Lauren Brenner, Ph.D.

About Dr. Brenner

Dr. Brenner is a licensed clinical psychologist and the founder of Brenner Psychological Associates. She works with individuals navigating anxiety, chronic stress, trauma, and PTSD, with particular expertise in medical trauma, cancer-related stress, traumatic brain injury, and women’s health concerns. Many of her clients are high-functioning professionals, caregivers, and healthcare workers who appear capable on the outside but feel overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, or stuck beneath the surface. Her approach is collaborative, goal-oriented, and grounded in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). Clients describe her style as calm, attuned, and practical, with an emphasis on building psychological flexibility and creating meaningful, values-aligned change.

Specialties

• Trauma & PTSD (Single-Incident and Complex)
• Anxiety, Chronic Worry, and Stress
• Life Transitions & Adjustment
• Emotional Overwhelm & Burnout
• Medical trauma and traumatic brain injury recovery
• Insomnia and sleep difficulties
• Cancer-related stress and adjustment

Populations Served

• Adults (18+)
• High-functioning professionals in demanding roles (healthcare providers, executives, educators, students, attorneys)
• Performance-driven populations (athletes, Special Operations Forces, first responders)
• Individuals affected by cancer, including patients and caregivers
• Veterans and active-duty military service members

Treatment Approach

Dr. Brenner uses an active, collaborative, and goal-oriented approach grounded in evidence-based therapies, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), Prolonged Exposure (PE), and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). Her work is trauma-informed and tailored to each person’s goals and values. Sessions focus on building mindfulness, enacting psychological flexibility, living a meaningful life aligned with one’s values, and reducing the influence of difficult thoughts and emotions on daily life. Therapy helps clients move out of patterns of avoidance, distraction, suppression, perfectionism, and over-control while developing more sustainable ways of coping with the challenges of life. Her approach emphasizes meaningful, lasting change that supports long-term well-being—not just short-term relief.

Clinical Background & Training

• Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science
• Licensure: MA, RI, VT, and NY
• Doctoral Internship Training: VA Boston Healthcare System
• Postdoctoral fellowship: Home Base Program, Massachusetts General Hospital
• Undergraduate Education: University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
• Certifications: Cognitive Processing Therapy provider; Prolonged Exposure Therapy consultant

Personal Note

Dr. Brenner enjoys spending time with her friends and family. She values staying physically active, and is an avid reader and concert goer. She is a proud cancer and mental health survivor, and brings the insight from her own experiences to her clinical work. In her free time, she also helps her partner run Boston Brew Company, a local cold brew coffee business.

Availability & Logistics

• Availability: Monday-Wednesday 10am-6pm; Thursday 10am-4pm; Friday 10am-3pm
• Format: Telehealth
• Licensure: Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, and New York
• Insurance: In-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts; out-of-network for all other insurances & superbills provided
• Fee: $300/session; sliding scale available based on need

Get Started

If you are interested in working with Dr. Brenner, you may request a consultation at https://www.brennerpsych.com or emailing me at lauren@brennerpsych.com.