Elena Renken, Psy.D.

Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Elena Renken is a licensed clinical psychologist in Connecticut and is a part-time therapist at the New England OCD Institute. Dr. Renken works full time as a psychologist in Yale's Mental Health and Counseling department, where she provides individual therapy to undergraduate and graduate students and co-leads the Dialectical Behavior Therapy group program. 

Originally from rural Montana, Dr. Renken completed her doctoral training at Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL. She then completed an APA-accredited internship at Meier Clinics, where she worked with adults and adolescents in a Partial Hospitalization and an Intensive Outpatient Program. Most recently, she completed her postdoctoral fellowship in Yale's Mental Health and Counseling department, where she has stayed on as a staff psychologist. 

Dr. Renken is not taking new clients at this time.

Dr. Renken specializes in the treatment of anxiety disorders and OCD using Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). She also incorporates elements of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) into her treatment of OCD and anxiety disorders. She enjoys work with individuals of all ages, and she has received specific training in treating children and adolescents. Dr. Renken is attentive to and mindful of her clients' cultural identities, socioeconomic backgrounds, gender and sexual orientation, and religious and spiritual beliefs. She has received graduate-level training in helping clients integrate their spiritual beliefs and faith traditions into their treatment, if desired. She is passionate about helping people whose OCD becomes intertwined with their moral or religious convictions.

Dr. Renken believes strongly in the dignity of each person with whom she works. She approaches her treatment with each client with compassion, humility, and humor. Her warm and accepting style enables her to connect with people of diverse backgrounds and beliefs. 

Professional Presentations

Harriman, E., Alayan, A., & Davis, E. (March 2016). Using Spiritual Disciplines as Psychological Interventions: A Review of the Literature. Paper presented at 2016 Christian Association of Psychological Sciences (CAPS) Convention, Pasadena, CA.

Harriman, E. (October 2015). The Desert within Evagrius Ponticus: Mental Demons and the Sacrament of Self-Knowledge. Paper presented at History of Christianity Graduate Student Conference, Wheaton, IL.

Holcomb, A., Harriman, E., Carroll-Turner, S., Lee, M., & Flanagan, K. (April 2015). Considerations in the Use of Children’s Mindfulness: A Developmental Perspective. Presented at 2015 Christian Association of Psychological Sciences (CAPS) Convention, Denver, CO.

Harriman, E. (April 2013). The Fallacy of “The Smart Kid”: Grit and Goal Orientation as Determinants for Academic Success. Paper presented at: Montana State University Undergraduate Research Symposium, Education Graduate Student Research Symposium, Bozeman, MT.

Harriman, E. (November 24, 2013). Overwriting Stereotypes: Using Narrative to Teach Critical Perspectives. Presented research at: National Council of Teachers of English Conference, Boston, MA.