Esra Başöz Özden

Clinical Psychologist

Psychoterapist, Psychodramatist

Esra Başöz Özden graduated from the Department of Psychology at Hacettepe University in 2005. In 2008, she completed her Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology at Doğuş University, earning the title of Clinical Psychologist. Her master’s thesis focused on panic disorder.

After working as a psychotherapist in various private psychotherapy centers, she joined Acıbadem Maslak Hospital, where she worked as an adolescent (16+) and adult psychotherapist from 2009 to 2017. In addition to individual therapy sessions, she led psychological support groups for cancer patients and their families.

In 2019, she completed a six-year training program at Istanbul Psychodrama Association and earned the title of Psychodramatist. Her psychodrama thesis focused on psychodrama with caregivers of individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Between 2017 and 2022, she worked at İda Psychiatry Clinic in Bakırköy and Gökdeniz Psychotherapy Center in Nişantaşı. From 2017 to 2023, she served as the psychologist of Turkish MS Society.

Between 2021 and 2022, she taught Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy Supervision courses in the Clinical Psychology Master’s Program at Işık University. From 2023 to 2025, she worked as an adult psychotherapist at Arka Bahçe Psychological Development and Counseling Center.

She also represented Turkey as the National Delegate at European Federation of Psychologists' Associations for two years. She is currently a member of Turkish Psychological Association, Istanbul Psychodrama Association, Dance Therapy Association, and the Turkish MS Society.

Özden has received extensive training in working with chronically ill patients and their families, dance and movement therapy, as well as sexuality and sexual therapy.

In her clinical practice, she integrates techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychodrama, and Dance and Movement Therapy, while maintaining a humanistic therapeutic approach. She also draws on psychodynamic formulations in her case conceptualizations.

Her areas of clinical focus include stress, depressive disorders, panic disorder, anxiety disorders, the psychological needs of patients with chronic illnesses and their caregivers (e.g., cancer, neurological disorders), grief and loss, pregnancy and motherhood, psychological trauma, coming out and post-coming-out experiences in LGBTQ+ individuals, and sexuality and sexual dysfunction.

As of September 2025, she has been working as a psychotherapist at Aria Positive Mind Center.