Katrin Kutlucinar

Reaching out for therapy can feel vulnerable, especially when you are trying to make sense of a mental health diagnosis, trauma, or a period of life that feels overwhelming. I try to make therapy feel comfortable, collaborative, and human—there is room for honesty, challenge, warmth, and even humor. I specialize in bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, borderline personality disorder, and trauma/PTSD. I am one of a small number of clinicians in the U.S. who practice Family-Focused Therapy for bipolar disorder. As a researcher and published author in severe mental illness, I bring science and knowledge into therapy in a practical way that helps you better understand yourself, your symptoms, and what can actually help.

My approach to therapy is evidence-based, collaborative, and tailored to the person in front of me. I bring specialized training in bipolar disorder, psychosis, trauma, borderline personality disorder, and other complex mental health conditions, while making sure therapy still feels warm, approachable, and genuinely supportive. I believe clients benefit from understanding not only what they are experiencing, but why it may be happening and which treatments are most likely to help. Our work may be challenging at times, but it is always grounded in compassion, respect, practical tools, and the belief that you should feel like an active partner in your treatment.

Your first session is a chance for us to get to know each other—not just for me to learn about you, but for you to get a sense of who I am and whether I feel like the right therapist for you. I am not a distant or overly reserved therapist; I believe therapy works best when there is genuine trust, openness, and a strong therapeutic relationship. From the beginning, I focus on building an alliance with you so that therapy feels like a partnership rather than something being done to you. My hope is that you leave your first session feeling heard, understood, and reassured that you do not have to face difficult experiences alone—we will work through them together as a team.