Meet Asian Australian Counsellor: Aysu Kurucan

We know that it's not always easy trying to work out which therapist we might like to work with: Because the decision isn't just about where they're located and when they're available, but there's a bit more of a human, relational element to the decision too.

So here at Shapes and Sounds, we want to help make that process just a little easier.

Every month, we'll be introducing a therapist from the Asian Australian Mental Health Practitioner List to help you gain a bit more insight into who you feel might be a good fit for you or someone that you know.

This month we're excited to connect you with Aysu who is a counsellor offering services in Melbourne, VIC. We hope you enjoy connecting with Aysu below!

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1. What led you to choosing mental health as a career?

My background in primary school teaching played a significant role in leading me toward a career in mental health. Working closely with children exposed me to a wide range of learning styles, home environments, and conversations around wellbeing that are embedded within school systems. During this time, I attended a professional development session led by a psychologist while teaching Grade 1, which introduced foundational neuroscience concepts and explored how early childhood experiences shape attachment patterns later in life. This experience sparked a strong curiosity to learn more. I came to see that mental health is integral to effective teaching and learning, and this realisation ultimately led me to pursue a Master’s in Counselling as a natural extension of my work with children and families.

2. What is your unique cultural heritage?

I am a 1.5 generation Kurdish-Turkish Australian. My roots are from the Eastern part of Turkey. My cultural identity is really important to me and I seek ways to preserve it.

3. What are your areas of specialty and what kind of frameworks do you work from?

I work from a trauma-informed and developmentally responsive approach, drawing primarily on person-centred therapy to build safety and rapport. I integrate elements of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to support emotional awareness and thought–feeling connections, as well as acceptance and commitment therapy.

4. What kind of clients are you best able to support?

I primarily support children and adolescents, with a strong focus on anxiety, emotional regulation, and family or school-related concerns. I also work with adults, particularly those navigating anxiety, life transitions, and relational patterns.

5. If you could be your own therapist right now, what do you think you would say to yourself?

If I were my own therapist right now, I would gently remind myself that everything is experienced through perception, and that perceptions can shift. I would also encourage myself to keep communicating rather than holding thoughts internally, as naming and expressing experiences is often the first meaningful step toward clarity and growth.

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Connect with Aysu via our Asian Australian Mental Health Practitioner List HERE.

Alternatively, if you feel like Aysu may be a good fit for someone that you know, be sure to forward this page on to them too. Let us continue to not only support ourselves but all those around us too!

If you require urgent assistance, please do not contact Aysu or any of the practitioners on this list. Instead, please call emergency services on 000 or call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Shapes and Sounds does not recommend or endorse Aysu or any of the practitioners listed on the Asian Australian Mental Health Practitioner List.

Please always consult your GP before making changes to your mental health care plan.