We work with

• Children
• Adolescents
• Young adults
• Parents
• Family members related to the child
• TeachersSchool counselors

We use

• Scientifically based and effective therapy methods
• Models designed and combined for the specific needs of the client

We aim

• To help our clients to use their potential effectively
• To help our clients to increase their awareness about areas in their lives that they can have control over and also help them become competent in controlling these areas
• To help significant others become more aware about the client’s condition and needs, and guide them in giving conscious support

OUR TEAM

Şeniz Pamuk / Clinical Psychologist

Şeniz Pamuk has studied psychology at Boğaziçi University and has graduated in 1985. She has got her master’s degree in clinical psychology also at Boğaziçi University, in 1987. She has worked as a research assistant in many projects and has completed a one-year internship in child and adolescent psychotherapy at the child psychiatry department in İstanbul University/ Çapa Medical Faculty. The topic of her master’s thesis was “ The reciprocal perception of elementary school children in same- and mixed-sex dyads”. Pamuk has worked at Child Study Center /Robert College. She took part in the establishment of the child and adolescent unit in Davranış Bilimleri Enstitüsü (Institute for Behavioral Sciences), where she has worked for 22 years. She has founded the Beyaz Counselling Center in 2008.

Pamuk, has attended many seminars and workshops on the assessment of intelligence and various cognitive functions, projective tests, expressive art therapy, EMDR training, various aspects of child, adolescent and developmental psychology, attachment, developmental disorders, learning disabilites, neuropsychology, play therapy, cognitive-bahavioral therapy, and dynamic psychotherapy. She has also prepared and moderated many workshops for psychology students, school teachers and parents.

Şeniz Pamuk is working at BEYAZ Counselling Center as a full-time therapist.

Ahu Sağlam / Clinical Psychologist

Ahu Sağlam has studied psychology at Hacettepe University and has graduated in 2000. She has studied clinical psychology at Doğuş University and has got her master’s degree in 2008. She has done a 364-hour internship during the master’s program. The topic of her master’s thesis was “A review on disruptive disorders in children and adolescents”. She has worked for an international association after the earthquake in 1999.

Sağlam, has participated in various seminars and workshops on the application and evaluation of tests and various therapy methods.

Ahu Sağlam is working at the special education unit of a private hospital, where she works with children who have pervasive developmental disorder, conduct problems and/or learning disabilities. She has joined the BEYAZ team in 2008.

Doli Aseo / Psychological Counsellor

Doli Aseo, has studied guidance and counselling at Boğaziçi University, and graduated in 2005. She has studied developmental psychology at Koç University and got her master’s degree in 2009. She has worked as a research assistant in many projects. The topic of her master’s thesis was “The relationship between children’s expression of emotions according to experimental observation and the internalization-externalization symptoms according to reports of mothers”.

Aseo has participated in various seminars and workshops on family therapy, psychopathology in children and adolescents,learning, neurology and special education.

Aseo has worked in the counselling unit of many schools and assisted prominent psychiatrists. She is now working in İZEV (İstanbul Foundation for the Education and Support of the Mentally Retarded). She has joined the BEYAZ team in 2009.

L. Nazlı Pirinçci / Clinical Psychologist

L. Nazlı Pirinçci has studied psychology and modern culture/media at Brown University, and has graduated in 2005. She has worked at Yağmur Çocuklar Special Education Center and Play to Learn Kindergarten as the school counselor. She hascompleted her master’s degree in clinical psychology at Maltepe University in 2010. She has done her internship at Erenköy Mental Hospital. The topic of her master’s thesis was “ The relationship between perfectionism and anxiety levels among high school students.”

Pirinçci, has participated in various seminars and workshops on the application and evaluation of projective tests, play therapy, and cognitive- bahavioral therapy.

L. Nazlı Pirinçci is working as a full time therapist at the child psychiatry clinic at İstanbul University / Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty. She has joined the BEYAZ team in 2009.

PRINCIPLES

Psychotherapy and special education are processes designed to help the client to overcome critical issues in his/her life. The therapist and the client have to cooperate during this process. Hence, it is of crucial importance that the clients attend sessions on a regular basis. We kindly request you to read our principles carefully:

• The sessions are confirmed ahead. In case the client cancels the session on the scheduled day, he/she is obliged to pay for the session. The duration of each session is 50 minutes.
• The sessions begin and end on time. In case of a delay caused by the therapist, the delay will be compensated. In case of a delay caused by the client, the session will be completed on scheduled time.
• The payments are to be made at the end of each session.
• Confidentiality of sessions is of utmost importance. However, in cases involving a life threatening risk, like suicidal intentions or drug addiction, this information shall be shared with significant persons in the client’s life.
• Whenever the necessity arises, in that the sessions are to be videotaped or observed by an assistant therapist for educational purposes, the permission of clients and their families will be asked for. If permission should not be granted, the session will be carried out according to the principle of confidentiality.
• It would be helpful, if the client brought the appointment card with him/ her, to each session.
• The therapist answers each telephone call and e-mail. Nevertheless, we kindly expect your understanding when delays in answering ocur, due to the overload of the schedule.

WHICH SERVICES DO WE PROVIDE?

Raising Healthy Children:

Parents value raising up emotionally and socially healthy kids more than ever. The way leading to this end, includes knowledge, awareness and prevention of problems. Consultinga professional, before critical time periods in development, may make the transitions easier for everyone in the family and help prevention of problems.

Individual Counselling for Children, Adolescents and Young Adults:

Each individual may go through phases in her/his life, where, e.g she/he may have many unanswered questions in mind, may be highly anxious, or may have problems in her/his relationships. Individual counselling may shed some light on unresolved issues and enhance awareness, thus clearing up the way for a solution or resolution.

Learning:

Each child finding himself within a learning environment wants to be successful. If he/she has difficulties in becoming successful, it may mean that she/he may experience problems in one or more areas that are necessary for the process of learning. In order to cope with these problems, a thorough evaluation and a personal exercise and therapy program based on the results of the evaluation are required.

Attention Deficit and Impulsivity in Childhood:

When a child finds delay of gratification difficult, is constantly distracted, has difficulty in getting organized and is unable to regulate his emotions, than he/she will have problems in situtions where there is a given structure and obedience to rules is required. These children usually get intensive negative feedback and therefore develop a negative self-image. Hence, a proper assessment of the condition and an effective intervention plan may be necessary.

Attention Deficit and Impulsivity in Adulthood:

Many people who have reached adulthood, continue to suffer from attention deficit and impulsivity, causing them to go through many unpleasant situations in school, at their workplace and in their relationships. They are not able to live up to their full potential and gradually become unhappy. It is important that adults with attention deficit and impulsivity problems , learn to observe, train and improve themselves, in order to lead a more fulfilling life.

Communication Skill Deficits and Disabilities:

When a child or adolescent, does not possess the ability to initiate and carry on the ”proper” type of communication, be it verbal or nonverbal, he/she feels at a loss when he/she finds himself in a social environment. While she/he cannot enjoy the environment, other people have difficulty in interpreting her/ his reactions and finding out how their own reaction should be. Therefore, it becomes important that the child/adolescent learns the “hidden codes” of communication in order to feel more comfortable in a social environment while effectively giving and taking messages.

Social Skills Deficits and Disabilities:

Children and adolescents need to learn and develop their skills in “social cognition/social thinking”. This skill involves “reading” the situation correctly, adapting one’s behavior, and finding effective solutions to social problems. The children who lack these skills experience many difficulties, including bullying in schools. Enhancement of social skills is necessary for short- and long-term benefits of the child.

Children and Adolescents with Chronical Illnesses:

A chronic illness does not effect the child alone. The family members who have to live and deal with the various physical and psychological problems of the child need to get emotional support and guidance, in order to lead a productive life both as individuals and as a family.

Gifted Children- Social and Emotional Needs:

It is difficult to delineate a “gifted child”. Some gifted children perform extraordinarily well in areas like memory, learning, and attention, while others are gifted in areas like music and mathematics. Many gifted children go through emotional and social problems, in that they have difficulties in keeping pace with their environment, in making themselves understood, and in getting their demands fulfilled. Therefore, it is crucial that the child himself/herself and the significant people in his/her life understand the child’s needs and difficulties.

Performance Enhancement- Examinations, Sports, Performing Arts:

A person has to go through many situations where she/he has to exhibit some kind of performance. There are many factors effecting that performance, either supporting or hindering. So, it is important to make a correct assessment of the physical, cognitive and emotional assets and deficits of the person. The next step is to enhance the performance and to help the person perform to her/his full potential, using techniques designed for this purpose.

Divorce:

Divorce is a life event, that many children in our modern society have to go through. Research shows that the relations between mother-father and child before, during and after the divorce play a very important role in the child’s academic, social and emotional life. Thus, it is important that the situation be handled in a most careful way, so that the people involved in the process are minimally injured and are able to establish a new and fulfilling life.

Trauma:

Trauma can be defined as an unexpected, negative life event which alters the lives of the people in such a way that they are not to able to lead their lives as before. The perception of trauma and its impact, are not the same for all people. Trauma has its short-term as well as long-term consequences, especially in the emotional area. Post-traumatic stress disorder and high levels of anxiety have to be dealt with for the better adjustment of the person. Behavioral Problems: Each child may display some kind of a behavioral problem at some stage in his/her life. Although some behevioral problems are typical of a certain age, and are transitory, some may be serious. If the problem lasts more than a few months and disturbs the daily life of the child or adolescent, it is recommended that a professional be visited. Some examples of these problems are:

• Fears and Phobias
• Enuresis and Encopresis
• Nail Biting
• Eating Problems
• Sleeping Problems

How Do We Work?

• Individual Therapy and Counselling
• Group Work with Children and Adolescents
• Group Work with Children and Families
• Group Work with Parents
• Life Skill-Workshops for Children
  • Five-Senses Workshop
  • Yoga
• Developmental, Intellectual and Psychological Assessment

Which Therapy Methods Do We Use?

• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
• Expressive Art Therapy
• Play Therapy
• EMDR
• Solution Focused Therapy
• Family Therapy

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How is the initial procedure at your center?

We work according to an appointment-based schedule. If you want to make an appointment with one of our therapists, you will be kindly asked to call 0212-231 61 12 and schedule an appointment with Buse Hanım. You will need to answer some questions during this phone call.

Unless otherwise stated, the first interview is carried out with mother, father and child. The therapy procedure for each child and/or family will be explained at the end of the first session; the process may either proceed with required evaluations or regular sessions.

Are evaluations/tests charged differently?

All the interviews and evaluations are charged on a session- basis in our center; no extra fees are charged for the evaluations.

How long are the intervals between sessions?

The frequency of the sessions is decided at the end of the first session or after the evaluation sessions.

What are the age range of clients in your center?

We work with children and adolescents between ages 0-18, with young adults and with families. We recommend PERSONA LIFE, which is our partner center, for adult and couple therapies and psychiatric consultations.

Do you accept public or private health insurances?

We are not working under any kind of agreement with public and private health insurance companies. However, if the agreement of the client includes a conditional clause for psychological services, a report will be provided for him/her, so that he/she may benefit from this service.

How are the payments in your center?

We accept only cash; no credit cards are accepted in our center.

Where is the center located?

Click to see the map.