About Kumsal

Credentials and Education

​As a Registered Social Worker in Ontario, Kumsal holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences and Bioengineering and a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cell Biology from Sabanci University, Istanbul, Turkey. She has completed postdoctoral training and extensive research on cancer and neurodegenerative disease mechanisms at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, US.

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She further completed a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Toronto, with a specialization in Mental Health and Health.

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Memberships

Kumsal is in good standing with the following regulatory bodies:

Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW)  |  Registration Number: 848023

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Nova Scotia College of Social Workers (NSCSW) (Telepractice Registration) | Registration Number: 10776

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Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW) (E-practice) | Registration number: 20538

 

Kumsal is registered to provide social work services in three Canadian provinces. She can provide virtual individual and couples therapy in English and Turkish to clients across Ontario, Nova Scotia and Alberta. In-person services are only available for Ontario residents in Toronto.​​

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Kumsal holds a membership in the following professional organizations:​

• ​​​OASW - Ontario Association of Social Workers

• CASW - The Canadian Association of Social Workers

• ​International Centre for Excellence in EFT (ICEEFT)​

• Toronto Centre for Emotionally Focused Therapy (TCEFT)​​

 

Experience

Throughout her training and career, Kumsal has worked with a diverse range of individuals across hospital, community, and private practice settings. She completed a practicum at a major GTA hospital, supporting patients and families on adult medicine and geriatric inpatient units, and a clinical practicum at The Jean Tweed Centre, where she provided counselling and group facilitation for women experiencing substance use, mental health, and trauma-related concerns.

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Following the completion of her degree, Kumsal has worked as a Social Worker and Mental Health Clinician in various hospitals across the Greater Toronto Area, providing discharge planning, crisis intervention, mental health assessment, psychotherapy, and care coordination.

 

She has extensive experience in private practice, supporting adults and couples navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship challenges, life transitions, and substance use concerns.

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In addition to individual and couples therapy, Kumsal has facilitated a variety of therapeutic and psychoeducational groups focused on Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) skills, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), trauma recovery, self-compassion, and psychodynamic exploration. She greatly values the sense of connection, growth, and shared learning that group work can foster.

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Clinical Practice and Approach​

Kumsal's practice is grounded in trauma-informed, client-centred care, with a strong emphasis on creating safety, fostering connection, and building a collaborative therapeutic relationship.

She recognizes that every individual's experiences and needs are unique and tailors therapy accordingly. Her work is informed by anti-oppressive, strengths-based, harm-reduction, and recovery-oriented principles that honour each client's resilience, autonomy, and capacity for growth.

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Kumsal has pursued extensive post-graduate training in a range of evidence-based and integrative therapeutic approaches, including Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT), Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), trauma-informed care, Polyvagal Theory, Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), mindfulness-based approaches, and Motivational Interviewing (MI).

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While drawing from a variety of modalities, her work is primarily informed by attachment science and Emotionally Focused Therapy, helping clients develop a deeper understanding of themselves, navigate difficult emotions, strengthen relationships, and create lasting change.

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Kumsal remains committed to ongoing professional development and regularly participates in advanced clinical training, consultation, and peer supervision to ensure her practice remains informed by current research and best practices.

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Training and Qualifications

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Emotionally Focused Therapy 

• Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) for Trauma: A 2-Day in-person Certification Training in Healing Attachment Wounds. Trainers: Dr. Leanne Campbell, PhD and Robin Williams Blake, RP (upcoming October 29-30, 2026), PESI Canada, 12 hours

• Mastering Skills and Overcoming Challenges in EFIT: A Consultation Process - Trainers: Dr. Senem Zeytinoglu Saydam and Dr. Ali Barbosa - ICEEFT, 12 hours

• Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy Essentials (Level 1+ Level 2) - Trainers: Dr. Kathryn De Bruin and Dr. Teri Murphy, ICEEFT, 24 hours

• Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) - Advanced Topics in Mental Health, University of Toronto, 36 hours

• Transforming Trauma with Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) - Dr. Sue Johnson - PESI

• Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) Level 1 - Individual Therapy, York University Psychology, 28 hours

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Couples Therapy Training 

• Guiding Couples through Loss and Trauma into Growth and Resilience with EFCT - Trainer: Dr. Leanne Campbell (upcoming: September 24, 2026 - September 25, 2026), EFTMA, 12 hours

• Working with Shame in Couples Therapy  - Trainer: Dr. Rebecca Jorgensen, PhD (June 19, 2026), Caribbean EFT, 3 hours

• Using Attachment History to Map the Cycle & Decode the Attachment Dilemma - Trainer: Dr. Ryan Rana (May 22, 2026) - SNVEFT, 6 hours

• Attachment Injury Repair (AIRM) - Trainers: Drs. James Hawkins & Leanne Campbell - SNVEFT, 12 hours

• Gottman Method Couples Therapy Level 1 and Level 2 (ongoing) - The Gottman Institute, 30 hours

•  Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy – Core Skills Extended - (2025 - 2026) Trainer: Dr. Kathryn De Bruin  - ICEEFT, 48 hours

• Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT) Certificate Course - Trainers: Dr. James Hawkins,  Dr. Kathryn De Bruin and Robin Blake - Psychotherapy Networker, 15 hours

• Emotionally-Focused Therapy for Couples (EFCT) 4-day Externship - Trainers: Robin Blake and Dr. Senem Zeytinoglu Saydam - TCEFT / ICEEFT, 24 hours

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Trauma and Addictions

• Trauma Certificate, Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU) - (ongoing) - 84 hours

• ​Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) -Evergreen Certifications, 2025

• Polyvagal Theory for Embodied Trauma Recovery - Trainer: Dr. Arielle Schwartz - PESI, 16 hours

• Seeking Safety Webinar- Treatment Innovations, 6 hours

• Trauma-Informed Practice Webinar- Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), 4 hours

• Introduction to Problem Gambling Course-GGTU CAMH, 25hours

 

Mindfulness

• Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)- Centre for Mindfulness Studies, Toronto (16h + one silent retreat)

 

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy

• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) 3-day Certification Training- Trainer: Dr. Lane Pederson - PESI AU, 20hours

• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT): An Introduction to Essential Components-SickKids CCMHLI, 12hours

 

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Psychosis - Training by Dr. Noah Lazar, 7 hours

• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) Certificate, Wilfrid Laurier University, 72 hours

  • CBT Level II – Anxiety Disorders and Depression,  Wilfrid Laurier University, 36hours

  • CBT Level I - Fundamental Skills OISE, University of Toronto, 36 hours

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Motivational Interviewing

• Motivational Interviewing (MI)-Social Work Practice in Mental Health - University of Toronto, 36 hours

• Motivational Interviewing (MI)-University of British Columbia CPD, 4 hours

 

Interpersonal Psychotherapy

• Interpersonal Psychotherapy - University of Toronto & Coursera  - Trainer: Dr. Paula Ravitz, 9 hours       ​​

 

Miscellaneous Training

• Immigrant and Refugee Mental Health Online Course-CAMH, 25 hours​

• The Arts and Science of Relationships: Understanding Human Needs - University of Toronto & Coursera, 8 weeks

• The Art and Science of Love, Two-day intensive - The Gottman Institute, 12 hours  

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Specialization

Kumsal is a relational therapist who believes in the healing power of emotional connection and attachment. Her work is grounded in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and integrates trauma-informed, client-centred care to help individuals and couples deepen self-understanding, strengthen relationships, and create meaningful, lasting change.

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Kumsal has extensive training in trauma-informed practice and is committed to fostering safety, collaboration, and empowerment in therapy. She meets clients where they are and works alongside them to navigate a range of challenges, including anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationship difficulties, and the impact of traumatic experiences.

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Kumsal specializes in helping couples strengthen their emotional bond, break free from painful patterns of conflict, and rebuild trust and connection. Drawing from both Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and The Gottman Method, she supports partners in understanding the underlying emotions and needs that drive conflict, improving communication, and creating a more secure, fulfilling relationship.

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Services

She offers her services in English and/or Turkish.​