Guldeniz Yucelen, Psy.D.

ABOUT

I am a Turkish-English bilingual psychologist grateful for the opportunity to assist others in their journey to a more fulfilling life. I specialize in the treatment of trauma, depression, anxiety, ADHD and relational issues. My clinical services are mainly informed by psychodynamic psychotherapy and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy.

My doctoral training was at Rutgers University and my pre-doctoral internship was at NYU Medical Center-Bellevue Hospital. I had postdoctoral training on childhood trauma. Since the late 90s, I have worked as a therapist, supervisor and program director in various mental health settings and community programs. Currently, I have a private practice in New Haven, Connecticut, where I offer individual psychotherapy services to adults. I also offer consultation, supervision and workshops nationally and internationally.

Some of the research studies I participated focused on medication adherence; mental health policy and services; assessment and treatment of ADHD and OCD, and psychosocial issues facing children who are orphaned by HIV in Africa (supported by a grant from the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues -SPSSI). For two years, I worked as an adjunct faculty at the University of New Haven.

Along with my deep commitment to social justice and equality, healing from complex trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder has been a major focus in my professional life, not only in individual psychotherapy, but also related to program development for survivors of trauma. In Turkey, in collaboration with two colleagues and sponsored by UNICEF, I designed and implemented a program to help children and youth overcome the traumatic effects of Kosovo war. After the devastating 1999 earthquake in Turkey, I initiated, helped design, and served as the Project Coordinator for a psychological support project for earthquake survivors, sponsored by Foundation Amurt Switzerland. In the United States, I worked with Women’s Wellbeing and Development Foundation as the Director of Program Development, assisting their first project to take off the ground in North Carolina, by securing a grant and helping with program planning. Currently, I serve on the board of two international non-profit organizations, AMURTEL and AMURT.

Publications:

Yucelen, A.G., Boyd-Fraklin, N. (2007) Systems of care and the psychological needs of children who are orphaned by HIV/AIDS in Kenya.Dissertation
Yucelen, A.G., Arman, A., Topçuoğlu, V., Yazgan, M.Y., Fisek, G. (2006). Inter-rater reliability and clinical efficacy of Children’s Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS) in an outpatient setting. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 47(1), 48-53.
Rodopman-Arman, A., Yazgan, M.Y., Zaimoglu, S., Yucelen, A.G. (1997). Assessment of sensory phenomena in children diagnosed with Tourette Disorder. VII. National Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Conference. Antalya, Turkey.
Yazgan, M.Y., Yucelen, A.G., Zaimoglu, S., Arman, A. (1998). The effects of methylphenidate in the treatment of ADHD on neuropsychological and behavioral parameters. Archives of Neuropsychiatry (Turkish), 35 (3-4), 126-130.

Presentations/Workshops

Psychosocial Interventions with Young Survivors of Kosovo War. Speaker at X. International Symposium on Victimology, Montreal, Canada. August 2000.
Optimism: Naivity or Reality. Speaker at Path of Bliss Yoga and Meditation Center. Cairo, New York. December 2023.
Rendezvous with Myself. Art and wellbeing workshop with Dr. Belgin Yucelen
November 2022 Boulder, CO
March 2023 Online workshop for young Afgan women
Supportive Resources During Challenging Times/2023 Earthquake. March 2023. Online workshop for Bogazici University Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey.
Sun Always Shines within You: On Psychological Healing. Workshop at Ananda Viplava Yoga and Meditation Center, Cairo, New York. July 2024.
A Story of Universal Love. A short documentary directed by Guldeniz Yucelen. 15th Latino and Native American Film Festival. April 2025.

Awards

Applied Social Issues Internship Grant, The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, Fall 2005
Foley Wilson Fellowship, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, 2002-2003.

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