
Sara O’Brien

Sara O’Brien
- Associate Professor of Psychology, Psychological Science Department
Professor Sara O’Brien earned her B.A. in psychology and Spanish from Miami University (Ohio). She then spent two years working in the Early Intervention Program in Illinois, serving families with children with developmental delays. This work solidified her interest in clinical psychology, and she returned to school, earning her M.A. in clinical psychology from the University of Iowa and her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Notre Dame. Prior to joining the faculty at Carthage, she was an associate professor of psychology at Knox College.
Prof. O’Brien runs the Classification and Assessment of Psychopathology Symptoms (CAPS) Lab, and her program of research examines issues related to diagnostic classification, transdiagnostic risk factors, and assessment, with a focus on anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders. She and her students have presented at local and national conferences and published in a number of journals, including Assessment, Journal of Affective Disorders, and Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders.
As a clinical psychologist, Prof. O’Brien has worked in various treatment settings, including private practice, community mental health, couples therapy, and a veterans affairs hospital. She has taught courses in psychopathology, assessment, psychotherapy, and fieldwork, as well as introductory psychology.
When not at work, she enjoys running, baking, reading, and spending time with her family.
Personal webpage: saramobrien.com