphasis in Integrative Therapy and Healing Practices, my practice is rooted in the Depth & Psychodynamic work. I like to call my approach “Peeling The Onion”–we will go through all the layers, until we get to the core, and there will be tears along the way. I would also like to share that I provide EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy. I provide therapy not just in English, but in Russian and Hebrew as well.

I was a solo practice for a while, and I have always wanted to expand in order to be able to mentor and educate future therapists, and that’s exactly the stage that I am currently at. So in addition to providing therapy to clients, I also oversee lovely associate therapists and help them navigate the start of their own clinical careers.

Getting to where I am today was not easy. As a perfectionist myself, I have worked hard to first: get my education, and second: to learn all about navigating a private practice. The best way for me to navigate all the challenges that come with private practice is to remind myself why I chose this field, and why I chose to be in private practice. I am doing this because I care. It’s as simple as that. I want to make an impact in peoples’ lives. I want to be the facilitator of their healing journey. And when I come across professional or personal challenges, I remind myself that I am here for a reason, and that my work matters, one session at a time.

One of the lessons I learned was patience. As a Capricorn, a type A person, whose always ‘go, go. go’, having my own business has taught me that its’ okay to slow down, be patient with my success, and not lead myself to burn out (something I preach to others!)
Trusting the process and practicing what I preach humbles me down and helps me navigate the hard times.

When it comes to the therapeutic side of things, I learn new lessons every day. Each and every client and their unique journey teaches me beautiful lessons, and I am always honored to be a witness to their process.

I want the world to know that Sunray Psychotherapy is not just a therapy practice based on books and education. My team and I bring our lived experiences and our whole selves into the room. We care deeply about every client that comes through the door.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’ve had many friends come in to town through the years! I always show them the typical LA landmarks: The Hollywood Sign, Griffith Observatory, Santa Monica Pier, Venice beach! And I take them to local restaurants that we love, like Korean BBQ, our few favorite Sushi spots, and some good local Mexican food. Most importantly, I take everyone to In N Out! As thats the LA thing to do!
Other things I like to take friends too is escape rooms or try to get tickets to the Magic Castle!
If the weather is nice outside, I also like to take friends to some nice nature trail or go to the beach!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
As an immigrant to the United States, my family came here for all the cliche reasons: a safer place to live, be in the land of opportunity, etc. I attribute my success to my ancestors who came before me, those who did not have the same educational and business opportunities as I have been afforded, those who not only lived through hardship, but survived their hardships; I am doing it for them, for their pride in me watching from above.
My efforts are also for my living family, my parents, sister, grandparents, who worked hard and supported me through all my endeavors, the late night tears, and the self doubt. They gave me the opportunity to be where I am today.
Of course, I would like to thank my husband, who came into my life in college and has been there every step of the way, from graduate school to earning my Masters, to working on the 3000 clinical hours, to encouraging me to go back and get my PhD. He was my #1 cheerleader as I was starting and growing my business.
And last, but most importantly, to my daughter. I am working hard for her, to be a strong female role model, to show her that everything that she wants she can achieve.

Website: https://Sunraypsychotherapy.com

Instagram: Instagram.com/keren.k.goldenberg

Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/keren-khait