About — Dr. Fatma Yeşilyurt

My philosophy

Psychology, for me

I believe psychology should first help people understand themselves — before it ever tries to change them.

I believe psychology exists not only to solve problems, but to help people know themselves and build their lives more consciously.

So in the books I write, the programs I teach, and the work I do, I try to turn scientific psychology into an understandable, usable part of everyday life.

My aim isn't to tell people how to live — it's to make room for them to understand themselves better, look at their relationships more closely, and make more conscious choices about their own lives.

My approach

How I work in therapy

I try to understand a person not only through the problem they're facing, but within the whole of their life — their story, their relationships, and their values.

Every person's story, needs, and ways of relating are different. So I treat therapy not as a ready-made template but as an individual process built around each person's needs. Rather than staying tied to a single school, I draw on evidence-based psychotherapy approaches according to the need and the problem.

For me, therapy isn't only about answering “Why do I feel this way?” — it's about noticing recurring patterns, understanding emotions, re-examining relationships, and discovering what we can do differently from here.

My aim isn't just for you to cope with your difficulties, but to know yourself better, build healthier relationships, and make more conscious choices in line with your own values.

Cognitive Behavioral approaches (CBT)Schema TherapyAcceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-based approachEmotion-regulation skills

My story

A lifelong curiosity about people

My curiosity about human behavior began long before my professional path. I was always drawn to understanding why people think and feel so differently about the same event — and why they sometimes repeat behaviors they know aren't good for them.

In the early years of my career, working in management and organization, I saw it up close: to understand a system, looking at rules and structures wasn't enough — you had to understand the people within it. Relationships, motivations, values, past experiences, and a person's relationship with themselves were often the real story behind what was visible. Over time, that curiosity led me to psychology.

Throughout my academic work and professional experience, I've studied human behavior, relationships, family, parenting, personal growth, leadership, and culture. Living in different countries and working with people from different cultures taught me something important: we can't understand human behavior apart from the family, relationships, culture, and life story it's embedded in.

At the center of everything I do today, that first curiosity is still there:

When a person understands themselves better, what changes in their life?

The journey

Professional journey

2020

Doctorate in Clinical Psychology

BC University (Belgium Campus). The doctoral training that grounds my clinical work with clients today.

2019

Community education & advocacy

Expanded my work in community education, family support, and advocacy for women and children.

2016

Master's research

Researched leadership, women in management, and volunteer organizations — the experience of people inside the systems they build.

2002

Where it began

Began my academic journey, discovering that understanding people fascinated me more than understanding systems.

Books

Books that continue the conversation beyond therapy.

Writing has always been another way of helping people heal, understand, and grow — long after a session ends. Fifteen illustrated children's books and Letters to Gülriz make sixteen in all.

New book

Letters to Gülriz

For readers who want to understand their inner world — a collection of letters from the therapy room on change, resistance, grief, and the small, brave acts that shape a life.

Get the book

+10

Fifteen books

Children's Story Collection

Fifteen illustrated books that help children grow into the values that shape a good life.

honestykindnesscourageresponsibilitypatience

Coming soon

Beyond therapy

Speaker, educator, and workshop leader

I regularly deliver educational programs and workshops — for parents, schools, and organizations — on the themes that shape our everyday relationships:

Healthy RelationshipsParentingPersonal BoundariesCommunicationEmotional IntelligencePsychological Well-being

Explore programs →

How I work

How I work with the people I see

Evidence-informed

Scientific knowledge translated into practical, compassionate support.

Whole-person perspective

Psychology, culture, relationships, family, and values are considered together.

Between cultures

Helping individuals and families navigate life across languages, identities, and generations.

Kind words

In their words

“

Working with Dr. Yeşilyurt helped me understand myself differently. I felt heard, challenged, and supported throughout the process.

A client · Turkey

“

I learned to look at myself from a different perspective and gained a much deeper understanding of who I am.

A client · Germany

“

Every session left me feeling lighter, calmer, and more hopeful.

A client · Portugal

Understanding yourself is the foundation for building healthier relationships and a more conscious life.