Individual Therapy in English, Istanbul

What individual therapy is

Individual therapy is a series of regular, confidential conversations with a clinical psychologist about the things that are weighing on you. It is not advice and it is not only a place to vent. Together we look at the patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving that keep a problem going, and work on changing them step by step.

When it can help

You do not need a diagnosis, or a problem that feels “serious enough”, to start. People often come to therapy when:

Worry has become constant, or panic arrives out of nowhere
They feel flat, tired or unable to enjoy things they used to enjoy
A loss, a breakup or a big change has knocked them off balance
Work has turned into exhaustion, or procrastination is getting in the way
The same difficulties keep repeating in relationships
Life in a new country feels lonelier or harder than they expected

Living in Istanbul, far from home

Moving to Istanbul, for work, study or a relationship, brings its own pressures. Many of them are easy to underestimate:

Building a social circle from scratch
Dealing with bureaucracy in a second language
Feeling between two cultures
Missing family and familiar routines
Carrying everything without your usual support around you

Therapy in English gives you a place to talk about all of this without translating yourself. Sessions are open to expats, international students and people in intercultural relationships, as well as English speakers living elsewhere who prefer to work online.

How I work

My work is grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), an evidence-based approach, which I adapt to each person’s needs and goals. CBT looks at how thoughts, feelings and behaviour affect one another. In practice, that means:

Noticing the automatic thoughts that show up in difficult moments, and testing them
Trying out new ways of responding, one step at a time

Sessions have an agenda, but you do not need to prepare one. If something more pressing comes up that week, we reshape the plan together.

What the process looks like

First sessions: We talk about what brings you to therapy, how it affects your life and what you hope will change.
Goals and plan: We turn that into concrete goals and a plan that suits you.
Regular sessions: Usually weekly at first, about 50 minutes each. Where helpful, we agree on small exercises to try between sessions.
Review and ending: We review progress regularly. When goals are reached, we plan together to space out sessions and bring therapy to a close.

In person or online

Sessions take place in person in Istanbul or online by secure video. Fees and practical details are shared when you get in touch.

Frequently asked questions

I speak some Turkish. Should I have therapy in Turkish or English?

Whichever lets you say what you mean without searching for words. Many people find it easier to talk about feelings in their first language or the language they think in. You can also switch between the two during a session.

How often will we meet?

At the start, sessions are usually weekly. As therapy progresses, we review the frequency together based on your needs and progress.

How many sessions will I need?

There is no fixed number. It depends on what brings you to therapy and the goals we set. We review goals and progress together at regular intervals.

Can you prescribe medication?

No. A clinical psychologist does not prescribe. If medication might help, I will suggest seeing a psychiatrist and, where useful, we can work alongside each other.

Is what I share confidential?

Yes. Sessions are confidential under professional ethics and Turkish data protection law (KVKK). The legal limits of confidentiality, such as a risk to life, are explained at the start of therapy.

This page is general information and is not a diagnosis, assessment or substitute for therapy. If you or someone else is in danger, call 112 in Türkiye or your local emergency number.

Individual Therapy in English