Krista Olex, PsyD – Mind-Body Therapist
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“At CTCA, patients have a team of caring professionals behind them in their fight against cancer. I am honored to be a part of this team,” says Dr. Krista Olex, a licensed clinical psychologist in the Mind-Body Medicine Department at CTCA at Eastern Regional Medical Center.
Dr. Olex earned a Doctor of Psychology degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. While there, she received extensive training in cognitive-behavior therapy and in the use of a holistic approach to the treatment of medical illnesses and psychological disorders.
As part of her training, she also worked in a primary care medical clinic, where she integrated psychology into the primary care setting. Additionally, she completed a pre-doctoral internship at Intercommunity Action, Inc., a community-based health and human services agency in Philadelphia.
Upon completion of her degree, Dr. Olex earned meritorious distinction for her doctoral dissertation, which explored the subject of grief and coping in caregivers of patients with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease).
Dr. Olex also holds a Master of Arts degree in clinical psychology from MCP Hahnemann University in Philadelphia, where she received the Clinical and Health Psychology Award for outstanding graduate achievement. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Prior to joining CTCA in June 2008, Dr. Olex served as a clinician at Assessment & Treatment Alternatives, a psychiatric outpatient clinic in Philadelphia. Before that, she served as a diagnostician at the University of Pennsylvania’s Depression Research Unit, Center for Weight and Eating Disorders, and Center for Psychotherapy Research. She also conducted research at the ALS Clinic of Pennsylvania Hospital to investigate quality of life issues pertaining to individuals with ALS.
In addition, Dr. Olex co-authored an article on the cognitive-behavioral treatment of caregivers of medically ill persons. The article was published in the Encyclopedia of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (2005, pp. 94-98).
Since joining CTCA, Dr. Olex says she is excited to work in a team environment that offers patients comprehensive, whole-person cancer treatment. “CTCA sets itself apart by offering a fully-integrated treatment team, one in which the members of the various disciplines, including mind-body medicine, interact regularly with one another in the best interest of patients,” she says.
According to Dr. Olex, incorporating mind-body medicine into a patient’s cancer treatment plan can have numerous positive effects. “Mind-body medicine can empower patients in the fight against cancer. Instead of being passive recipients of treatment, patients are able to take a more active stance. Mind-body medicine also helps patients feel acknowledged. They appreciate being treated as people, instead of as a diagnosis or a number,” says Dr. Olex.
Dr. Olex says she and the rest of the mind-body team recognize that caregivers need support too. “Caregivers are free to use all the services offered by the Mind-Body Medicine Department. As they care for their loved ones, we want to ensure that the emotional and psychological needs of caregivers are met as well,” she says.
When asked what she likes best about working at CTCA, Dr. Olex says she likes being a part of a team that is dedicated to helping people.
“My overarching goal for patients is to help provide them with a sense of control in what is often perceived to be a completely uncontrollable situation. I also want to help patients effectively manage stress and other emotional issues so that their immune system is in the best possible condition to fight cancer,” says Dr. Olex.