Derik Yager-Elorriaga

Derik is a staff psychologist providing care for students who visit Student Health and Counseling. After receiving his bachelor's degree in Psychology from Gettysburg College, Derik earned a MEd in Community Counseling and a PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Oklahoma. He has been at Penn since 2016, initially as a psychology doctoral intern and postdoctoral fellow, and currently as a staff psychologist.

Derik’s areas of specialty include Latine mental health, racial/ethnic identity, multicultural counseling, identity development, trauma, and family concerns. He currently is on Student Counseling’s Sexual Trauma, Treatment, and Outreach Prevention and Eating Concerns specialty teams. He approaches therapy using an identity-based approach, emphasizing the role that familial, relational, cultural, and sociopolitical factors play on one’s mental health. Outside of work, Derik likes to spend time with family, play and watch soccer, and read a good fantasy or sci-fi book.