Trauma therapy
Somatic Experiencing, SE Touch, EMDR (Eye Movement Sensitization and Reprocessing), for children and adolescents TF-CBT (Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
OT reg.(AB), MAAT, SEP
About your therapist
Occupational Therapist, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner and Teaching Assistant, EMDR clinician, Internal Family Systems informed and Heart Math biofeedback practitioner
I was born and raised in Turkiye, as part of a multi-ethnic family with Turkish, Middle Eastern, West African and French cultural heritage. I live in Edmonton with my husband, two teenager sons and our cat.
I provide services in English, French and Turkish.
I am an Occupational Therapist (OT) with specialized training in mental health and trauma healing. I have been serving a diverse population of clients since 2003. I completed a B.Sc. in Occupational Therapy at McGill University in Montréal and M.A. in Arts Therapy at Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design in Auckland New Zealand. I worked in hospitals, public and private clinics in Montréal, Sherbrooke (Québec), Dunedin (New Zealand) and Edmonton (Alberta). I have served children, adolescents, adults, elderly clients and families.
I am specifically interested in utilizing enabling occupations that are meaningful for the person and evoke the individual's creative potential. My masters research during my training in arts therapy was emotion regulation using mindful arts. My research project combined the use of mindfulness, sensory modulation and creativity in service of healing and personal growth.
My work often involves guiding my clients in their endeavor to overcome trauma and recover the life that is worth living. I am a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner and a Teaching Assistant at Somatic Experiencing International. Somatic Experiencing (SE™) is a body-oriented therapeutic model for healing trauma and other stress disorders that is naturalistic, gentle and highly effective. Currently, I am deepening my professional skills in supporting somatic regulation by participating in Kathy Kain's Touch Skills for Trauma Therapists training.
As an occupational therapist, I value contributing to the individual and collective wisdom of how people and communities overcome the obstacles caused by health conditions, disabilities and trauma, and move towards increased well-being no matter the obstacle. I embrace the Recovery Approach because a life worth living and authentic happiness are achievable goals that do not require absence of symptoms.
Therapeutic approaches
Here is a brief review of some therapy approaches I am trained to provide.
Trauma therapy
Other talk therapy approaches
Psychodynamic, Internal Family Systems-informed therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Person-Centered (Humanistic) Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
Somatic methods and Mindfulness
Sensory Enhanced Yoga, Heart Math and other various somatic and mindfulness-based methods
Occupational Therapy
Sensory modulation, chronic pain management, ergonomics, body mechanics, activity analysis (physical and cognitive)
My Interests
The Arts: Music and dances around the world, aerial arts, visual arts and other forms of creativity
Science: Neuroscience, biology, environment and physics.
