Sarah A. Frankel, PHD

Sarah Frankel, PhD, is an Instructor of Psychology (in Psychiatry) within the Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at Columbia University and a licensed clinical psychologist at the Columbia University Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CUCARD).

Dr. Frankel graduated magna cum laude with her BA from Amherst College, where she majored in psychology. She received her PhD in clinical psychology from Vanderbilt University and completed a predoctoral internship at Duke University Medical Center. Dr. Frankel also completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the CARES Institute of the Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine. She then went on to complete a Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Aaron T. Beck Psychopathology Research Center at the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Frankel specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for children, adolescents, and young adults coping with mood and anxiety disorders. Dr. Frankel has particular expertise in treating individuals and families who have experienced trauma, and has trained with the developers of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and with the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN). She also specializes in the treatment of depression in adolescents and young adults. Dr. Frankel provides individual and group therapy, and works closely with parents, providing interventions for supporting children's coping and managing behavioral challenges.

Dr. Frankel's research focuses on adapting cognitive behavioral interventions for children and adolescents based on their individual cognitive, social, and emotional development. Her work has been published in journals such as the Annual Review of Clinical Psychology and the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. She has also presented at national conferences, such as the Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies and the Society for Research on Child Development.

Dr. Frankel is particularly passionate about training other clinicians to effectively use cognitive behavioral therapy with their clients. To this end, Dr. Frankel has provided trainings focused on using CBT in particular settings, including outpatient community mental health clinics, school-based services, and inpatient hospitals. In addition, she has provided supervision to clinicians at various stages of career development.