KUPTEM | Koç University

KUPTEM

KUPTEM is a comprehensive mental health center that provides various clinical services including individual psychotherapy, group psychotherapy, psychiatric consultation and treatment in partnership with Koç University Hospital and Amerikan Hospital. KUPTEM is committed to delivering culturally competent services that are responsive to the needs, strengths, and identities of Koç University’s diverse community of students. Our services are free of charge, short-term and usually varies from 8 to 12 sessions while the number of sessions changes according to needs. Students within the School of Medicine, Nursing and Graduate School of Health Sciences have the opportunity to take similar services at Koç University Hospital as well.

Confidentiality

When students initially contact our office, they are scheduled for an in-person intake appointment. During this meeting, a comprehensive evaluation is conducted by a psychotherapist in order to collaboratively determine the best treatment options for students. Evaluations may consist of a series of routine screening questions and psychological tests that help us determine the severity and immediacy of students’ concerns. These tests are conducted either to better understand personal struggles or to be used for statistical analysis and academic purposes.

All interactions with KUPTEM are confidential, only with the exception of harming oneself or others. During life threatening circumstances, our priority is to inform the client/student before contacting others. A psychotherapist may consult with other members of staff psychotherapists to provide the best possible care. These consultations are for professional purposes.

How to make an appointment

To set up your first appointment, please send an email to kuptem@ku.edu.tr. In order to speed up the process, please include your available time schedule. Thus, we can provide you the nearest available slot.

Length of psychotherapy sessions vary. The length will be decided by you and your psychotherapist after the intake. Productive and efficient therapy depends on active participation, motivation and commitment. If you miss more than 2 sessions without contacting your designated psychotherapist, we will assume that you would like to end the process of therapy. When in need, you have to re-apply and in some circumstances, you might be referred to KURES. If you need longer than short-term counselling, your psychotherapist will discuss off-site referral resources.

*Mandatory requirement: All students applying must be enrolled as a student at Koç University.

Emergency

KUPTEM is an appointment-only counselling site. If you or a student you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, including having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please contact 1100 for both Rumelifeneri Campus and West Campus.

Our Staff

Director of KUPTEM is Dr. Hale Yapici Eser. KUPTEM consists of 4 full-time clinical psychologist, 2 part-time clinical psychologist and 3 part-time psychiatrists.

Clinical Psychologists – Rumelifeneri Campus

Simge Şahin - Clinical Psychologist

Simge Şahin graduated from Sişli Terakki Foundations Schools in 2006 and from Bilgi University, Department of Psychology in 2011. By pursuing postgraduate study in two different fields, she completed Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience at Durham University in 2013 and Clinical Psychology at Bahçeşehir University in 2017. As a part of clinical fieldwork requirement, she worked at the different units (Adult Inpatient and Outpatient Psychiatry Services and Alcohol - Substance Abuse Treatment Centre) of Yedikule Surp Pırgiç Armenian Hospital. In her research work, from 2010 to 2017, she worked on various research studies in the field of neuroscience and psychology as a Research Assistant. Since 2016, she has been providing individual therapy to adolescents and adults.

Merve Ekici - Clinical Psychologist

In 2016, she graduated from Columbia University with a major in Psychology. In 2018, she graduated from New York University with a master’s degree in Applied Psychology, Counseling in Mental Health and Wellness. In 2015, she worked as a clinical intern under the Nursing Department Patient Care Unit at Bellevue Hospital New York. She finished her clinical on-site training at Berkeley College, Counseling and Psychotherapy Department. During her clinical internship, she conducted individual psychotherapy to adolescents and adults.

Ayşegül Yücel, Clinical Psychologist

In 2015, she graduated from Koç University with a major in Psychology. In 2018, she graduated from Columbia University with a Master of Arts and Master of Education degrees in Mental Health Counseling. During her studies, she worked as a research assistant at various projects related to Women and Gender Studies and Human Sexuality. She completed her clinical internships at Lape Psychiatric Hospital, College Discovery Program of LaGuardia Community College, and Dean-Hope Center for Educational and Psychological Services. At the College Discovery Program, she worked with mainly young adults and conducted individual and group psychotherapy sessions with them under supervision. Upon graduation, she continued working at this program.

Nurdan Kozan Çakı, Clinical Psychologist

She completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Koç University on 2009, and graduate degree in Clinical Psychology from Leiden University, Netherlands on 2011. She completed her internships at Balıklı Rum Hospital, Ekip Norma Razon, Cerrahpasa Medical School Consultation Liaison Psychiatry, VKV American Hospital and Leiden University Life Skills Coaching Program. She has experience in delivering psychotherapy for adults on private practice.

Dilek Kebapçı, Counselor

She completed her undergraduate education at Yildiz Technical University (YTU), Department of Guidance and Psychological Counseling, and completed her internship at YTU Student Career Center. After graduation, she worked as a project coordinator at a non-governmental organization.

Clinical Psychologists – Koc University Hospital

Merve Yalçınay İnan - Clinical Psychologist

She graduated from Bilgi University. In a semester of her undergraduate, she was in University of Liverpool within the context of Laureate International Universities. She finished her master’s degree in Clinical Psychology, Bahçeşehir University. She is current a Ph.D student in Clinical Psychology. After participating supervision and seminars in Charite University Hospital in Berlin within her postgraduate, she worked in Surp Pırgiç Armenian Hospital as an intern under supervison for 10 months. After that she began her career in Medical Park Hospital and continued Balıklı Rum Hospital as a clinical psychologist. She is currently working as a clinical psychologist at Koç University Hospital and KUPTEM since 2016. She is a member of Turkish Psychological Association.

Işıl Necef - Clinical Psychologist

After completing German High School Istanbul in 2006, Işıl Necef completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology at Bogazici University as an honor student in 2011. She earned her Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology at California State University, Fullerton in 2014. As part of her clinical psychology fieldwork requirement, she conducted individual, family and group psychotherapies with children and adolescents at Western Youth Services in Southern California. After earning her Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology, she taught Elementary Statistics courses as a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton. In 2015, she worked with traumatized clients diagnosed with substance and alcohol dependence as well as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in both individual and group psychotherapy settings at Solid Landings Behavioral Health. In the meantime, she worked at Diamond Family Counseling, where she practiced Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy with couples. She also conducts psychotherapy with English speaking clients in Türkiye. She has been working as a psychotherapist at Koç University Hospital since 2016 and continues her research on psychotherapy outcomes.

Psychiatrists

Hale Yapıcı Eser - Psychiatrist

Dr. Hale Yapıcı was born in Istanbul in 1984. She graduated from Ankara Atatürk Anatolian High School in 2002 and from Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine in 2008. She completed her psychiatry specialty training in Psychiatry Department of Gazi University Faculty of Medicine between 2008-2013. At the same time, she started her Ph.D. program in Neuroscience under the MD-PHD program of Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine between 2006-2013 and was awarded the title of PHD. Between July 2013 and September 2015, she worked as a psychiatric specialist at Çankırı State Hospital on the grounds of state obligatory service. She conducted research at Copenhagen University's Institute of Biological Psychiatry in 2011, the Department of Psychotic Disorders at Harvard University's Mc Lean Hospital in 2012 and at the same university in the center of depression, anxiety and stress research in 2016. She has been a psychiatry specialist at the Koç University Hospital since October 2015 and faculty member at the Koç University Faculty of Medicine. She ıs one of the coordinators of Koç University Neuroscience Ph.D. program and a board member of KUTTAM. She conducts research in the areas of neurobiology and phenomenology of psychiatric disorders. Her main interests are stress related disorders, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, psychiatric disorders accompanying neurological disorders, especially Parkinson's disease, and psychiatric disorders accompanying obesity and endocrinological disorders. She practices cognitive behavioral therapy.

Özge Kılıç - Psychiatrist

Ozge Kilic, MD. was born in Ankara. After finishing Ankara Gazi Anatolian High School in 2001, she graduated from Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty in 2007. She finished her residency in Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Department of Psychiatry in 2007. In 2012, she participated in a clinical attachment of Liaison Psychiatry and Acute Addictions Units of Maudsley Hospital, King‘s College London. Between 2013-2015, she worked as a psychiatrist in Abant Izzet Baysal University, Izzet Baysal Mental Health Research and Training Hospital in Bolu as part of the Turkish mandatory service. She worked as the Coordinator of the Trainee Committee in Psychiatric Association of Türkiye. She is an active member of the European Psychiatric Association and World Psychiatric Association's Early Career Psychiatrist Committees. She is working at Koc University Hospital and Koc University Health Center since January 2016. Ozge Kilic is currently diagnosing and treating a full range of psychiatric disorders. She has particular expertise in adult attention deficiency and hyperactivity disorder, emerging mental disorders in young adults, depression, adult autism spectrum disorders and co-occurring mental and physical disorders. She applies a holistic, modern and evidence-based approach.