Professionaland academic Credentials
Qualifications
my story
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been asking questions—studying people, patterns, and possibilities to make sense of the world and my place within it. It was a skill that carried me far: degrees, well-paying jobs, and the semblance of success. But beneath it all, something felt missing—and something felt like too much.
That something was me.
I felt like too much, so I hid.
Like so many diagnosed later in life, I spent years navigating the world with undiagnosed ADHD and autism, tethered to a cycle of external achievement and internal exhaustion. Shame, frustration, and maladaptive strategies kept me afloat but left me empty. Overworking to prove my worth. Perfecting every detail to avoid mistakes. Over-preparing for every interaction, spinning my wheels, and always dropping something—often the relationships that mattered most.
I desperately wanted to understand: Why am I like this?
why i do what i do
The search for answers wasn’t a single question—it was a storm of them. Why was work, despite my achievements, an uphill battle? Why did social interactions feel like puzzles I couldn’t quite solve? Why did my body and mind feel like they were running on empty, even when I was trying so hard?
The truth is, I was stuck in a cycle many of us know too well: pouring everything into work, striving to meet impossible standards, and somehow always falling short—especially when it came to myself. My days were an endless series of over-preparation, hyper-vigilance, and mental gymnastics to navigate environments that weren’t built with people like me in mind.
I didn’t know it then, but I was trying to survive in a world that wasn’t designed for someone like me.
Breaking free wasn’t glamorous or sudden. It was a slow, often painful process of letting go—of unlearning what I’d been told about who I was and what I needed to be. It meant reclaiming the parts of myself I had been taught to hide.
Over time, I began to see things differently. The struggles I once resented—the overthinking, the sensitivity, the need to question everything—became the foundation of something new. Those were the same traits that gave me clarity, creativity, and connection when I allowed them to shine.
This wasn’t just about learning to thrive despite the challenges—it was about realizing I could thrive because of them.
Now, I work with others who are navigating similar struggles—those who feel caught between too much and not enough. It’s not about fixing what’s “wrong” with you; it’s about recognizing the strengths you already have and finding ways to live that honor your needs, values, and vision. If your journey feels heavy or unclear, know that it’s possible to move forward with clarity, compassion, and a sense of belonging.
more autobiographical
I was born in Turkey in 1990. I loved creating characters and stories as a kid. I went to 7 different schools before high school, including a boarding school where I got into trouble for drawing cartoons once, and once for not giving way to an older student. I’ve loved rules and structure only when they made sense and was personally offended by inconsiderate, unkind, and unfair behavior.
I studied Translation Studies at Boğaziçi University, where my dorm room had a view of two beautiful bridges over the Bosphorus. I also did a minor in Social Sciences because psychology and sociology became my special interests. I took all the related courses (and graduated with overcredits). In retrospect, I probably wanted to make sense of the world and the people around me. I translated books, the most interesting one being about photography, before I moved to Germany in 2015 for a Master’s degree in American Studies, where I wrote my thesis on the sense of self in autobiographical trauma narratives. I love books—particularly non-fiction on specific topics (which change constantly), graphic fictional narratives, or middle school fantasy novels about enchanted forests and gifted—but unaware—children.
Having worked as an editor, workshop facilitator, and user experience designer, I decided, upon my dear therapist’s suggestion, to become a certified coach. Often praised for my empathetic listening, divergent thinking, insightful questions, and caring approach by friends, colleagues, and clients, I found that guiding others was my true calling. As I made more peace with myself and embracing a life of more meaning, it became my life goal to support others who are on similar paths to my own.
I have two cats who are sisters, named Jane and Grace. They’re a constant source of joy, mischief, and love.
Are you ready to discover your whole self and seek what is beyond the labels on your terms?