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Sinem Yilanci, MA, MS, LMFT

I work with teens, adults, couples, and families around anxiety, relationships, trauma, life transitions, and developmental differences.

Due to my proximity to Silicon Valley, I often work with professionals in high-pressure roles, as well as immigrants navigating different cultures, though my practice is not limited to this. Many of my clients struggle with self-esteem, self-criticism, and codependency—areas I focus on in my work.

My background is in early development, attachment, and developmental differences. While I no longer work directly with young children, this training informs how I understand adult patterns, especially in relationships, emotional regulation, and neurodivergence. We may look at how earlier experiences continue to shape current dynamics, without getting stuck in the past.

I use EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and mindfulness-based approaches, depending on what is needed. My focus is on helping you understand patterns, process experiences, and shift how you relate to yourself and others.

I have experience working with trauma, anxiety, depression, and neurodevelopmental differences (including ADHD and autism).

In my work with couples and families, I draw from the Gottman approach and help navigate a range of issues, including communication difficulties, recurring conflict, trust, disconnection, and life transitions.

Fluent in English and Turkish.

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Education & Training

My clinical work is grounded in formal graduate training in psychology, philosophy, spirituality, trauma, attachment, and relational development. Over the years, I have continued to deepen my practice through advanced trainings in EMDR, couples therapy, Internal Family Systems-informed work, interpersonal neurobiology, attachment, trauma treatment, and child-parent psychotherapy.

Education

Master of Science in Clinical Psychology
San Francisco State University, 2014

Master of Arts in Philosophy and Religion
Concentration in Women’s Spirituality
California Institute of Integral Studies, 2008

Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy
Boğaziçi University, Istanbul, Turkey, 2002

Advanced Clinical Training & Certifications

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing — EMDR

Gottman Method Couples Therapy
Level 1 and Level 2

Internal Family Systems-Informed Therapy

 

The National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine
Training in attachment, trauma, anxiety, and core beliefs, including:
The Neurobiology of Attachment
The Treating Trauma Master Series
Expert Strategies for Working with Anxiety
Working with Core Beliefs of “Never Good Enough”

Attachment, Developmental & Family-Based Training

Child-Parent Psychotherapy
UCSF Child Trauma Research Center

Infant-Parent Psychotherapy
UCSF Infant-Parent Program

Circle of Security

DIR/Floortime
Profectum Foundation

Hand in Hand Parenting Program

Interpersonal Neurobiology & Mindsight

Mindsight Institute Trainings
Foundations of Mindsight and Interpersonal Neurobiology
Clinical Applications of Mindsight and Interpersonal Neurobiology
Teaching Mindsight and Interpersonal Neurobiology

Crisis & Advocacy Training

Rape Crisis Counselor Certificate
San Francisco Women Against Rape

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