Elena E. Kim, PhD

Genuine relationships, are what I believe, bring about deep healing.  We have all experienced pain, struggles, or difficult transitions in our lives, but we have not always had the opportunity to reflect, heal, and learn from these moments within the context of a close and safe relationship.  I believe that a collaborative and therapeutic relationship can be a life-changing experience as it helps you process current and past pains, become more self-aware, develop more meaningful relationships, and experience thriving in your life.

I strive to be multiculturally humble as I recognize the complex impact of systemic oppression in all our lives.  Having worked in various settings (New York City hospitals, universities, and Veteran clinics) I had the privilege of working with clients of varying backgrounds and identities (racial/ethnic, socioeconomic, sexual orientation, gender, religious/spiritual, and many more). Additionally, I am an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Officer of a division within the American Psychological Association.  As such, I recognize the importance of viewing each person as a holistic individual, being compassionate in my therapeutic stance, and helping each person discover their best sense of self.

I am integrative in my practice due to my varied clinical training and research interests.  I draw from interpersonal, psychodynamic, emotion-focused, and cognitive-behavioral frameworks.  I also have extensive training working with adults and adolescents, along with research expertise in integrating spiritual and religious beliefs into psychotherapy.  I also understand work-related stressors given my previous career experience in corporate settings.  Overall, I am guided by the therapeutic relationship and the importance of having an authentic relationship that is centered around empathy.

If you believe there could be a match between yourself and me, I welcome you to contact me to learn about our potential work together.