Seren Öztoprak Kılıç, Child Development Specialist

Seren Öztoprak Kılıç works in pedagogy at Acibadem Maslak Hospital in İstanbul. Her professional profile lists more than 18 years of experience. Her stated areas of expertise are psychological assessment, psychotherapy and mental health support. She consults with patients in Turkish and English, and she is available for video consultation with international patients.

Öztoprak Kılıç completed an undergraduate degree in psychology at Istanbul Commerce University Faculty of Arts and Sciences in 2008. She went on to earn a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Beykent University Institute of Social Sciences in 2015. Her professional experience record lists Acibadem Health Group from 2008. She is a member of two professional bodies, the Turkish Psychologists Association and the Pink Traces Association.

Clinical focus

The first of her listed areas is psychological assessment. In general terms, this involves a structured evaluation of a person’s psychological functioning and current concerns, which may draw on clinical interviews and standardized assessment tools. The findings are used to clarify the nature of a difficulty and to inform the discussion of possible next steps. Any assessment plan is tailored to the individual and to the questions that need to be answered.

Her second and third listed areas are psychotherapy and mental health support. Psychotherapy is a talk-based form of treatment carried out over a series of sessions, in which patterns of thinking, feeling and behavior are explored with a trained professional. Mental health support refers more broadly to ongoing guidance and follow-up for individuals dealing with emotional or psychological difficulties. Whether a particular approach is appropriate, and how long it may continue, can only be determined after an initial evaluation of the individual’s situation. Öztoprak Kılıç discusses the available options with each patient so that decisions are made on the basis of that evaluation.

How Seren Öztoprak Kılıç works with international patients

Öztoprak Kılıç speaks Turkish and English, and interpreters can be arranged for patients who prefer another language. The Acibadem international patient team coordinates the collection of prior reports before the visit, such as earlier psychological or psychiatric evaluations, laboratory results, discharge summaries and any relevant imaging reports, and it arranges appointments and organizes the hospital visit. A first consultation typically covers the patient’s history and current symptoms, a review of existing reports and previous treatments, a clinical evaluation and a discussion of the options that may be considered. For patients who are still abroad, a video consultation can be arranged as an initial step, allowing them to speak with her before deciding whether to travel. Follow-up arrangements are agreed on an individual basis after the first meeting.