An event titled "A New Era in Psychology: Understanding Humanity, Catching the Age" was organized online by Üsküdar Üniversitesi Career Center Department as part of the Future Talks series. The event covered the historical development of psychology, current application areas, its relationship with artificial intelligence, and modern therapy approaches. Additionally, new perspectives on understanding humanity in a changing era were shared with students.
Computer Engineer Hasan Aker, Clinical Psychologist Burcu Özçelik, and Psychologist İpek Timur participated as guests in the online event.
The event was moderated by Semra Gül, Assistant Manager of Sector Collaborations at the Career Center Department.
İpek Timur: "Psychology is no longer just a clinical field, but a multidisciplinary journey"
Psychologist İpek Timur, in her speech, addressed the transformation of psychology from past to present, emphasizing that the field is no longer limited to clinical applications. Stating that psychology was born from the desire to understand humanity, Timur expressed that the effort to solve the reasons behind behaviors has made psychology a multifaceted science. Timur said; "Psychology is no longer just a clinical field, but a multidisciplinary journey."
Timur, while conveying the historical development of psychology, stated that the process extending from Wundt's experimental beginnings to Freud's unconscious theories, from behaviorism to the cognitive revolution and humanist approaches, has gained a new dimension today with neuropsychology and technology-supported applications. Emphasizing that contemporary psychology has transformed into an evidence-based, data-driven, and interdisciplinary structure, Timur pointed out that career options for psychology students have also expanded in this direction.
"Being a psychology graduate is a gateway to many areas of specialization"
Addressing the anxieties experienced by psychology students during the graduation process, Timur stated that areas of interest are crucial in career planning. She expressed that psychologists play an active role in many fields such as clinical psychology, educational psychology, industrial and organizational psychology, user experience, game psychology, and digital health technologies. Timur said; "Being a psychology graduate is not a single profession, but a gateway to many areas of specialization." Timur also shared points that individuals seeking therapy should consider when choosing a psychologist. Emphasizing the importance of specialization, educational qualifications, ethical stance, and the principle of confidentiality, Timur stressed that therapy is a process and approaches offered with the promise of "definite solutions" are not ethical.
Hasan Aker: "Artificial intelligence is not a rival to humans, but a powerful analytical tool"
Computer Engineer Hasan Aker, in his speech, focused on the relationship between artificial intelligence and psychology. Stating that artificial intelligence should not be seen as a rival replacing humans, but as a tool supporting them, Aker expressed that technology offers significant contributions in analyzing and supporting psychological processes.
Aker stated that artificial intelligence cannot directly replicate human-specific emotions like empathy, but it can take on a supportive role that enhances therapists' analytical power. Aker explained that AI-supported systems provide support to experts in areas such as data analysis, case formulation, and session structuring during therapy processes, emphasizing that technology transforms professions when used correctly, but can pose risks when used incorrectly.
Burcu Özçelik: "What heals in therapy is the relationship more than the school of thought"
Clinical Psychologist Burcu Özçelik shared her experiences regarding therapy processes, drawing from her own professional journey. While schools of therapy are important, Özçelik stated that the healing factor is the relationship between the therapist and the client, emphasizing that therapy is not a mechanical application but a lively and dynamic process. Özçelik used the expressions; "What heals in therapy is the relationship more than the school of thought."
Özçelik emphasized that the trust relationship established by the therapist with the client, boundaries, ethical principles, and supervision processes are decisive in professional development. Stating that therapists face visibility pressure in the digital age, Özçelik also drew attention to the balance between social media and professional ethics.
Students actively participated in the process with their questions
Throughout the event, students asked questions about psychology education, career planning, therapy schools of thought, the impact of artificial intelligence on the profession, and the self-discovery process.
The speakers answered students' questions and shared their experiences regarding post-graduation processes.
The event, organized as part of the Future Talks series, addressed changing approaches in the fields of psychology and technology in a multifaceted way, offering students both theoretical and practical perspectives.