About Me
Trauma therapist. Humanitarian worker. Advocate for healing.
I Am Serin Bitar-Çanak
I am a trauma therapist and mental health counselor with more than twenty years of experience in humanitarian protection, psychosocial support, and trauma recovery. My professional journey began in the humanitarian field, working directly with individuals and communities affected by crisis, forced displacement, violence, and prolonged stress. These experiences deeply shaped not only my clinical skills but also my understanding of human resilience, dignity, and the capacity to heal even after the deepest pain.
Throughout the years, my work has centered on trauma recovery and emotional resilience. Field experience in counseling, crisis intervention, and high-stress emergency contexts allowed me to develop a therapeutic approach that is attuned to the nervous system, firmly grounded, and compassionate.
Today I bring this experience into my private practice. I work with individuals experiencing trauma, emotional overload, anxiety, grief, and chronic stress. My approach to therapy goes beyond managing symptoms; it aims to rebuild trust, connection, and a sense of self-efficacy at the level of both body and mind.
Professional Background and Therapeutic Focus
In my current work as a trauma therapist, my primary focus is Brainspotting. Brainspotting is a nervous-system-based, neurobiologically attuned therapeutic approach that supports the processing of deep emotional and somatic experiences held in the body and nervous system. It contributes to the release of stored trauma, nervous system regulation, and emotional balance.
In my sessions, I prioritize creating a safe, attuned, and collaborative therapeutic space. This space supports the person in reconnecting with their own inner capacity for control and regulation.
In addition to Brainspotting, I integrate EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). EMDR is a structured approach whose effectiveness in treating trauma- and anxiety-based difficulties has been scientifically proven. When Brainspotting and EMDR are used together, trauma can be addressed holistically at the somatic, emotional, cognitive, and nervous system levels.
Every therapeutic plan is structured individually and progresses according to the client's readiness, pace, and goals. To support the trauma processing journey, I also draw on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based approaches, and stabilization techniques. Therapy is never rushed; the process moves forward with respect for the nervous system's capacity.
What most distinguishes my approach is the combination of clinical expertise with humanitarian field experience. Having worked with individuals who have experienced conflict, forced displacement, and violence across different cultural contexts allows me to deeply understand how trauma manifests in different life stories. This perspective enables me to meet each person with empathy, professional rigor, and respect.
My Therapeutic Approach
Brainspotting is one of the core tools of this process. In sessions, specific visual focal points (brainspots) associated with unprocessed emotional or somatic experiences are identified. Working through these points allows the nervous system to reorganize itself and enables the integration of experiences held beneath conscious awareness. Many people describe this process as a sense of inner regulation, relief, and clarity.
Brainspotting is particularly effective for trauma, anxiety, grief, chronic stress, and performance-related blocks. What makes this method valuable is its respect for the body's wisdom. Healing is not forced; it unfolds naturally at a safe and sustainable rhythm.
To support this work, I integrate EMDR, CBT, mindfulness practices, and stabilization techniques when needed. My aim is to offer a therapeutic space where the person feels supported, empowered, and safe.
Humanitarian Experience and Clinical Practice
Before establishing my private practice, I worked for many years with UNHCR (the United Nations Refugee Agency) and other international humanitarian organizations across the Middle East and Africa. My work covered child protection, the response to gender-based violence, mental health and psychosocial support, and the coordination of emergency and post-emergency programs.
These experiences taught me the effects of trauma at both the individual and community level, the power of human resilience, and the importance of spaces where individuals feel seen, heard, and supported. Today I continue to bring this humanitarian perspective into my clinical work, combining structured clinical knowledge with human connection.
Working With Me
Working with me means entering a therapeutic relationship built on trust, collaboration, and respect for the nervous system. I know that starting therapy — especially trauma-focused therapy — can feel vulnerable. For this reason, I place great importance on pacing, consent, and emotional safety throughout our work together.
Sessions are tailored to your individual needs, history, and level of readiness. We move at a manageable, supportive pace, prioritizing stabilization and regulation before any deeper processing. You will never be asked to revisit an experience before your system is ready. Therapy is a shared process: you take an active part in decisions about focus, method, and timing.
I practice from a non-stigmatizing, strengths-based perspective, recognizing that many trauma responses are coping adaptations rather than personal flaws. My role is not to interpret or impose meaning, but to support your system in processing what it carries and to help you reconnect with an inner sense of trust, clarity, and self-efficacy.
Whether you are coping with the effects of past trauma, chronic stress, anxiety, or emotional overload, our work together focuses on building resilience, strengthening emotional regulation, and helping you form a deeper connection with yourself. Healing is approached with patience, professionalism, and care.