Elena Stein, PhD

I am a licensed clinical psychologist with expertise in treating alcohol and substance use concerns, as well as the mental health conditions that frequently co-occur with them, including trauma, anxiety, and mood disorders. I have extensive training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention, Cognitive Processing Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. I provide both teletherapy and in-person therapy to adults in the state of Massachusetts. My approach and who I work with: I strive to build warm and genuine connections with my clients, working especially well with clients struggling to bridge the gap between where they are and where they want to be. I have a particular specialty working with those who are concerned with their alcohol or substance use, including those who drink or use substances to cope with issues including trauma, anxiety, or depression. I also have extensive experience treating individuals who have gone through traumatic experiences and find that their daily lives continue to be affected by what they went through. You can trust me to tailor evidence-based treatment to your individual needs and keep the focus on your most important personal goals so that you can make meaningful changes in your life. I will work with you as you learn to bring greater awareness to your emotional experience, thoughts and beliefs, and behavioral responses. Through our work together, my hope is that you will grow in the direction of greater well-being, self-determination, and fulfillment. Progress can often be made in 3-6 months, although we can work together over a longer period to help you maintain the gains you make. Alcohol & substance use: Whether you are simply curious about exploring your relationship to substances or ready to make a major change, I will support your journey with evidence-based psychotherapy and a warm, nonjudgmental style. When it comes to alcohol and substances, I believe that there is no one-size-fits-all approach and the best outcomes stem from a truly collaborative relationship. I work with clients who seek many different kinds of change, including abstinence, moderated or reduced use, or safer use behaviors. About me: I have been dedicated to studying, practicing clinically, and conducting research in the field of addictive behaviors and co-occurring mental health disorders since 2012. I hold a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of New Mexico where I was an NIH-funded alcohol research fellow. I completed my predoctoral clinical internship and postdoctoral fellowship training at the Seattle VA Hospital, with the Center of Excellence in Substance Addiction Treatment & Education. I currently split my time between private practice and as a staff psychologist at McLean Hospital. I hold an academic appointment as an Instructor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.