Background
Dr. Sara Lafkas began her career working as an elementary school teacher in South Los Angeles. After receiving her M.S.W., she was a social worker in Child Protective Services in Northern California. Some of her additional professional experiences include working as a psychotherapist in private practice and at college counseling and community mental health service centers. Dr. Lafkas has also previously served as a social work faculty member and as an instructor for graduate-level counseling courses. Dr. Lafkas’ dissertation focused on adult development trajectories and perspectives of religious women who had experienced parental divorce in childhood. She has also presented and written on many other topics, including self-compassion practice. Some of her recent research has focused on women’s perceptions of self-compassion, as well as the impacts of COVID-19 on women and work. Dr. Lafkas earned her Ed.D. in Human Development and Psychology from Harvard University Graduate School of Education and her M.S.W. from the University of Washington.