Özlem was born in Vienna and has Turkish roots; in her work, she combines cultural diversity with psychotherapeutic expertise. She understands how enriching—but also how challenging—it can be to live between different cultures. This experience shapes her therapeutic approach and her focus on transculturality. Children, adolescents, and families with backgrounds in migration or as refugees, in particular, find her to be an empathetic and experienced counselor.
From an early age, she was active in organizations such as Integrationshaus, Diakonie, Caritas, and Amnesty International. During her studies, Özlem completed national and international internships, including at Charité Berlin and the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Human Rights. Her diverse experience shapes her empathetic, resource-oriented approach and her view of diversity as a strength.
In her practice, she creates a space where diversity is seen as a strength and personal development takes center stage. Her approach is empathetic, resource-oriented, and characterized by openness and a deep understanding of
individual life stories.
She offers psychotherapy in German, English, and Turkish in individual, couples, or group settings.
Key Areas of Focus
- Depth Psychology and Psychoanalysis
- Transcultural Psychotherapy
- Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy
- Group Psychotherapy
- Couples therapy
- Parental counseling
- Coaching
- Supervision
- Instructional Therapy
- Crisis intervention
- Online Therapy
- Presentations and Workshops
Education and Academic Training
- Dec. 2018: Continuing Education Course “Refugee Status & Trauma,” VÖPP Academy of the Association of Austrian Psychotherapists, Vienna
- March 2017: Continuing Education Workshop “When Trauma Hurts: Integrating Self-Efficacy into Inpatient Psychotherapy,” Otto Wagner Hospital, Vienna
- May 2016: Person-Centered Couple and Family Therapy, Institute for Person-Centered Studies, Vienna
- April 2016: Continuing Education Course on “Addiction and Migration,” Grüner Kreis—Association for the Rehabilitation and Integration of People with Addictions, Vienna
- 2015–2016 University Course in Infant, Child, and Adolescent Psychotherapy, Sigmund Freud Private University, Vienna
- October 2015: Registration on the list of psychotherapists
- March 2015: Continuing Education Course “Perfectionism & Perfection,” RPP Institute for Religiosity in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Vienna
- October 2014: Continuing education workshop “Play Is a Child’s Language!”, VÖPP—Association of Austrian Psychotherapists, Vienna
- September 2014: Continuing Education Course “Psychological Assessment of Children and Adolescents,” Kinderhilfswerk, Vienna
- February 2014: Continuing Education Course on “Trauma Therapy,” Kinderhilfswerk, Vienna
- 2011–2015 Master’s in Psychotherapy Sciences, Sigmund Freud Private University, Vienna
- March 2013: Continuing education course “Personality Structures with a Special Focus on the Narcissistic Personality,” Stadlau Child Psychotherapy Outpatient Clinic
- April 2013: Continuing Education Course on “Individual Psychological Psychotherapy for Children and Adolescents,” SFU Vienna
- March 2013: Continuing Education Course “Tics and Compulsions,” Stadlau Pediatric Psychotherapy Outpatient Clinic
- February 2013: Continuing Education Course on “Positive Transcultural Psychotherapy,” VÖPP—Association of Austrian Psychotherapists, Vienna
- 2012 Clinical rotation as part of the specialty training program, Charité at St. Hedwig Hospital, Berlin
- March 2012: Continuing Education Course on “Group Psychotherapy,” German Congress for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Munich
- 2008–2011: Bachelor's Degree in Psychotherapy Sciences, Sigmund Freud Private University, Vienna
- March 2010: Completion of the Introductory Course in Psychotherapy
- January 2010: Psychiatry internship, SMZ Baumgartner Höhe, Otto Wagner Hospital, Vienna
- July–September 2007: Psychology internship, Exilio – Help for Migrants, Refugees, and Survivors of Torture, Inc., Lindau
- 2006–2007: Internship in the projects “Domestic Violence,” “Trafficking in Women and Young People in a European Context,” and “Protection Against Discrimination in Everyday Life,” Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Human Rights, Vienna
- 2003–2008 Psychology, Main University, Vienna
Work Experience
- Since november 2025, psychotherapist and collaborating partner at Wiener Couch 1 and 3
- 2010–2025: Self-employed psychotherapist in private practice, 1020 Vienna
- 2021–2024 Lecturer in Psychotherapy, Sigmund Freud University Vienna
Group psychotherapy at the Sigmund Freud Adult Outpatient Clinic - 2019–present: Adjunct Instructor at BIV – The Academy for Integrative Education, Vienna
; Seminar Leader, Adult Education for Social Work Professions, Module: Transcultural
Social Psychiatry Through the Ages - 2019–2020: Psychotherapist, Cartias Family Center, Vienna
; child and adolescent psychotherapist; intercultural psychological and
psychotherapeutic work with refugees and their families - 2012–2015: Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist at the Children's Aid Society, Stadlau
- 2012–2015 Program Coordinator, Interface Association (Parents and Children), Vienna
Planning and implementing projects, as well as conducting follow-up evaluations
