The Perception of Psychotherapy in Turkey

Abstract

This research explores the perception of psychotherapy in Turkey. The main aim of this study is to understand participants living in Turkey in relation to their views and experiences of psychotherapy, and to examine several aspects of the perception of psychotherapy in Turkey by using in-depth interviews with twenty participants. Some themes are highlighted by using the information gathered by interviews. These include: the family is very important in Turkish culture and so the family`s attitude affects people’s views and experiences; keeping family secrets hidden is valued, so telling them to a psychotherapist in order to solve them may not be a solution; the high cost of private psychotherapy in Turkey is the main factor affecting people’s attitudes towards it; state hospitals, in which psychotherapy services are free, may not be preferred because of negative beliefs about state workers and state hospitals. The data gathered may present some shared views of the Turkish people, however it is important to consider that, Turkey has a large population and a homogenous culture including many different languages, religions, sects, habits, views and life styles, so it is not possible to reflect all.