I am Assoc. Prof. Dr. Numan Turan, a counselling psychologist with over 15 years of experience in helping individuals navigate life's challenges. My journey as a mental health professional began in 2006 and I worked as a counsellor and research staff at various mental health settings. Since I earned my PhD in Counseling Psychology, I have been continuing to work as a counselor and academician in the field of mental health. I specialize in working with individuals facing anxiety, depression, traumatic stress, grief and loss, and life transitions, guiding them toward a path of healing and personal growth.
Outside of my practice and research, I am an avid outdoor person and believe deeply in the restorative power of nature, which often inspires my mindfulness work with clients. I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, which reminds me about the importance of living in the moment. These personal interests help me stay balanced and empathetic in my professional life, as I encourage my clients to seek balance and joy in theirs.
I approach counseling from a bio-psychosocial framework in which I strive to understand my clients within their own context – their cultural backgrounds and lived experiences. Within this framework, I draw from evidence-based practices, and utilize interventions from interpersonal theories, humanistic, multicultural, and third-wave cognitive - behavioral approaches (mindfulness, dialectic). The quality of the therapeutic relationship is essential to effective therapy. My work with clients thus focuses on building a trusting and accepting therapeutic relationship that prioritizes clients’ worldviews, intersecting identities, and personal strengths. I recognize that “one size does not fit all.” I thus strive to elicit clients’ feedback, make changes to meet their needs, and empower them as they work towards their goals within a non-judgmental, affirming, safe, and supportive therapeutic environment.