ABOUT Dr. Aslıhan Tokgöz Onaran (Ph.D)
Positive Parenting Coach, Mindful Communication and Expat Mentor
Founder, ZenWorld International Positive Parenting and Expat Support
Founder-Bilingual Leader (US-Accredited), Attachment Parenting Türkiye/Turkey
Hi! I am a ’reverse expat,’ an Istanbul native who moved to the States to live, study and work there (Ph.D., Brown Univ., RI) as an academic and community leader for fifteen years, and returned to Turkey about a year ago with my family. I’m married to my college sweetheart from Bogazici Univ. and we are the lucky parents of Berk (8) and Can (3), raised our version of Attachment Parenting.
In the States, my multidisciplinary academic and personal activist work was mostly in the fields of Gender Studies, positive parenting, communication, bilingual literacy, identity politics, mindfulness and storytelling. After my PhD at Brown, during my second pregnancy, I received my Yoga-Meditation teacher certification and also completed work in Positive Psychology at Harvard University and UC Berkeley.
Immediately after we arrived in Turkey, I then chose to go after my long-awaited dream and launched, "ZenWorld International," a bilingual coaching and education platform for both Turkish and expat families. Recently, I have also received my accreditation as Bilingual Founder-Leader of Attachment Parenting International, Turkiye/Turkey, a nonprofit community service initiative.
I’m thrilled about the opportunity to bring parenting, positive communication and expat support to families here! Just like in yoga/meditation, a new breath, getting back in posture and focus will ground all of us back. "
Any questions about parent coaching or private trainings on a wide range of parenting topics, as well as baby sign language, bilingualism, mindful communication and positive discipline (toddlers and beyond), feel free to reach out.