Yesim is a PhD Candidate in Human Development, specializing in Marriage and Family Therapy and is pursuing certification in Future Professoriate and Educational Research. She has a BA degree in Psychology from Bogazici University, Turkey, and an MA in Clinical Psychology from Istanbul Bilgi University, Turkey. She served as the co-chair of the 32nd Graduate Student Assembly Research Symposium and Expo. Her research focuses on the common factors across different psychotherapy modalities.
Absolutely! Our disciplines shape the way we see the world one way or another, and may create a kind a rabbit hole limiting our perspectives in the long run. I love meeting people from other disciplines, exchanging ideas, and collaborating with them.
Everything related to the nature! I am hiking and gardening regularly as a practice of self-care. The most effective stress reduction technique I have been using for years is watching stars, though. I love staring at how the stars twinkle, trying to identify which constellation they belong to, thinking about how many light years they are far away from the Earth and so on. Then, every stressful event become pale little dots.
I am glad to be a graduate student at the Department of Human Development in which I grew up tremendously thanks to the training, supervision, and support I received. Without hesitation, my most meaningful academic relationship is the one with my advisor Dr. Fred Piercy. I am lucky enough to learn continuously from his professional expertise and personal integrity. I am so very grateful to him!
I plan to teach, supervise, and practice psychotherapy in a clinical setting after graduation in the long run. Before having a full time job and settling down, I will travel on the Trans-Siberian Railway from Moscow and Beijing, and write a book during my tour. Then, let's see how it goes.
Color pens. Growing up a pretty personal-growth oriented family, I was constantly finding new toys in my huge toys basket. Yet, nothing was more inspiring than painting with color pens. I guess I was about 2.5-3, when I first found them.
Graduate school experience can be pretty isolating, I should admit. Getting involved in campus activities, particularly with GSA was a great experience that helped me to feel as a part of a community, to get to know people outside of my field, and to realize that there are a lot of things we can do for the community.
Once a beloved supervisors of mine told me that being a professor is not much different than being a college student. It was not easy to understand her at that time. Now, after 5 years of experience in private practice, getting back to Academia and its universe of books, databases, papers, post-its, deadlines, exams, schedules etc. I started to have a glimpse of what she meant. In my experience, like the abbreviation of PhD implies, graduate school is really all about loving to be on the way towards some sort of an absolute knowledge, with the absolute acceptance that you will never ever know enough. To me, this is the most surprising discovery.
Not taking anything too seriously, I guess. Accepting that the work will never be done, and there always be something more I should be doing were the crucial steps for me in order to set that balance. When I feel tired of work, I stop and give myself gifts like a very good coffee, a small hiking break, or a little bit of chatting with my friends and family. Setting my mind as not being able to work between 12am-7am was a very good self-care decision as well.
I would definitely be one of the people on the board! I would contribute to develop an education system based on the principles of humanism and ecological awareness.
A good amount of chocolate and coffee with good quality. I have to consume them daily in order to function.