MEET OUR TEAM

Elena Kim, PhD

Guidance Through Life’s Tough Questions

Many of my clients come to therapy not only seeking relief, but wrestling with deeper concerns — questions about purpose, identity, faith, loss, and belonging. These are not problems to be solved, but invitations to explore what it means to live with intention and integrity. My training in existential, spiritual, and relational psychology equips me to walk with individuals through life’s most tender and complex terrain. Using interpersonal psychodynamic and CBT approaches, I help clients navigate major transitions or make sense of an ache they can’t quite name — all in service of a more grounded and meaningful life.

Rooted with Experience

My path to psychology began in the corporate world, where I worked in management consulting and finance. That background gave me a deep understanding of workplace stress, leadership dynamics, and the complexities of career decision-making. As an Asian American and former Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity Officer within the American Psychological Association, I’m committed to practicing with multicultural humility and creating an affirming space for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ clients. These diverse experiences inform my approach to therapy, where I meet each person with respect, curiosity, and care as we explore the intersections of identity, work, and life.

Knowledge That Honors the Whole Person

My research centers on the integration of spirituality and psychotherapy, with particular emphasis on multicultural humility and socially just approaches to mental health care. I explore how spiritual and existential concerns intersect with identity, clinical practice, and therapeutic change, especially for marginalized communities. My work spans empirical studies, clinical frameworks, and training models, and has been featured in books, peer-reviewed journals, APA handbooks, and critical dialogues within the field.

Relevant Professional Experiences

  • Winkeljohn-Black S. & Kim, E. E. (manuscript in preparation). Existential-Spiritual Psychotherapy. In Jong, J. (Ed.) Cambridge Elements in Psychology of Religion. Cambridge University Press.

    Abo-Zena, M. M., Kim, E. E., & Winkeljohn Black, S. (in press). Towards socially just approaches to incorporating spirituality and religion in mental health care. In Currier, J. M., Fox J., & Vieten, C. (Eds.) Handbook of training in spiritual and religious competencies in mental health professions. Oxford University Press

    Cho, I., Kim, E. E., Lee, D. H., Chuang, D. (in press). Community Case Study for Enhancing Integrated Mental Health Treatment For Asian Americans: A Collaborative Practice Model. Journal of Psychology and Theology.

    Kim, E. E. (August 2023). Reproductive Justice: The Lived Experiences and Impact of Religious Identities and Policies. Lead a Critical Conversation event to discuss the intersectionality of multicultural identities and reproductive justice for pregnant persons at the American Psychological Association Convention, Washington, D.C.

    Kim, E. E., Cha, J., & Keller, T. (2023). Gospel-centered integrated framework for therapy: Foundation, description, research findings, and application. In P. S. Richards, G. E. K. Allen, & D. K. Judd (Eds.), Handbook of spiritually integrated psychotherapies (pp. 213–230). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000338-011

    Kim, E. E., & Chen, E. C. (2022). Task analysis of a christian-integrated psychotherapy framework. Psychotherapy, 59, 363–373. https://doi.org/10.1037/pst0000406

    Prout, T. A., Magaldi, D., Kim, E. E., & Cha, J. (2020). Christian therapists and their clients. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 8, 1.

    Kim, E. E., Chen, E. C., Cha, J. (2019, August). Spiritual Mechanisms of Change within the context of a Christian-Integrated Psychotherapy Framework: Preliminary Findings. Research presentation at the American Psychological Association Convention, Chicago, IL.

    Kim, E. E., Chen, E. C., & Brachfeld, C. (2018). Patients’ Experience of Spirituality and Change in Individual Psychotherapy at a Christian Counseling Clinic: A Grounded Theory Analysis. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 6, 110-123.

    Kim, E. E., Chen, E. C., & Brachfeld, C. (2016, August). Patients’ experiences of spirituality in psychotherapy: A grounded theory analysis. In P. S. Richards & J. N. Nelson (Co-Chairs), Spiritually oriented psychotherapy: Processes, outcomes, and research challenges. Symposium presentation at the American Psychological Association Convention, Denver, CO.

    Chen, E. C., Pratt, A. S., & Kim, E. E. (2016, August). Organizational culture change: Group therapists as social justice advocates. Poster presentation at the American Psychological Association Convention, Denver, CO.

    Kim, E.E., Rowe, Kali, & Chen, E.C., (2015, August). Facilitating Group Therapy Trainees Multicultural Competencies Development through Clinical Supervision. Symposium at the American Psychological Association Convention, Toronto, Canada.

    Ting, L.A., Kim, E.E., & Chen, E.C., (2015, August). Building Group Therapy Trainees’ Multicultural Competencies through Difficult Dialogues. Symposium at the American Psychological Association Convention, Toronto, Canada.

    Prout, T.A., & Kim, E.E., (2015, August). Christian Counseling: Initial Report on A Large-Scale Study. Presentation at the American Psychological Association Convention, Toronto, Canada.

    Kim, E.E., Ting, L.A., & Chen, E.C., (2014, August). Bridging the Gap between Evidence-Based Practice and Multicultural Competencies Research. Symposium at the American Psychological Association Convention, Washington, D.C.

    Prout, T.A., & Kim, E.E., (2014, August). Therapeutic Alliance, Client-Therapist Match, and Outcomes in Christian Counseling. Paper presentation at the American Psychological Association Convention, Washington, D.C.

  • Elena Kim, PhD, New York, NY; Princeton, NJ; Practicing, teaching, and supervising clients, and supervisees under the Existential-Spiritual Psychotherapy framework.

    Clinical Mental Health Services in the Bronx Community,Bronx, NY; Supervising doctoral counseling students who are providing free telehealth mental health services for Black, Latino, and immigrant children and youth in the Bronx area.

    Angela Kang, PhD, New York, NY; Supervised by Dr. Angela Kang; Culturally-sensitive psychotherapy for clients that identify as a person of color and/or religious/spiritual faith

    Xavier High School, New York, NY; Supervised by Dr. Amelio D’Onofrio; Psychodynamic therapy for students at a private Jesuit, all-boys high school

    Veterans Affairs New York Harbor Healthcare System, Brooklyn, NY; Supervised by Drs. Shalini Sehgal, Alexandra Drake, Paul Rhindress, and Amy Malkin; Psychodynamic therapy for Veterans with PTSD; specialized in Afghan/Iraq adjustment, military sexual trauma, Vietnam veterans

    Gouverneur Behavioral Health, New York, NY; Supervised by Drs. Julie Reinhold, and George Collins; Dialectical behavioral therapy and psychodynamic therapy for lower socioeconomic, diverse population

    John Jay Counseling Services Center, New York, NY; Supervised by Drs. Gauri Pradhan, and Elena Beharry; Individual and group therapy for diverse college population

    Redeemer Counseling Services, New York, NY; Supervised by Drs. Judy Cha, and Julie Reinhold; Gospel-centered Integrated Framework for Therapy for adult Christian clients

  • Research Institute for Spirituality and Eudaimonia; Founder and Director

    APA Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality; Inaugural Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Officer

    APA Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality; Task Force for Social Justice Issues, Founding Member

    APA Society of Group Psychology and Group Psychotherapy; Diversity Committee Member

  • John Templeton Foundation, Research Grant (2021).

    Division 36, Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality of the American Psychological Association, Student Research Award (2018).

  • Fordham University, New York, NY; August 2021; Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology

    Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY; May 2012; M.A. in Clinical Psychology

    University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; May 2003; B.A. in Psychology with Honors

    The Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; May 2003; B.S. in Economics

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