PEOPLE

Gülşen Büyükşahin, MA, CP, PAT
Psychological Counselor
Certified Practitioner in Psychodrama, Sociometry, and Group Psychotherapy
Tele’Drama Certification Program — Level 3
Chair of the Tele’Drama Marketing & Publicity Team (TMPT)

Gülşen Büyükşahin holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychological Counseling and a master’s degree
in Developmental Psychology. She has more than 15 years of experience working with children
and adolescents as a psychological counselor in schools and psychological counseling centers
across Türkiye. Throughout her career, she has facilitated individual and group sessions,
administered a variety of intelligence and developmental assessments, and completed training in
various counseling approaches.

A graduate of the Istanbul Zerka Moreno Institute, Gülşen completed extensive training in
psychodrama, including specialized training in child and individual psychodrama. For more than
five years, she directed psychodrama groups with children, adults, and parents. Her areas of
experience include developmental challenges, emotional growth, learning processes, and
personal development.

After relocating to the United States in 2019, she completed Academic English coursework at
Portland Community College with high honors, earning a 4.0 GPA. She is a Certified Practitioner
(CP) in Psychodrama, Sociometry, and Group Psychotherapy, a Tele’Drama Practitioner, and a
Practitioner Applicant for Trainer (PAT). She continues her advanced training, supervision, and
professional development toward trainer certification through the American Board of Examiners
in Psychodrama, Sociometry, and Group Psychotherapy (ABE).

Gülşen is passionate about creating safe, creative, and transformative group experiences through
psychodrama, sociometry, Tele’Drama, and other experiential methods. Her work with
individuals and groups across cultures is informed by a particular interest in belonging,
immigration, intergenerational healing, emotional development, and community building.
Drawing on her own lived experience as an immigrant, Gülşen has a special interest in the
psychological and social dimensions of immigration. She has developed and presented
workshops addressing immigration, belonging, cultural transition, and the experiences of
immigrant communities.

She has presented workshops at multiple international ASGPP and Tele’Drama conferences,
including a presentation at the 2025 Tele’Drama Festival that was later developed into a
published article. She has also served as a Tele’Drama Virtual Assistant (TVA), supporting
numerous experiential online workshops. She previously served as a member of the Education
Committee of the American Society of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama (ASGPP).
Gülşen is an active member of the Tele’Drama International team and currently serves as Chair
of the Tele’Drama Marketing & Publicity Team. In this leadership role, she contributes to the
development, coordination, and promotion of international conferences, workshops, training
programs, and educational initiatives.

In Portland, Oregon, Gülşen has voluntarily facilitated psychodrama groups for immigrant
community members, as well as for church volunteers dedicated to supporting people in need
and serving their communities.