Cooperation protocol on ‘Positive Psychology’

A cooperation protocol was signed between Üsküdar University and the Turkish Psychological Counseling and Guidance Association. The collaboration, realized within the scope of the 8th International Positive Psychology Congress, aims to strengthen academic, scientific, and practice-oriented studies in the field of positive psychology.  

The protocol signing ceremony, held in the Senate Hall of Üsküdar University's Central Campus, was attended by Üsküdar University Founding Rector Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, Turkish Psychological Counseling and Guidance Association Deputy Chairman Prof. Dr. Mehmet Engin, Turkish PDR Association Istanbul Provincial Representative Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yusuf Akyıl, Turkish PDR Association Istanbul Provincial Representation Principal Member Coordinator Specialist Psychological Counselor Sevda Kısrık, Üsküdar University Positive Psychology Coordinator Asst. Prof. Dr. Fatma Turan, Head of Corporate Communications Department Nur Akman, and Education and Guidance Services Unit Manager Özgür Akoğlan. 

Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “Psychological resilience is emphasized all over the world”

Üsküdar University Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, emphasizing the importance of a preventive approach in mental health, stated that positive psychology is increasingly playing a central role today. 

Tarhan said; “After the pandemic, the value of positive psychology was better understood. Currently, psychological resilience is emphasized all over the world. Focusing solely on correcting pathology is no longer deemed sufficient, as correcting pathology is both a costly and arduous process. There are three stages of a preventive approach: primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. Primary prevention aims to strengthen psychological resilience to prevent healthy individuals from becoming ill. Secondary prevention involves identifying risk groups and implementing measures to prevent them from falling ill. Following these, the treatment process, which is both burdensome and costly, comes into play. Tertiary prevention, on the other hand, consists of efforts to prevent the recurrence of illness. Positive psychology has a place and an impact in all three of these stages. It is actively used today. True medicine is health medicine, meaning working to prevent people from falling ill, rather than curing them after they have become sick. It is about supporting healthy living. This understanding has recently begun to gain stronger traction in psychiatry.”

“The preventive and empowering mental health approach is gaining increasing importance”

Tarhan, stating that positive psychology is the mental health approach of the future, said; “Positive psychology is currently an open field. We especially need to explain this correctly to students. In fact, positive psychology is the scientific, systematized, and methodologically structured form of the values present in our Anatolian wisdom. One of its starting points is Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences in the 1980s. Later, there are studies conducted with Martin Seligman. Seligman’s developed inventory of 6 Virtues and 24 Character Strengths was also nurtured from this. We apply positive psychotherapy methods to patients today. In fact, new-generation, almost fourth-wave approaches are now being discussed in the field of treatment. Mindfulness was accepted as the third wave, adopted globally, and broke many established norms. These are fields with a future. Because our primary responsibility is not to intervene after people fall ill, but to work to prevent them from becoming ill. The preventive and empowering mental health approach is gaining increasing importance.”

Prof. Dr. Mehmet Engin Deniz: “Positive psychology, an approach with a counterpart in our traditions”

Turkish Psychological Counseling and Guidance Association Deputy Chairman Prof. Dr. Mehmet Engin Deniz spoke at the signing ceremony. Deniz stated; “I have been involved in these topics for approximately 20 years. I first encountered the concept of self-compassion in 2006, which I adapted into Turkish as 'öz şefkat' or 'öz anlayış' (self-compassion or self-understanding). Then, in 2011, I adapted the mindfulness scale into Turkish and named it 'bilinçli farkındalık' (conscious awareness). Positive psychology is actually an approach that has a counterpart in our culture, traditions, and world of thought. When we look at the teachings of thinkers like Yunus Emre, Hacı Bektaş-ı Veli, and Mevlana, it is possible to see traces of what we call mindfulness today. Mevlana's saying, 'Yesterday is in the past, my dear, today we need to say new things,' offers a perspective that fully emphasizes being in the moment and renewal. Therefore, bringing these concepts back onto the agenda, keeping them alive, and discussing them on international scientific platforms is extremely valuable. Its inclusion within the scope of a congress in this framework is also a pleasing development.” 

Cooperation protocol signed 

Following the speeches, the parties signed the cooperation protocol.

With the signing, the initiation of joint projects, training, and scientific study processes in the field of positive psychology between the two institutions was formalized. 

The program concluded with a group photo session held after the protocol ceremony.