Bircan Balseçen, Speech & Language Therapist.

There's no one-sentence answer to why I chose this profession. In my first undergraduate years, when I saw the light on the face of a family whose child had delayed speech in the clinic; then in a session where an aphasia client could say their own name again after weeks — I understood this work was for me.

I don't call my clients "patients." They are travelers. I am the companion on the road. I hold a family's worry, an adult client's frustration, or a child's first clear "mom" with equal importance. First I listen — half of therapy is right there.

My academic identity and international certifications matter, yes. But for me the real value of each session lies in the bond between client and family. That's why family-focused methods like Palin PCI are, for me, more than a preference — a belief.