Nurdan Kozan Caki

Biography

I am currently in the third year of my PhD in Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies at the University of Essex. My academic and professional journey has been shaped by a longstanding interest in psychoanalytic psychotherapy, which first emerged during my early studies in psychology and has continued to grow through nearly a decade of clinical experience. My doctoral research focuses on exploring the relationship between narcissistic personality traits and the capacity for intimacy. Specifically, I examine how individuals with moderate to high levels of narcissism navigate intimate relationships, drawing on object relations theory and particularly the work of Otto Kernberg. Using a qualitative design with semi-structured interviews, I aim to understand how these individuals perceive themselves and others, and what kinds of difficulties arise in the context of relationship. Over the past ten years, I have worked as a licensed Clinical Psychologist across a range of settings including hospitals, private clinics, and educational institutions in the Netherlands, Turkey, and the UAE. My clinical practice informs my academic work, allowing me to bridge psychoanalytic theory with therapeutic experience. Alongside my doctoral research, I have explored broader psychoanalytic themes relating to mental distress and early development. In 2024, I presented a paper at the Emerging Voices Conference titled To Comprehend the Factors Underlying Suicide in Young Adulthood In Budapest. In this work, I examine the unconscious determinants of suicidal behavior including phantasies, interpersonal dynamics, a fragmented sense of self, and early life experiences within the context of the transition from dependency to adulthood. I have also presented my doctoral research at the PPS Student Conferences in both 2024 and 2025, and at the PPS Postgraduate Research Forum, where I presented my study and explored the internal conflicts and relational struggles faced by individuals with narcissistic traits in close relationships. I am passionate about the intersections of psychoanalysis, personality development, and intimacy. I welcome opportunities to collaborate with researchers and clinicians working in these and related areas.

Qualifications

• BA in Psychology Koc University (Turkey) (2009)

• MA in Clinical Psychology University of Leiden (Netherlands) (2011)

Thesis