Bengü Ergüner-Tekinalp, PhD

I’m a Professor of Counseling at Drake University and Counseling Program Coordinator. I think of myself as cultural nomad. I’m originally from Türkiye and now live in Iowa with my family, a dog, a cat, and a small flock of chickens. I’m drawn to ways of living and learning that honor interconnectedness with people, land, nature, and the wider cosmos. I care deeply about creating “we-spaces”: environments where we can reduce othering, practice compassion with accountability, and hold dialogue that is both safe and honest across difference. I’m also perpetually curious about the histories of ordinary people, mythology, herbalism, and the natural world, and I often bring that curiosity into my teaching and training through contemplative practices.

My scholarship and professional work sit at the intersections of Adlerian and humanistic approaches to counseling, mindfulness, positive psychology, multicultural counseling, and social justice. I’ve authored and co-authored books, journal articles and book chapters, contributed to edited volumes, and written many books in Turkish.