Counseling and Psychotherapy in Turkey: Ceren's Story

Abstract

Psychotherapy in Turkey is practiced by a wide variety of mental health practitioners, such as counselors, psychologists, and psychiatrists. This chapter provides a case study of Ceren to illustrate how counseling and treatment processes are carried out by mental health practitioners in Turkey and how cultural expectations could affect the type and severity of psychological problems experienced by Turkish individuals. This 22-year-old single heterosexual Caucasian female presented for insomnia and nightmares. An eclectic approach that included psychodynamic theories, gestalt theory, behavior theory, and cognitive behavior approaches was used in Ceren's treatment. Establishing trust and building a relationship were two of the initial therapeutic process goals the counselor had. This case shows how cultural expectations in Turkey, particularly related to gender roles, can affect an individual's psychological well-being. The case also illustrates how multicultural background characteristics could play an important role in the therapeutic process. © 2015 by the American Counseling Association. All rights reserved.