Mastering Skills and Overcoming Challenges in EFIT: A Consultation Process
April 2025
Kumsal has completed advanced training in Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) with the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT). She continues to offer EFIT sessions to support her clients.
Learn more about EFT: https://iceeft.com/what-is-eft-public/
You can find our name in ICEEFT directory here: https://directory.iceeft.com/therapist-profile/kumsal_tekirdag_kosar_23420/
A new modality in our tool box: Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT)
March 2025
Kumsal has successfully completed a 4-day externship in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT) with Toronto Centre for EFT and the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT).
“Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT) is a short-term structured approach, established in the 1980s based on attachment science. It employs a humanistic, experiential approach to restructure emotional experience, alongside a systemic structural approach to amend interactions. Extensive research underpins EFCT’s effectiveness, showcasing substantial treatment effect sizes with enduring results. EFCT has been utilized successfully across diverse settings and with various couples facing challenges like depression, anxiety, or forgiveness dilemmas. It’s employed across North America, Europe, Australia, among others, with both traditional and non-traditional couples, demonstrating its wide applicability and effectiveness.”
- Learn more about EFCT: https://iceeft.com/what-is-emotionally-focused-therapy-for-couples/https://iceeft.com/what-is-eft-public/
- You can find us in ICEEFT directory here: https://directory.iceeft.com/therapist-profile/kumsal_tekirdag_kosar_23420/
- You can find us under TCEFT member directory here: https://tceft.ca/find-a-therapist/ayse-tekirdag-kosar/
New Certification in Clinical Trauma Treatment
February 2025
Kumsal has obtained a new certification: Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) from Evergreen Certifications; by completing advanced training on Polyvagal Theory for Embodied Trauma Recovery.
Certified Clinical Trauma Professional certification gives licensed mental health clinicians the skills to transform their clinical practice and help improve their trauma treatment outcomes. Learn more about CCTP here
A new modality to serve our clients: Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT)
January 2025
Kumsal has completed training in Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) with the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT) and is now offering EFIT sessions to support her clients.
What is EFIT?
“Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) is a groundbreaking therapeutic model that facilitates emotional processing and the creation of secure relationships with self and others. Originating from Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for couples, EFIT adapts these principles for individual therapy, offering a structured approach to help individuals address various challenges including anxiety, depression, trauma and relationship problems. EFIT’s unique approach empowers mental health professionals to help their clients transform restrictive emotional patterns, foster internal coherence, and build deep resilience. In other words, EFIT allows them to be fit to flourish in life and in love.”
Learn more about EFT: https://iceeft.com/what-is-eft-public/
You can find our name in ICEEFT directory here: https://directory.iceeft.com/therapist-profile/kumsal_tekirdag_kosar_23420/
Our Healing Connection (OHC) therapy is accepting new clients!
January 2025
Perhaps you have been to therapy before or this is your first time exploring. Either way, welcome! We are glad that you found your way to our centre. We aim to create a safe healing connection to help you achieve your goals and full potential. At OHC, we believe that counselling and psychotherapy is a process of exploration, collaboration and connection based on your individual needs and goals. We prioritize safety and empowerment: pillars of the trauma-informed care approach to work with your strengths and resources to support you in overcoming life challenges.
We provide individual psychotherapy, counselling and mental health support in English and Turkish for adults in Ontario, Canada. We are accepting new clients on a limited basis, and have limited availability. You can view our availability and request a free 15-minute consultation through our online booking calendar, send an email to us at ourhealingconnection@gmail.com
If you are a new client or inquiring about services, you can view our website www.ourhealingconnection.ca for more information about policies and fees.
If you need immediate support or are in a crisis, please note that Our Healing Connection Therapy is not a crisis service. If you are in distress and need urgent help with a mental health emergency, call 911, or go to the nearest emergency department of your local hospital.
If you need mental health support, you can contact a local distress centres available 24/7 or reach out by phone or text to 988, Canada’s Suicide Crisis Helpline. • Toronto Distress Centre Phone: 416-408-4357 (4DISTRESS) • Gerstein Crisis Centre (Toronto) Phone: 416-929-5200 • Kids Help Phone (Canada-wide, children and youth) Phone: 1-800-668-6868 • Crisis Services Canada (Canada-wide) Phone: 1-833-456-4566 • Ontario 211 (Community Services and Crisis Support) Phone: 211 • Peel Crisis Intake Line Phone: 905-278-9036 or 1-888-811-2222 • Halton Distress Centre Phone: 905-878-9785 (or 1-877-825-9011) • Hamilton-Wentworth Distress Centre Phone: 905-528-8044 • Toronto North Support Services Phone: 416-222-4667 • York Region Crisis Intervention (CMHA York South Simcoe) Phone: 905-895-2311 • Durham Mental Health Services Crisis Line Phone: 1-800-742-1890 • Scarborough Crisis Line (East Toronto) Phone: 416-438-2911
Our poster presentation from the Canadian Society Of Addiction Medicine CSAM-SMCA 2024 Scientific Conference
November 2024
I am pleased to share our poster presentation titled “Recommendations from Ontario Youth, Parents/Caregivers, and Service Providers on Cannabis Use in Youth and Young Adults” from the Canadian Society Of Addiction Medicine CSAM-SMCA 2024 Scientific Conference!
This conference brought together researchers, leaders, and clinicians to share cutting-edge research, best practices, and new perspectives on addiction treatment and recovery. It was a great networking event for addiction medicine practitioners and I enjoyed sharing the latest results from our research on cannabisuseinyouth and recommendations from youth, parents and service providers perspectives.
I have been privileged to be part of this research on Toula Kourgiantakis, PhD, RSW‘s research team, in collaboration with FAR Canada – Families for Addiction Recovery & Angie Hamilton on understanding cannabis use in youth.
Check our latest research paper recently published in the Harm Reduction Journal!
November 2024
Kourgiantakis, T., Hamilton, A., Tait, C., Tekirdag Kosar, K., Lau, C., McNeil, S., Lee, E., Craig, S. & Goldstein, A. (2024). Reducing the harms of cannabis use in youth post-legalization: Insights from Ontario youth, parents & service providers. Harm Reduction Journal, 21, 1-21
https://harmreductionjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12954-024-01112-9
Psychology Today Profile is live now!
July 2024
“Connections enrich our lives, helping us navigate the complexity of life. Without healthy connections, we suffer and fall into loneliness. As a relational therapist, my priority is to create “Our Healing Connection”, a safe haven for you to explore your thoughts and emotions without judgment and with compassion. We will work collaboratively to support you with the changes you would like to make in areas including, but not limited to: anxiety, depression, life transitions, trauma, substance use/addiction, relationship with yourself and others, family conflict, parenting and work/school stress. I am a Registered Social Worker and Turkish-English-speaking psychotherapist in Ontario. My lived experience in Turkish and Canadian cultures informs my authentic therapeutic style. My integrative practice style prioritizes attachment-based experiential work from emotionally focused therapy which has led to profound and long-lasting change for many people. Therapy is both exploration and collaboration. I meet my clients where they are in their journey and walk alongside them with compassion and warmth. My goal is to work towards understanding your unique needs, and support you in reaching your goals; improve coping and resiliency, and create long-lasting change with the support of our healing connection. Call or Email ourhealingconnection@gmail.com now for a free 15-minute consultation – (289) 312-8739″Our Healing Connection Instagram is Live!
June 2024
Did you know that Our Healing Connection has an Instagram channel?
We use our channel to build awareness around mental health topics including stigma, trauma, boundaries, mindfulness and self-care. We believe it is a great resource hub to engage in daily positive affirmations and mental health-related reminders and tidbits!
Follow us from here https://www.instagram.com/ourhealingconnection.ca/
Interview and Student Highlight with Factor and Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto
July 2023
“I studied cell biology and disease mechanisms such as cancer or neurodegenerative diseases at the molecular level for the past decade and am aware of the very complex interactions that go on in our brain,” Tekirdag-Kosar says. “Knowing the importance of neurobiology, neuroplasticity and the ability to rewire our brains with psychotherapy and mindfulness empowers my clinical practice. It means we can heal and our brains can change, which is such an important message for everyone, especially trauma survivors and the populations that I work with.”
Read more of my personal story of career change, from cell biology to social work below:
Our research article on youth cannabis use is out!
June 2023
This study is led by Dr Toula Kourgiantakis, PhD, RSW, CCFT and I had the privilege to be part of this exciting research from the very beginning during my MSW at University of Toronto
It aimed to understand Ontario service providers’ perceptions, practices, and recommendations on youth cannabis use.
Regarding perceptions, 60% of survey participants agreed with legalization, 26% had a strong understanding of medical versus recreational cannabis, 84% believed that cannabis has physical and mental health risks, and 49% perceived stigmatization. Less than half of the survey participants reported screening or assessing cannabis use, 16% stated they are highly familiar with treating cannabis use, and 67% reported that they rarely work with families. Subthemes identified in the focus groups under perceptions included normalization and stigmatization, harms for youth, and stigma, racism, and discrimination. Subthemes under practice included cannabis not being the primary focus, challenges with screening, assessment, and intervention, and referral to specialized services.
Both the survey and focus group participants recommended increasing public education, enhancing service provider training, improving regulation and policies, reducing stigma and minimization, improving service access, and providing more culturally responsive services.”
Kourgiantakis, T., Lee, E., Tekirdag, K. A., Tait, C., Lau, C. K., McNeil, S., Craig, S. L., Ashcroft, R., Williams, C. C., Goldstein, A. L., Chandrasekera, U., Sur, D., & Henderson, J. (2023). Youth cannabis use in Canada post-legalization: service providers’ perceptions, practices, and recommendations. Substance Abuse Treatment Prevention and Policy, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13011-023-00550-1
https://substanceabusepolicy.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13011-023-00550-1
Listen to my podcast with Ozgun Unver, PhD Mind Your Own Revision on migration, mental health and career change
“Kumsal Tekirdag-Kosar is a scientist, parent, migrant, and social worker based in Toronto, Canada. She has lived experience with mental health challenges and now, her mission is to become a Mental Health Practitioner in Canada herself to give back and support the mental wellbeing of vulnerable communities.
In this episode, we talked about:
- Mental health during PhD and post-doc
- Migration for academic career
- Isolation that comes with migration
- Career change and “starting over”
- Social work and therapy in North America
- Talking about burnout in the workplace
- Discrimination that migrants face
and so much more…”
Find out more about Kumsal at https://www.linkedin.com/in/aysekumsaltekirdag/
Watch this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Ce2W0CkIv38
Check out my highlight post with Mothers in Science
“I welcomed my daughter into my life and it changed everything for me.” Read more below:
https://www.mothersinscience.com/journeys/kumsal-tekirdag-kosar
My blog posts on mental health and my experience of being a mother scientist
What is Mental Health: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/mental-health-series-what-how-improve-a-kumsal-tekirdag-kosar-ph-d-/
Being a Mother Scientist: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/being-mother-a-kumsal-tekirdag-kosar-ph-d-/