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 Latter-Saint (Mormon) Women who experienced parental divorce. 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. 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.