Dr. Sara Spowart, PhD, DMFT

Dr. Sara Spowart is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with a PhD in Public Health, a Clinical Doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy (DMFT), and multiple master’s degrees, including in Public Administration and Happiness Studies. She integrates academic depth with clinical expertise, focusing on trauma-informed care, mindfulness, and global mental health.

She has served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of South Florida and the Middlebury School of Graduate Studies, teaching courses in Global Health, Public Health, Psychology, and International Development. She has also led mindfulness and well-being classes at NYU Medical School, helping individuals build resilience, focus, and self-awareness.

Dr. Spowart specializes in trauma recovery, happiness, and personality disorders, using an integrative, evidence-based approach with mindfulness at its core. She is the creator of Happiness-Based Mindfulness, an evolving psychoeducational model that merges mindfulness, self-compassion, and the science of happiness. This innovative framework is currently being prepared for publication.

Beyond clinical and academic work, Dr. Spowart has edited two academic volumes—Happiness and Humanitarian Assistance and Advances in the Psychology of Well-being—and is currently developing a third book, Global Child Poverty and Development. She is also actively engaged in humanitarian projects worldwide, bringing psychological and developmental support to underserved communities.

Her work reflects a lifelong commitment to promoting emotional well-being, social justice, and compassionate global development.