Research Excellence Award
Mahsum Avcı – Bingol University, Türkiye
Mahsum Avcı is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Bingol University, Türkiye. His work addresses psychological trauma, traumatic grief, dissociation, and child and adolescent mental health. This article presents his nomination for the Research Excellence Award at the International Phenomenological Research Awards, based on his publication record and professional activities [1].
Abstract
Mahsum Avcı works in psychology with an emphasis on trauma-related and developmental topics. His research covers traumatic grief, dissociation, dreams, EMDR, crisis intervention, and adolescent substance use. His Google Scholar profile lists 26 documents, 126 citations, and an h-index of 6. This article summarizes his academic background, research areas, selected publications, and suitability for the Research Excellence Award [1].
Keywords
Psychology, Psychological Trauma, Traumatic Grief, Dissociation; Dreams; EMDR; Psychological First Aid; Crisis Intervention; Child and Adolescent Mental Health; Adolescent Substance Use; School Counseling; Qualitative Research.
Introduction
Mahsum Avcı is Associate Professor of Psychology at Bingol University and Director of its Child Research and Guidance Application and Research Center. He earned his PhD in Guidance and Psychological Counseling from İnönü University in 2021, following a master’s degree (2016) and a bachelor’s degree (2005) at Atatürk University. Between 2006 and 2017 he worked in psychological counseling and special education services, which informs the applied orientation of his research.
Research Profile
His Scopus author record and Google Scholar profile document his publications and citations [1]. He has authored 17 peer-reviewed journal articles, two scholarly books, and eight book chapters. He is an editorial board member of Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy and co-editor of Psychological First Aid: Theory, Research and Practice (2023). Indexing varies by journal, and current citation metrics should be verified in Scopus before final evaluation.
Research Contributions
His contributions combine scholarship with community-oriented psychological support. He served as principal investigator of a national project strengthening psychological support for trauma-exposed individuals (2024) and of a national project training professionals in psychological first aid and crisis intervention (2019). He also contributed as a researcher to a European Union special education project (2021–2023). In addition, he has authored studies on traumatic dreams, grief, dissociation, EMDR, adolescent substance use, and school counseling, linking academic inquiry with practical mental health services for children, adolescents, and trauma-exposed communities [1].
Publications
His publications appear in journals including Scientific Reports, BMC Psychology, Dreaming, and Psychology in the Schools. A 2025 article in BMC Psychology examines adolescents’ experiences with substance use, including risks, protective factors, and interventions [2]. A thematic analysis co-authored with Taşkın Yıldırım explores how school psychological counselors experience reporting sexual abuse cases [3].
Research Impact
The impact of his work is reflected in 126 citations, an h-index of 6, and publication in international peer-reviewed outlets [1]. His studies on adolescent well-being and school-based counseling offer practical insights for educators, counselors, and mental health professionals [2][3].
Award Suitability
The nomination is proposed under the Best Researcher Award category, subject to the applicant’s confirmation. Relevant considerations include a sustained publication record in psychology, editorial service, leadership of national training and support projects, and applied research at the Child Research and Guidance Application and Research Center.
Conclusion
Mahsum Avcı’s research on trauma, grief, dissociation, and adolescent mental health, together with his project leadership and editorial roles, supports his candidacy for recognition at the International Phenomenological Research Awards [1].
External Links
References
- Elsevier. (n.d.). Scopus author details: Mahsum Avcı, Author ID 57226142135. Scopus. https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57226142135
- Avcı, M. (2025). Adolescents’ experiences with substance use: Risks, protective factors and interventions. BMC Psychology, 13, Article 802. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40359-025-03125-w
- Avcı, M., & Yıldırım, T. (n.d.). The experiences of school psychological counselors on reporting sexual abuse cases: A thematic analysis. Psychology in the Schools. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.22909