Psy. Sedat OZTURK

Growing up deeply involved in sport from an early age, Sedat Öztürk completed both his primary and secondary education at the Turkish Education Association (TED) Schools on a full athletic scholarship. During this period, he served as captain of the TED Bursa Kolejliler basketball team and later of the Bursaspor youth team. Experiencing firsthand the importance of psychological performance and athlete wellbeing in sport, Öztürk pursued a double major at Istanbul Bilgi University on a full academic scholarship after high school. Following his participation in various international projects, conferences, and workshops, he graduated with honors in Psychology and as the top-ranked student in Sports Management. During his undergraduate studies, he worked as a trainee sport psychologist at Anadolu Efes Sports Club, where he supported athletes under professional supervision. After graduation, he moved to Germany to continue his specialization in Sport Psychology at Leipzig University. During his master’s studies, he worked for more than a year as a research assistant in the Department of Sport Psychology and contributed to several scientific research projects.

He later completed his thesis focusing on the coach– athlete relationship and psychological safety in sport, graduating with high honors. After completing his master’s degree in 2024 and earning the title of Sport Psychologist, Öztürk began his doctoral studies at École Normale Supérieure de Rennes, one of France’s elite higher education institutions. His doctoral research in sport psychology is currently funded by the European Union. Alongside his academic career, Öztürk was appointed by the Turkish Football Federation as the Sport Psychologist of the Men’s Under-19 National Team for the 2025–2026 season. In this role, he has worked with the national team delegation during official training camps and international competitions both in Türkiye and abroad. Beginning in September 2026, he will join the Department of Psychology at Harvard University as a visiting researcher, where he will continue his research as well as his online consultations and applied practice while based in the United States.

Certifications and Additional Training

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Training – Turkish Psychological Association
• MMPI (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory) Practitioner Training – Turkish Psychological Association
• AASP West Virtual Regional Conference of Sport and Performance Psychology – California Baptist University
• Intensive PhD Course in Sport Psychology – Leipzig University
• Gender Equality in Sports – We Play Equal

International Projects

• “Fit For Kids Europe” Mobility Program (Istanbul, Türkiye)
• “Food4Good” Youth Exchange (Split, Croatia)
• “Towards Holistic Well-Being of Youth” International Training Course (Frankolovo, Slovenia)
• “Life After Sport” Final Conference (Sofia, Bulgaria)
• “Experiential Learning for Education Through Sports” International Training Course (North Macedonia)
• “The S(Po)Tart Hub” International Training Course (Tenerife, Spain)
• “Women Empowerment in Sport” International Sport Event (Sapareva Banya, Bulgaria)

Memberships

• Turkish Psychological Association (TPD)
• FEPSAC – European Federation of Sport Psychology