İrem Sürmez, Psychologist

İrem Sürmez is a psychologist at Acibadem Altunizade Hospital in İstanbul, where she works within the Psychiatry & Psychology unit. Her work centers on psychological support for people with obesity, eating disorders, sleep disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder, as well as smoking cessation and neuropsychological assessment. Her subspecialty areas are listed as Treatment of Obesity and Smoke-Free Life. She has more than 28 years of experience in her field.

İrem Sürmez completed a double major in Sociology and Psychology at the İstanbul Bilgi University Faculty of Arts and Sciences between 1998 and 2003. She went on to complete the Clinical Psychology Master’s Program at İstanbul Bilgi University between 2006 and 2009, and in 2015 she completed the Acıbadem University Health Management Master’s Program. Her professional experience began in 2006 at Logos Psychological Counseling and Education Center, where she worked in individual therapies and in pregnancy/postpartum and in vitro fertilization support groups. Between 2006 and 2007 she worked at Atafiz Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Specialization Center, and in 2007 she joined Acıbadem Healthcare Services. She is a member of the Türk Psikologlar Association.

Clinical focus

A significant part of İrem Sürmez’s practice involves psychological support for people living with obesity and for those affected by eating disorders. In these areas, psychological evaluation and support may form part of a broader care plan alongside other specialists. She also works with people experiencing sleep disorders, including insomnia and sleep apnea, where psychological factors and daily habits can be relevant to how symptoms are experienced and managed.

Her areas of expertise further include obsessive-compulsive disorder, support for smoking cessation as part of a smoke-free life approach, and neuropsychological assessment. Neuropsychological assessment involves structured evaluation of cognitive functions and may be requested to help clarify a clinical picture. The specific approach and the scope of support depend on each individual’s history, current concerns and the findings of the initial evaluation.

How İrem Sürmez works with international patients

İrem Sürmez consults in Turkish and English, and interpreters can be arranged for patients who speak other languages. Before a visit, the hospital’s international patient team coordinates the collection of prior reports, including previous psychological or psychiatric assessments, laboratory results, discharge summaries and any relevant imaging reports, and arranges appointments and the hospital visit. A first consultation typically covers the patient’s history and current concerns, a review of previous evaluations and treatments, a clinical assessment and a discussion of possible next steps. Video consultation is available for international patients who wish to have an initial conversation or a follow-up discussion from their home country.