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Dr. Beth Sapiro is an assistant professor in the Department of Social Work and Child Advocacy at Montclair State University. She earned her B.Sc. in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Toronto and a Master’s of Social Work from New York University. After graduating with her MSW in 2006, she worked as a clinical social worker in a variety of school-based and community mental health programs in New York City for six years, providing individual, family and group therapy to adolescents and their families. She completed her PhD in Social Work at Rutgers-New Brunswick in May 2018. As a licensed clinical social worker, Dr. Sapiro currently maintains a small individual psychotherapy practice in addition to her teaching, scholarship, and service commitments.

Dr. Sapiro’s research focuses on the intersection of trauma, marginalization, and healing in interpersonal relationships, particularly among marginalized youth. The term “marginalized youth” refers to young people who are disadvantaged due to a constellation of forms of structural discrimination (i.e. race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, mental illness, etc.) This research is part of a feminist theoretical approach that emphasizes both concepts (such as interdependence) and methods (such as qualitative inquiry) which have been traditionally undervalued in Western approaches to studying human development.

This research aims to understand how marginalized youth form and maintain strong bonds with others that help them resist stigma and grow through adversity. Previous projects have explored
the ways that youth make decisions about self-disclosure and asking for help, especially in a cultural context that discourages vulnerability and reliance on others. Current research projects include a narrative analysis of the relational experiences of survivors of Hurricane Katrina, as well as exploring the experiences of independent students and foster care alumni during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Sapiro teaches courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels, in both the MSW program and the Social Work minor. Most recently, she has taught courses focusing on generalist social work practice, assessment and diagnosis, and clinical practice with families.

Specialization

The impacts of trauma, marginalization, and healing on adolescent and young adult mental health and relational development; the transition to adulthood in marginalized populations; qualitative research; feminist theory; clinical social work practice; anti-oppressive social work practice; building bridges between social work practice and research.

Resume/CV

Office Hours

Fall

Monday

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Tuesday

12:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Links

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• Sapiro, B. & Quiroz, S.R. (2022). Authenticity, vulnerability, and shame in peer relationships among marginalized youth living with mental health challenges. Journal of Child and Family Studies. Published online 29 June 2022. https://doi.org/10.1007/s1082
• Shpiegel, S., Simmel, C., Sapiro, B. and Quiroz, S.R. (2021). Resilient outcomes among youth aging-out of foster care: Findings from the National Youth in Transition Database. Journal of Public Child Welfare. doi.org/10.1080/15548732.2021.1899098.
• Sapiro, B. (2020). Assessing trustworthiness: Marginalized youth and the central relational paradox in treatment. Children and Youth Services Review, 116(6), 1050178. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105178.
• Sapiro, B. & Ward, A. (2020). Marginalized youth, mental health, and connection with others: A review of the literature. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 37(4), 343-357. doi: 10.1007/s10560-019-00628-5.
• Sapiro, B. & Davis, J. (2020). Staying close to home: The significance of relationships for immigrant-origin local college students. Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Social Work, 29(1-3), 203-220.