Ekin Gumus
Clinical Psychologist & Sexologist
English-Turkish speaking Clinical Psycho-Sexologist, working with adults and adolescents (14+)
I specialise in:
About me
Throughout my life, I have often found myself reflecting on what it means to belong, to oneself, to others, and to the wider world. Over time, this search has led me away from the idea of a single fixed perspective, and toward a more plural understanding of human experience. I’ve come to see psychological life as something shaped by multiple layers at once: internal conflict, relational history, cultural meaning, and the ways we learn to adapt to different environments.
This way of thinking naturally brought me to clinical psychology and, more specifically, to the field of sexuality. I became increasingly interested in how sexual experiences are never purely “individual,” but are deeply shaped by emotional development, relational dynamics, cultural expectations, and the often unspoken rules that surround desire, intimacy, and identity.
In my clinical work and research, I have focused on sexuality across its many expressions, sexual identity, relational patterns, desire, and distress as well as how shame, stigma, and cultural narratives shape the way people relate to their own sexuality. I have also been particularly drawn to the intersections of gender, identity, and mental health, especially in contexts where individuals experience their identity across conflicting cultural or social frameworks.
Alongside this, my work with individuals in complex clinical and social settings has deepened my understanding of trauma, emotional dysregulation, and the ways in which early relational experiences can continue to shape present patterns of relating and experiencing the self.
At the same time, growing up across multiple countries and cultural environments has deeply shaped how I think about identity and belonging. I am particularly aware of what it can feel like to exist between frameworks. to carry parts of different worlds within oneself, and to gradually build a sense of continuity through that experience. In many ways, this process has also reflected a broader journey of individuation: learning to integrate different aspects of identity into something more coherent and personally meaningful over time.
In my clinical practice, I try to hold space for these experiences without reducing them too quickly into fixed explanations. The work often begins with making sense of what feels confusing, conflicted, or difficult to name. Especially in relation to sexuality, identity, and relationships, so that a more integrated and personally coherent sense of self can gradually emerge.
Specializations
- Gender identity and dysphoria
- Sexuality and sexual dysfunctions
- LGBTQIA+ affirmative therapy
- Fetishism and kink-aware counseling
- Individuation and psychological integration
- Multicultural identity and third-culture experiences
- Addictions, chemsex and harm reduction
- Trauma, sexual abuse and gender violence
- Personality disorders
- Neurodivergent individuals, particularly ADHD
I speak:
Location:
Approach
I work from an integrative framework, which means I don’t rely on a single therapeutic model. Instead, I draw from different approaches and adapt the work to fit you, your needs, your pace, and what seems most clinically useful at any given point.
I use a biopsychosocial-cultural perspective in understanding psychological distress. In practice, this means I don’t see difficulties as purely internal or isolated symptoms. We look at how your emotional world is shaped by your relationships, developmental history, physical wellbeing, and the cultural and social contexts you live in.
In our work, this might sometimes involve developing concrete strategies for managing anxiety, stress, or emotional overwhelm. At other times, we may focus more on patterns, how you relate to others, repeated emotional dynamics, or ways earlier experiences continue to influence your current functioning. When relevant, we may also explore more underlying processes, including unconscious or less immediately accessible emotional material that can shape how you think, feel, and respond.
Depending on what brings you to therapy, we might also work on identity, meaning, or transitions such as loss, particularly in moments when things feel unclear, stuck, or emotionally demanding. The aim is to support a clearer understanding of yourself, strengthen emotional regulation and insight, and help you move toward ways of functioning that feel more stable and aligned with who you are.
Experience
Alongside my therapeutic work, I have experience across clinical, educational, and research settings. I have taught (A-Level) psychology, provided counseling & sex education, and supported adolescents within international school environments.
My research background is in clinical and psychodynamic psychology, developed through my work at Sapienza University of Rome, where I focused on gender dysphoria, psychotherapeutic modalities, identity development, and the role of sociocultural factors in mental health. I have also explored topics such as chemsex, HIV, intersectionality, and stigma.
I also have experience in developmental psychology across both research and school settings, including at the University of Padua, with a focus on parent–child relationships, neuroscience of attachment, and multicultural identity. Alongside this, I have volunteered in different NGO settings during my high school and undergraduate years.
Education
Master’s degree in Clinical Psychosexology, Sapienza University of Rome (with University of Rome Tor Vergata), Italy 2022-2024
An English-taught, inter-university programme providing advanced clinical training in sexuality, gender identity, and sexual health through a biopsychosocial framework. Coursework covered psychodynamic theories, sexual development, psychoendocrinology, psychopharmacology, clinical assessment, counseling, and evidence-based interventions for sexual dysfunctions and trauma. I developed practical skills in clinical interviewing, case formulation, and interdisciplinary collaboration. My dissertation examined the cross-cultural clinical management of gender dysphoria, exploring how cultural understandings of gender shape clinical practice, healthcare delivery, and educational policy.
Bachelor’s degree in Psychological Science, University of Padua, Italy 2019-2022
This international, English-taught programme provided a strong foundation in cognitive, clinical, developmental, and social psychology, with particular emphasis on neuropsychology, psychobiology, research methods, and statistics. I completed an internship in developmental psychology and contributed to research in the Psychobiology of Parenting laboratory. My undergraduate thesis explored the psychological experiences of Third Culture Individuals, examining how multicultural upbringing influences identity development, mental health, and interpersonal relationships.
Services
Intro Call
Individual Session
Students/Unemployed/LGBTQIA+ Individuals/Sex Workers
Couples Session
LGBTQIA+ youth survivors of domestic violence who lack safe housing / experiencing homelessness
Insurances
