Merve Şevval Altınyar, Clinical Psychologist

Merve Şevval Altınyar is a clinical psychology specialist working in the Psychiatry & Psychology unit at Acibadem Altunizade Hospital in İstanbul. Her practice is focused on individual psychotherapy and psychological assessment for people experiencing anxiety, depression and mood difficulties, stress and burnout, relationship problems, and the emotional demands of loss or long-term illness.

She completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology at Sabanci University in 2020 and went on to study Clinical Psychology at Istanbul Aydin University, graduating in 2021. That same year she joined Acibadem Healthcare Group, where she has practiced since. She has more than six years of experience in the field.

Clinical focus

Merve Şevval Altınyar’s clinical work covers anxiety disorders, depression and mood difficulties, stress and burnout, and sleep difficulties. She also sees people facing relationship and family issues, those going through grief and loss, and patients adjusting to a chronic illness, where psychological support may run alongside ongoing medical care. In each case, the aim is first to understand the person’s situation and the factors that maintain their difficulties before agreeing on a plan.

Her main therapeutic approach is individual psychotherapy, with a particular emphasis on cognitive behavioral therapy, a structured method that examines how thoughts, emotions, and behaviors interact and works toward practical coping skills that can be applied in daily life. She also carries out psychological assessment and testing, which can help clarify a diagnosis, describe a person’s current difficulties in more detail, and inform the direction of therapy. The number and frequency of sessions depend on the individual’s needs and are agreed on together after the initial assessment. Where appropriate, findings can be shared with the treating physician so that psychological and medical care are coordinated.

How Merve Şevval Altınyar works with international patients

For patients coming from abroad, the Acibadem international patient team coordinates the collection of prior reports, such as previous psychological or psychiatric assessments, test results, discharge summaries, and details of current or past treatment, and arranges appointments and the hospital visit. A first consultation typically covers the person’s history and current symptoms, a review of any previous treatments and reports, a clinical assessment, and a discussion of the options that may be suitable. Interpreters can be arranged when needed, which is particularly relevant in psychotherapy, where clear communication between patient and therapist is central to the work. Patients are encouraged to describe their concerns in their own words, as this forms the basis of the assessment and of any therapy that follows.