Dr. Saliha Kozan
Clinical Psychologist & Integrative Psychotherapist
I specialise in:
About me
Living between cultures can be both enriching and deeply challenging. Having spent the past 20 years living in the United States, the Gulf region, and Turkey, I understand firsthand what it means to adapt to new cultures, build a life far from home, and navigate questions of identity, belonging, and change that often accompany international living.
As a U.S.-trained and licensed psychologist, I earned my Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Boston College and completed advanced clinical training at UCLA and UC San Diego. Most recently, I served as Clinical Director at the Danielsen Institute at Boston University, where I specialized in supporting adults navigating trauma, relationship challenges, and existential and spiritual/religious questions. Across university counseling, hospital, community mental health, and private practice settings, I've worked with people from diverse cultural, religious, and ethnic backgrounds, including expatriates, immigrants, international students, and globally mobile professionals. My professional training, combined with my own experience of living across cultures, has shaped a therapeutic approach that is both culturally responsive and grounded in evidence-based care.
Many of my clients feel caught between different worlds. They may be adjusting to a new country, navigating multicultural relationships, balancing family and cultural expectations, recovering from trauma, or wondering why old patterns continue to influence their lives. Others seek therapy because they want to better understand themselves, strengthen their relationships, navigate life transitions, or explore questions of meaning, purpose, or faith.
My approach is trauma-focused, relational, and culturally responsive, drawing primarily from psychodynamic therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). Together, we'll explore how your past experiences shape the present, understand longstanding patterns, and create opportunities for meaningful and lasting change. I believe therapy should offer both insight and practical growth, helping you build a life that feels authentic, connected, and aligned with your values.
Whether you're navigating anxiety, relationship challenges, identity questions, trauma, or the emotional complexities of living across cultures, therapy offers a space to slow down, make sense of your experiences, and reconnect with yourself. If spirituality or faith is important to you, I'm happy to thoughtfully integrate those conversations into our work while honoring your unique beliefs, values, and worldview.
Finding the right therapist is an important decision. If my approach resonates with you, I'd be happy to connect and explore whether we're a good fit.
I speak:
Location:
Approach
I believe therapy is not only about reducing symptoms. It's an opportunity to better understand yourself, heal from painful experiences, and create a life that feels more authentic, connected, and aligned with your values.
My work is grounded in a relational, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive approach. I view emotional struggles within the broader context of your relationships, life experiences, culture, and the systems that have shaped you. Rather than focusing only on immediate symptoms, we'll explore the underlying patterns that continue to influence how you relate to yourself and others. As we deepen your understanding of these patterns, you'll have greater freedom to make choices that reflect who you are today instead of what you've had to do to survive in the past.
Because every client is unique, I tailor therapy to your individual needs rather than following a one-size-fits-all model. My work is informed primarily by psychodynamic therapy, which helps us understand how early relationships and past experiences continue to shape the present. I also integrate principles from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help you develop psychological flexibility and live in greater alignment with your values. My approach is further influenced by Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), emphasizing the importance of attachment, emotional safety, and secure relationships. When appropriate, I also draw on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to provide practical strategies for managing emotions, navigating difficult situations, and developing effective coping skills.
Having lived as both an immigrant and an expatriate for over 20 years across the United States, the Gulf region, and Turkey, I understand that our cultural identities profoundly shape how we experience ourselves, our relationships, and the world around us. I strive to create a therapeutic space where every part of your identity, including your culture, faith, spirituality, gender, sexuality, and personal values, is met with curiosity, respect, and compassion.
While insight is an important part of therapy, I also believe in helping clients create meaningful change in their everyday lives. My goal is for you to leave therapy not only with a deeper understanding of yourself, but also with greater resilience, more fulfilling relationships, and the confidence to navigate life's challenges in ways that feel true to who you are.
I see therapy as a collaborative process. You are the expert on your life and experiences, while I bring professional expertise, thoughtful curiosity, and a supportive therapeutic relationship. Together, we'll work at a pace that feels right for you, honoring both your strengths and the challenges that brought you to therapy.
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