Meet Ipek Aykol of Mind and Wellness Center

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ipek Aykol.

Hi Ipek, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Ever since I can remember, I’ve wanted to be in the business of helping people and touching their hearts. I’ve always loved giving people a sense of relief and healing—it’s what truly fulfills me.

I studied Marriage and Family Therapy and quickly fell in love with the field of addiction. What fascinated me most was how exploring and processing past trauma could open the door to deep healing. That led me to pursue EMDR therapy, which allowed me to work with the underlying causes of addiction rather than just the symptoms.

As my passion for this work grew, I decided to build my own group practice—the same year I became pregnant with my daughter. While pregnancy is often a time when life pauses, for me it became a time of creation in every sense. That small beginning evolved into what is now a thriving group of nine incredible therapists. Our practice has such a family vibe; everyone is warm, kind, and deeply connected. In a world where so much has become digital and disconnected, we’ve managed to hold onto something human—our clients feel it the moment they walk through our doors.

Along the way, I also discovered how deeply attuned I am to energy and the unseen layers of healing. This led me to become a Reiki practitioner, and I later began pursuing a PhD in Metaphysics with a focus on holistic healing. Today, I integrate both traditional psychotherapy and energy work in my approach. Healing, in all its forms—emotional, mental, and spiritual—has become my life’s mission, and I’m endlessly grateful to do this work every day.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but I think that’s what makes the journey meaningful. Building a practice while being pregnant, becoming a new mom, and running a growing business at the same time came with many challenges. There were moments I felt stretched thin—trying to balance being present for my family while showing up fully for my clients and my team.

Like many therapists who start their own practice, I had to learn the business side of things from scratch—everything from billing and contracts to leadership and growth. It’s one thing to be a good clinician, and another to lead a team, create systems, and make sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes.

There were also personal lessons along the way: learning to set boundaries, to ask for help, and to accept that I can’t pour from an empty cup. Each challenge became a teacher. It pushed me to grow, to delegate, and to approach my work from a place of trust rather than perfection.

Today, when I look back, I can honestly say that the hard parts shaped me into a stronger, more grounded leader—and they deepened my empathy for every client who walks into my office trying to rebuild their own balance.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
My practice, Mind & Wellness Center, is a psychotherapy and holistic healing practice based in Newport Beach. We specialize in addiction, trauma, anxiety, relationship issues, and overall emotional wellness. Our team of nine therapists offers individual, couples, and family therapy—both in person and online—along with EMDR for trauma processing and Reiki for energetic and emotional balance.

What truly sets us apart is our integrative and individualized approach. We draw from evidence-based methods such as EMDR, IFS (Internal Family Systems), EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy), the Gottman Method, CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), psychodynamic therapy, and attachment-based work. This combination allows us to meet clients where they are and tailor treatment to their unique needs—whether that’s healing from deep trauma, rebuilding trust in relationships, or learning new ways to regulate emotions and find inner peace.

Our practice functions like a family. There’s genuine warmth, respect, and collaboration between our therapists, and that energy extends to our clients. In a world where therapy can sometimes feel clinical or detached, our goal has always been to keep it deeply human. Clients often tell us that they can feel the difference the moment they walk in—the calm, the safety, and the sense of being truly seen.

I’m most proud of the authenticity behind our brand. Everything—from our name and office space to our approach with clients—is rooted in the belief that healing should feel safe, empowering, and heart-centered. We’re not just helping people manage symptoms; we’re helping them reconnect with who they are and rediscover their capacity for balance and wholeness.

For readers who may not know us yet, I want them to know that there are many ways to heal. Whether through traditional therapy, energy work, or an integration of both, we create a space where people can explore what healing means to them—and walk that path at their own pace, with compassion and support.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Something that often surprises people is how intuitive and spiritual I am. Even though my work is grounded in science and clinical psychology, I’ve always been deeply connected to energy and intuition. Many people assume therapy is purely analytical, but I’ve found that healing often happens in the spaces we can’t quite measure—the moments of presence, empathy, and energetic connection between people.

Another thing people don’t always know is how much culture and language are part of my work. I’m bilingual and provide therapy in both English and Turkish, and within our team, we speak several languages. The ability to find a therapist who speaks your native language is incredibly powerful—it allows people to express emotions and memories in their most natural form, which can make the healing process feel deeper and more authentic.

On a lighter note, people are also surprised by how much I love design and aesthetics. I see therapy spaces as an extension of healing energy. From the scents and colors to the textures and flow, I love creating environments that feel warm, safe, and emotionally grounding for both clients and therapists.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mindandwellnesscenter.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ipek.aykol/?hl=en
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ipekaykol