Lauren Zakaras

Dr. Lauren Zakaras received her Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Southern Mississippi and her Doctorate in Behavioral Health from Arizona State University. Lauren was formerly the Program Manager at Psycamore Psychiatric Programs, LLC in Biloxi, MS. Now Lauren has taken on the role of Clinical Director.

Prior to joining Psycamore, LLC, she served as the Field Education Coordinator and Instructor in the School of Social Work at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM). Prior to her appointment as Field Education Coordinator, she served as the Integrated Health Project Director where she collaborated with Forrest General’s Family Medicine Residency Program to implement social workers in primary care. When joining USM’s School of Social Work in 2013, Dr. Zakaras worked with the MS Integrated Health and Disaster Program in positions of Team Leader, Coordinator of Clinical Programs and Training, and Clinical Director. She has experience in providing individual, family, and group therapy to adults, children, and families in mental health clinics, school settings, and medical practices.

Zakaras has extensive training and experience in developing and providing clinical services within multiple provider integrated care clinics. She has implemented behavioral health services in several medical clinics and developed programs and interventions from a social work perspective for individuals living with chronic diseases. Dr. Zakaras supervised and trained licensed social workers and graduate students to practice in integrated care settings, function effectively on interdisciplinary teams, and lead the integration of behavioral and medical treatment. She also provides training in the community to increase mental health awareness. Dr. Zakaras is certified through the National Council of Behavioral Health as a Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Instructor for the Adult, Youth, Public Safety, and Military Programs and has conducted numerous presentations and trainings on topics related to integrated care, patient engagement, and empowerment, motivational interviewing, mental illness, ethics, and evidence-based treatment.