Sara R. Elkins, Ph.D. is a clinical associate professor in the Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences at the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine. She is a licensed psychologist who specializes in working with children and families and practices at the UH Health Family Care Center. Elkins is also responsible for training and supervising medical and graduate student learners in behavioral health fields.

She has experience conducting cognitive and behavioral (CBT) interventions with adults, teens and children. Her clinical specialty areas include parent training interventions for child disruptive behaviors, CBT treatment of child and adolescent anxiety and mood disorders, and behavioral treatments for adjustment, adherence and coping with pediatric health conditions. Elkins’ research focuses on understanding parenting values, beliefs and behaviors, and adapting intervention strategies to enhance treatment match for each family. Her passion is training and mentoring students in their development as independent scholars and practitioners.

Previously, she served as director of the Clinical Psychology Master’s Program and as an associate professor within the Health Service Psychology Doctoral Program at the University of Houston–Clear Lake. Within these roles, she was responsible for clinical supervision of master’s and doctoral level student clinicians, curriculum development and instruction, development of external practicum training relationships, conducting programmatic research and supporting attainment of APA-accreditation for the Health Service Psychology Psy. D. Program.

Elkins earned a doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Tennessee and completed a pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital. She has been published many times and has presented at dozens of national and international conferences. Elkins is a member of several national psychological associations and has received many awards and grants during her esteemed career.