Before I became a therapist, I spent 18 years working inside healthcare, so I know the view from the inside. I've worked at academic medical centers, health systems, and physician groups, in clinical settings and in the rooms where staffing, productivity, and quality targets were set. I've seen how much physicians, nurses, and PAs carry every shift, and how rarely anyone asks how they're doing. That's why I do this work.

 

I also grew up with medicine at home. As the daughter of two physicians, I watched what this work asks of the people who do it, and I saw its toll. That experience is part of why I went back to school for a graduate degree in professional clinical counseling.

 

My approach is trauma-informed and attachment-focused. I'm trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy, and I work with healthcare professionals on burnout, anxiety, depression, grief, and the hard cases that stay with you after a shift ends. Sessions are collaborative and practical, with clear goals and tools that fit a demanding schedule. I understand the pressure to perform, and how hard it can be to slow down.

 

Healthcare professionals might worry that seeking support could affect their careers. I take that seriously. We talk openly about confidentiality in our first session, so you'll know exactly what to expect before we go further.

Before entering the field, I advocated for community mental health through the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the National Alliance on Mental Illness. I see clients in English and Turkish, in person in San Diego and by telehealth. 

Outside the therapy room, I've traveled to more than 50 countries, and I spend as much time as I can hiking with my husband and our two dogs.

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If you'd like to learn more about Basak, visit basakkayaharris.com.