About You

You’re managing a full plate—and still carrying more beneath the surface. From the outside, it may look like you’re doing just fine. But inside, you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected.

You’re not just here to talk. You want psychotherapy that leads somewhere. Something practical, meaningful, and rooted in real, observable change.

You’re ready to understand what truly matters to you, so you can stop running on autopilot and start making intentional choices.

You’re looking for a clinician with an academic foundation and a science-informed approach. Someone who uses evidence-based tools, not guesswork. You want a no-nonsense, open-minded therapy partner who offers thoughtful nudges that move you forward.

If that resonates, let’s talk. I offer a free 20-minute phone consultation to see if we’re a good fit.

About Me

I’m Simay Gökbayrak, PhD.

Grounded in Evidence, Tailored to You

My work is rooted in clinical practice, psychological assessment, and research, with training across a range of respected academic institutions.

My practice is grounded in approaches that honor your autonomy and support lasting change. These approaches involve Cognitive Behavioral Therapies (CBT), a broad category of evidence-based interventions. I primarily practice Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (read ACT), which supports clients in developing the ability to stay present with difficult experiences while moving toward what truly matters to you.

I also utilize:

CBT-i (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia) — the gold-standard treatment for clinical insomnia

DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) skills — to strengthen communication and relationships

Depth Across Populations

Working in diverse clinical settings has deepened my understanding of a broad spectrum of mental health issues, including how these conditions can affect physical health, and the reciprocal relationship between the mind and body.

Knowing When to Refer

My commitment to evidence-based care allows me to make informed referrals when specialized care is needed, such as:

  • Gold standard neuropsychological testing for ADHD

  • Couple therapy

  • Parenting support

  • Psychiatric medication evaluation and management

  • Specialists in addiction, eating disorders, trauma-focused exposure therapy, OCD, post-partum mental health, neurology

A Multicultural Lens

As a multicultural person from Europe based in Brooklyn, I bring an appreciation for diverse ways of thinking and living — a perspective that helps me approach each client’s unique history and context with curiosity and sensitivity.

Education & Training

I obtained a bachelor’s degree in Psychology at New York University and a doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology with an additional focus in Health Psychology at University of Rhode Island (URI).

At URI, under the mentorship of James Prochaska, PhD, renowned for being a developer of the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change (aka TTM or Stages of Change model) and advancing motivation and behavior change science, I contributed to research related to the understanding of what motivates people to make healthy changes in their life.

I did my pre-doctoral clinical internship in the areas of general mental health and illness (Psychiatric Institute and Behavioral Health Clinic), cancer psychology (Carbone Cancer Center), and inpatient medical-surgical consultation (University Hospital) at University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health.

This was followed by a clinical postdoctoral fellowship in evidence-based or research-backed therapies in treating a wide range of mental illness, sleep difficulties, and chronic pain among Veterans at San Francisco VA Healthcare System (SFVA).

I ended my formal education with additional postdoctoral research in complex mental illness including psychosis spectrum disorders and chronic depression at SFVA/ University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).

You can view a full list of my education and training background on my LinkedIn profile.

Specialties

Professional burnout + navigating demanding professions in law, tech and finance

Depression, low mood, low motivation

Anxiety, worry, restlessness

Stress

Adjusting to life transitions

Relationship challenges

Men’s issues

Loss & grief

Insomnia -> Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia

Living with cancer

Chronic pain

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