Berna Aker

In 2017, I completed my undergraduate studies at Koç University, majoring in Psychology.

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• • During my undergraduate studies, I embarked on a journey of practical experience and academic enrichment. This included my initial internship at Bakırköy Psychiatric Hospital, where I worked within the Women's Psychosis Service. Subsequently, I dedicated 1.5 years to an internship as an assistant psychologist at a private Child and Family counseling center.

  • In addition to these invaluable hands-on experiences, I actively engaged in academic research. Under the mentorship of esteemed professors such as Prof. Dr. Sami Gülgöz and Prof. Dr. Tilbe Göksun, I contributed to studies focusing on autobiographical memory and the intersection of Language and Informatics, respectively.

  • Furthermore, I broadened my academic horizons through the Erasmus program at the University of Mannheim. Alongside these endeavors, I actively participated in various congresses and conferences organized by both the Turkish Psychology Students Working Group and The European Federation of Psychology Students' Associations. These experiences not only enriched my academic knowledge but also honed my practical skills and passion for psychology.

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In 2020, I achieved my master's degree (M.Sc.) in "Learning Sciences" from Ludwig Maximilian University in Germany.

 

• • During my tenure at LMU, my primary research focus centered around enhancing learning methodologies. Collaborating with esteemed academics such as Dr. Beate Sodian, Dr. April Moeller Bachhuber, Dr. Sarah Bichler, and Dr. Frank Fischer, I delved into the impact of adults' reasoning skills on science education, culminating in my thesis.

  • Throughout my master's program, I engaged in diverse professional experiences. Initially, I dedicated six months to working in a kindergarten, specifically at Infanterix in Munich. Subsequently, I transitioned to establishing my own venture in Munich, where for a year, I provided support to children aged 1-5, addressing their emotional and relational challenges through experiential play therapy.

  • During this transformative period, my passion for educational sciences continued to thrive. Between 2020 and 2023, I immersed myself in various roles at Allianz Technology Munich, spanning learning, talent management, diversity and inclusion strategies. It was during this time that I solidified my commitment to both therapeutic practice and educational sciences, recognizing them as my twin passions in life.

  • Motivated by this realization, I eagerly embarked on the journey to further refine my skills as a therapist, commencing in 2020 with a renewed sense of purpose and dedication.

 

Between 2020 and 2023, I completed the three-year (480 hours) training program in Satir Transformational Systemic Therapy Model, focusing on Couple and Family Therapy. This program was conducted in partnership with the Satir Human Development and Family Therapy Institute and the Canadian Satir Institute of Pacific, under the auspices of the European Family Therapy Association Training Institutes Unit (EFTA-TIC). Additionally, I completed the Family Counseling training provided by Sibel Erenel.

 

During the training process, I completed the training modules "Working with Couples", "Working with Individuals and Families" given by Kathlyne Maki-Banmen and "Domestic Violence" given by Pınar İlkkaracan. During the training, I received supervision from Sibel Erenel, Şebnem Yüksel, Nesteren Gazioglu, and Gaye Turgay.

 

In 2024, I completed the Emotion-Focused Couple Therapy Certificate Program Level-1 Training, under the guidance of Dr. Senem Zeytinoglu Saydam. This training, also known as the Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy Externship, has enriched my expertise in couple therapy.

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Currently, I offer online psychotherapy sessions for individuals, couples, and families, while also providing coaching services to companies within the field of educational sciences.

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*I conduct therapy sessions in Turkish or English.