Megan Olden, PhD, is a clinical assistant professor of psychology in psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine. She uses a cognitive behavioral therapy approach and evidence-based treatments when working with patients, including prolonged exposure therapy, virtual reality exposure therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and mindfulness.
Dr. Olden received her MA and PhD in Clinical Psychology from Fordham University and earned an MS in Clinical Investigation at Cornell University through the Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences. She completed her clinical psychology internship at the Cornell Cognitive Therapy Clinic at New York Presbyterian Hospital, followed by a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at Weill Cornell's Program for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress Studies. Dr. Olden additionally trained for several years in Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center's Department of Psychiatry.
Dr. Olden is an expert in trauma-related disorders, anxiety disorders, and the many symptoms resulting from these disorders (insomnia, irritability, guilt, difficulty relaxing, grief, relationship difficulties, emotion dysregulation). She has additional expertise in addressing the psychological needs of individuals following burn injuries, cancer, and other serious medical issues.
Dr. Olden has worked with Weill Cornell's Program for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress Studies at Weill Cornell Medical College since 2008. She actively participates in research there, currently working as a clinician, head of interrater reliability, and as the supervisor to psychologist assessors on a Department of Defense-funded clinical trial to treat U.S. veterans with PTSD following military sexual trauma. She has been awarded independent funding to conduct clinical research on the use of telemedicine to deliver exposure therapy to individuals with occupationally-related PTSD, including military veterans, police officers, fire fighters, and other emergency and disaster workers.
In addition to her clinical and research work, Dr. Olden has provided numerous clinical trainings for national groups and organizations in prolonged exposure therapy for PTSD. She has trained and supervised psychiatry and clinical psychology trainees in the use of cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, prolonged exposure, and virtual reality therapy. She has authored articles and book chapters in the fields of psychological trauma and psycho-oncology, and has presented her work at international scientific conferences and grand rounds.