BIO

I received my Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from University of Massachusetts Boston following a terminal master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling. I completed my APA Accredited internship at University of Connecticut Counseling and Mental Health Services and fulfilled my post-doctoral fellowship at Boston College University Counseling Services. Upon completing my training, I worked as a staff psychologist at Tufts University Counseling and Mental Health Service. I have over five years of clinical experience.

I have extensive clinical experience at college counseling centers that have helped me develop my identity as a generalist, with skills in brief and long-term individual therapy, group therapy, diverse populations, crisis management, outreach, and assessment. I have been providing long-term and short-term individual therapy to a diverse population with respect to race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality, and socioeconomic status. I work with a variety of presenting issues such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, identity issues, relationship problems, vocational issues, developmental concerns, and stress management. I also have experience working with underserved youth who presented with a wide range of behavioral, social, and emotional challenges. This experience contributed to my understanding of adolescent development and helped me gain knowledge and experience in substance abuse issues.

I have special interest in issues of cultural and diversity issues; complex trauma and resilience; identity development; attachment; interpersonal conflict and close relationships; and personal, social, emotional, and vocational development during emerging adulthood and beyond.

My approach emphasizes genuineness, respect for the individual, and compassion. I strive to provide a safe and empowering environment for my clients.

As an international person/immigrant myself, I am particularly interested in working with immigrants and international people. I also provide therapy in Turkish.

Besides my clinical experiences, I have also been actively involved in teaching and research. I teach master’s level abnormal psychology, assessment, vocational counseling, research, and ethics courses as Adjunct Faculty at UMass Boston. I have conducted extensive research on developmental issues and well-being of emerging adults (ages 18-29). These experiences tremendously contribute to my clinical work.

I am a member of the American Psychological Association.

EDUCATION

Doctorate of Philosophy in Counseling Psychology, 08/2017

University of Massachusetts Boston

Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling, 08/2012

University of Massachusetts Boston

Master of Science in Psychological Counseling and Guidance, 08/2010

Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey

Integrated Bachelor and Masters of Science in Chemistry, 06/2007

Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey

WORK EXPERIENCE

Staff Psychologist, 08/2018 - 06/2019

Tufts University Counseling and Mental Health Service(CMHS) Medford, MA

Adjunct Lecturer, 2013 - Present

University of Massachusetts Boston Boston MA

Courses Taught

• Abnormal Psychology
• Research and Evaluation in Psychology
• Ethical Standards and Professional Issues in Counseling
• Vocational Development and Career Information
• Principles of Vocational, Educational, and Psychological Assessment

PRE-LICENSE TRAINING

Post-Doctoral Fellow, 08/2017 – 07/2018

Boston College, University Counseling Center (UCS) Newton, MA

Pre-Doctoral Internship – APA Accredited, 08/2016 – 07/2017

University of Connecticut, Counseling and Mental Health Services (CMHS) Storrs, CT

Assessment and Outreach Practicum, 09/2015 – 05/2016

University of Massachusetts Boston Boston, MA

Pre-Doctoral Practicum, 08/2015 – 05/2016

Emerson College, Counseling and Psychological Services Boston, MA

Pre-doctoral Practicum, 09/2013-05/2015

Brandeis University, Psychological Counseling Center (PCC) Waltham, MA

RESEARCH / PUBLICATIONS

• Konstam, V., Karwin, S., Curran, T., Lyons, M., & Celen-Demirtas, S. (2016). Stigma and divorce: A relevant lens for emerging and young women? Journal of Divorce and Remarriage, 57(3), 173-194. doi: 10.1080/10502556.2016.1150149


• Celen-Demirtas, S., Konstam, V., & Tomek, S. (2015). Leisure activities in unemployed emerging adults: Links to career adaptability and subjective well-being. The Career Development Quarterly, 63(3), 209-222.


• Konstam, V., Celen-Demirtas, S., Tomek, S., & Sweeney, K. (2015). Career adaptability and subjective well-being in unemployed emerging adults: A promising and cautionary tale. Journal of Career Development. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1177/0894845315575151


• Konstam, V., Tomek, S., Celen-Demirtas, S., & Sweeney, K. (2015). Volunteering and reemployment status in unemployed emerging adults: A time-worthy investment? Journal of Career Assessment, 23(1), 152-165.


• Levy, B., Celen-Demirtas, S., Surguladze, T., Eranio, S., & Ellison, J. (2014). Neuropsychological screening as a standard of care during discharge from psychiatric hospitalization: The preliminary psychometrics of the CNS Screen. Psychiatry Research, 215(3), 790-796.


• Levy, B., Celen-Demirtas, S., Surguladze, T., & Sweeney, K. (2014). Stigma and discrimination: A socio-cultural etiology of mental illness. The Humanistic Psychologist, 42(2), 199-214.


• Celen-Demirtas, S., & Tezer, E. (2012). Romantic relationship satisfaction, commitment to career choices, and subjective well-being. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences Journal, 46, 2542-2549.

CONFERENCE PAPERS / POSTERS

• Karwin, S., Curran, T., Konstam, V., Lyons, M., & Celen-Demirtas, S. (2015, October). Stigma and divorce: A relevant lens for emerging and young adult women? Poster presented at the 7th Conference on Emerging Adulthood, Miami, Florida.


• Celen-Demirtas, S., Cadet, M., Minami, T., & Horne, S. G. (2015, August). The effects of career construction training on career adaptability of college students. Poster presented at the annual American Psychological Association Convention, Toronto, Canada.


• Carreiro, T., Wheeler, E., Horne, S. G., Vannoy, V., Celen-Demirtas, S., Petrosyan, K., Turdubaeva, E., & Boyraz, G. (2015, August). Exposure to stressful events and PTSD symptomatology as predictors of depression among first year college students. Poster presented at the annual American Psychological Association Convention, Toronto, Canada.


• Celen-Demirtas, S. (2014, March). Online counseling: Can counseling psychology catch up with technology? Poster presented at the National Counseling Psychology Conference, Counseling Psychology in Action: Future Opportunities and Challenges, Atlanta, GA.


• Celen-Demirtas, S., Surguladze, T., Sweeney, K., & Levy, B. (2014, March). Are we medicating pscyhosocial distress? Poster presented at the National Counseling Psychology Conference, Counseling Psychology in Action: Future Opportunities and Challenges, Atlanta, GA.


• Levy, B., Celen-Demirtas, S., & Surguladze, T. (2013, August). Neuropsychological screening as a standard of care in psychiatric hospitals: A pilot study. Poster presented at the annual American Psychological Association Convention, Honolulu, HI.


• Yerin Guneri, O., Capa Aydin, Y., Owen, D. W., Celen-Demirtas, S., Kurtoglu, M., & Mesutoglu, C. (2010, October). Analysis of psychological counseling and guidance needs of the students at Middle East Technical University. Paper presented at 5th Symposium on Psychological Counseling and Guidance in Universities, Mersin, Turkey.


• Hatipoglu-Sumer, Z., Celen, S., & Caglayan, O. (2009, October). What they know, what they do: Level of knowledge about contraception and protection methods from sexually transmitted diseases and applied methods of university students. Paper presented at 10th Biennial Meeting of the Psychological Counseling and Guidance Association, Adana, Turkey.

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

• Celen-Demirtas, S., Maki, E., & Surguladze, T. (2015). Reflections of three psychology students from diverse backgrounds on a social justice class. International Psychology Bulletin Student Column, 19(4), 29-31.


• Celen-Demirtas, S., Dimitrova, R., Lyanguzova, V., & Fomichev, A. (2014). Developing international student partnerships through Division 52. International Psychology Bulletin Student Column, 18(1), 29-31.


• Celen-Demirtas, S. (2010). The role of romantic relationship status, romantic relationship satisfaction, and commitment to career choices in subjective well-being of senior university students. (Thesis published in National Theses Database of Council of Higher Education, Ankara, Turkey).

EDITORIAL / PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Co-Editor, 11/2013 - 05/2016

International Psychology Bulletin of APA Division 52 Student Column

Ad-Hoc Reviewer:

Journal of Counseling Psychology, 9/2016; 10/2015

Journal of Career Development , 05/2016

Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, 06/2015

Educational Research and Reviews , 12/2012

Program Proposal Reviewer, 10/2013

Counseling Psychology Conference, Atlanta 2014

Individual Therapy

In my clinical practice, I believe in the power of constructive relationships, which provide unconditional positive regard, genuineness and empathy, in promoting the well-being of individuals and society. I follow an integrative relational psychodynamic approach, which integrates cognitive-behavioral, systemic, multicultural/feminist, and experiential concepts. The relational approach sets the foundation of my interactions with my clients and facilitates the therapeutic alliance, which I believe, is the catalyst of change and healing.

To be effective therapists, we must engage in continuous self-reflection of our reactions, assumptions, and beliefs, since all human interactions are a dynamic two-way process. Thus, I consider what is happening in the therapy room and the interaction between my clients and myself as an integral part of the process.

Furthermore, problems do not occur exclusively within the individual; they emerge in a context through the interaction between internal and external influences. The meaning-making processes embedded in one’s culture and systems that make up the individual’s context are the core of psychological difficulties. In the process of change, I try to understand the meaning of my clients’ behaviors, emotions, and thoughts from a contextual perspective.

Change occurs when we embrace and experience our difficult emotions and work through them. My goal is to facilitate my clients to retell their stories with newly constructed insights and meanings, so that they integrate newly constructed behavior, emotions, and cognitions. In this realm, my role is to join my client’s experience; provide genuine curiosity in their stories; trust their capacity to gain insight and to change; and establish a safe space in which we co-construct experience.

I have extensive clinical experience at college counseling centers that have helped me develop my identity as a generalist, with skills in brief and long-term individual therapy, group therapy, diverse populations, crisis management, outreach, and assessment. I have been providing long-term and short-term individual therapy to a diverse population with respect to race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality, and socioeconomic status. I work with a variety of presenting issues such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, identity issues, relationship problems, vocational issues, developmental concerns, and stress management. I also have experience working with underserved youth who presented with a wide range of behavioral, social, and emotional challenges. This experience contributed to my understanding of adolescent development and helped me gain knowledge and experience in substance abuse issues.

Couples Therapy

Close relationships are complicated. We start relationships with hope that we will partner in life with all of its challenges. However, both our personal patterns and our relational patterns can interfere with our relationship satisfaction. This may result in resentment, disappointment, and overall dissatisfaction with our lives. I facilitate my clients to identify patterns in their relationship, improve their ways of communication, and find ways to experience a more fulfilling relationship. I am particularly interested in facilitating my clients to preserve their sense of self, “I”, while developing a “We".

In some cases, couples might find themselves at a crossroads to decide what they would like to do with their relationship. Making a decision about continuing or ending a relationship can also be challenging. Couples therapy can also help with making a decision about your relationship.

Fees and Insurance

You can make payments with cash, check and all major credit cards.

• Initial, diagnostic appointment (60 min): $250


• Follow up appointments (45 min): $220


• Cancellation Fee <24 hour notice: Full Fee

If you have an insurance plan that offers out-of-network benefits, you may be able to receive reimbursement for sessions. I will provide you with a master bill, which has the necessary requirements so that you can receive reimbursement for services.

Please contact your insurance provider to understand the conditions of your plan regarding reimbursement rate, deductible and behavioral health coverage.

Here are some questions you may want to ask your insurance company:

• Do I have out-of-network benefits for mental health coverage?


• If so, what percentage is covered?


• Do I have a deductible? What is it and how much of it have I met?


• What is the co-pay for a session if I see an out-of-network provider?


• How do I submit a request for reimbursement?


• What is the reimbursement for CPT code 90834?