Zeynep Deniz Ilkova, LMSW

(she/her)

Primary Clinician

Zeynep is a dedicated mental health professional with a robust academic foundation and experience in both educational and clinical settings. She has worked with children, adolescents, and adults, providing compassionate, individualized care tailored to each client’s unique needs. Prior to graduate school, Zeynep served as a clinical assistant at a practice specializing in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Emotionally Focused Therapy for individuals and couples.

In her recent clinical roles, Zeynep has provided individual, couples, and family therapy, supporting clients through challenges such as anxiety, depression, relational trauma, life transitions, and grief. She integrates behavioral approaches into her work to ensure treatment is both compassionate and evidence-based. Additionally, Zeynep has served as a research assistant at the Center for Prolonged Grief, enriching her work in bereavement and strengthening her practice of integrated, process-oriented psychotherapy while utilizing evidence-based treatment methodologies.

In her clinical practice, Zeynep adopts an accepting, encouraging, and pragmatic approach. She emphasizes tailoring treatment to each client’s unique needs, often incorporating creative or non-traditional therapeutic methods. Her commitment to personalized, adaptable care reflects a deep dedication to clients’ growth and well-being. Zeynep is especially skilled at engaging adolescents and emerging adults who struggle to fully engage in therapy. Her collaborative style—combined with a passion for behavioral therapies and a warm, supportive presence—empowers clients to take an active role in their treatment

Having grown up in Turkey, Zeynep understands the vital role that culture and upbringing play in treatment, placing client values and cultural perspectives at the heart of the therapeutic process.

Education:

• Master of Social Work, Columbia University
• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, The George Washington University

Training & Certifications:

• Basics of Exposure Therapy for Anxiety Disorders, Perelman School of Medicine at University of Pennsylvania
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Substance Use Disorder, Behavioral Tech Institute
• Foundational Dialectical Behavior Training, Behavioral Tech Institute
• Prolonged Grief Disorder Treatment, Center for Prolonged Grief at Columbia University
• Enhanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy