ONAT OZDEN

I was born in Istanbul, Turkey on October 17, 1992. Experiencing an existential crisis around highschool trying to find meaning in my life, I started to research belief systems that would introduce purpose to my life, varying from Islam to eastern esoterizm. Stumbling across existential psychotherapy and philosophy helped me make sense of the fundamental concerns of life that we all suffer from such as anxiety, isolation, choice and responsibility, and traumas.

My main goal in choosing to study Psychology was to first and foremost understand myself better. Throughout my life I went to several therapists with numerous orientations. I viewed psychotherapy not as a means to alleviate symptoms but for gaining self-awareness towards personal growth. Similarly, I chose to study a Doctorate in Existential Counselling to again, have a better relationship with myself and make sense of my world. Offering help to other people on their life journeys came naturally after I started to construe my own path, on my journey.  I always held the belief that a wounded healer can deliver good care only after tending to and healing their wounds first.

Additionally, social identities such as religion, gender, sexuality, ethnicity etc were always things I wondered upon and reflected on. As a gay man growing up in Istanbul, I experienced oppression based on my sexual identity; whereas growing up as ethnically a 'white Turk' I always made an active choice in realizing the privileges that came with it and prioritised educating myself on the Kurdish and Armenian oppression within Turkey. Social identities are a huge part of what makes us 'us', which are sadly not tackled in counselling to the extend as it should. Better understanding on our experiences around both oppression and privilege has the potential to bring new perspectives on our sufferings.  

During my university years, I have volunteered in several charities and organisations within diverse fields. I have worked with children with mental disabilities; I have worked with Syrian children living in Istanbul, helping them to learn English and Turkish languages; I have worked with disadvantageous local and refugee communities helping them learning languages. Within my Doctoral studies, I have worked with inpatient clients that suffer from a varied range of DSM diagnosis. In the last 2 years, I have worked within a private clinic and have seen a diverse client group. My doctoral dissertation is on the lived experiences of gay men in Istanbul. Having done extensive research on the topic from a multi-disciplined perspective, I work with LGBT+ clients in a gender and sexuality affirmative approach.  

MIDDLESEX UNIVERSITY / NSPC (New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling) - London, UK (2017 - )
Doctorate in Existential Counselling Psychology and Psychotherapy by Professional Studies 

• 1st year completion: PGDip Level
• 2nd year completion: MSc, FHEQ Level 7 (150 hours of supervised counselling 

and 50 hours of personal therapy)
• 3rd year completion: MProf Level (300 hours of supervised counselling and 100 

hours of personal therapy) 

ISTANBUL BILGI UNIVERSITY - Istanbul, TURKEY (2011 - 2016) School of Social Sciences and Humanities - Department of Psychology 

2019 - Present: Counsellor/Psychotherapist (IYI PSYCHOTHERAPY SERVICES - Istanbul, TURKEY ) 

2020: Existential Supervisor (RUSAG NGO; MENTAL HEALTH FOR ALL - Izmir, TURKEY)    

2018 - 2019: Volunteer Psychotherapy Trainee ( KARTAL MUNICIPALITY UĞUR MUMCU CULTURAL CENTRE - Istanbul, TURKEY)

2018 - 2019: Assistant Psychologist (ERENKÖY HOSPITAL FOR MENTAL AND NERVOUS DISEASES, WOMEN’S INPATIENT CLINIC - Istanbul, TURKEY)