Dr Sara Parsafar

PhD(Psych), MA(Clinical Psych), BAHonous (Psych), FHEA
Master of Professional Psychology Coordinator (Sydney) and Senior Lecturer

Email: sara.parsafar@nd.edu.au

  • Biography

    Dr. Parsafar has extensive knowledge and experience in clinical work, teaching, and coordinating psychology units, courses, programs, and research projects. In her clinical practice, she has worked with a wide range of clients, providing psychological assessments and interventions tailored to individual needs, enabling her to offer practical, evidence-based insights to her work.

    Dr. Parsafar academic career spans both Australian and international universities, allowing her to develop a comprehensive perspective on psychological subjects. Throughout her career, she has been privileged to work with Indigenous Australian students and researchers, engaging in culturally safe and sensitive teaching programs and research projects, which has enriched her understanding of diverse cultural contexts.

    Dr. Parsafar's research interests are diverse and interdisciplinary, encompassing Health Psychology, Cross-Cultural Psychology, Interpersonal Relationships, and Health and Psychological Interventions. With extensive knowledge and experience with various research methods and methodologies, she is particularly interested in using qualitative approaches for in-depth explorations to understand people's lived experiences.

  • Research expertise and supervision

    Dr. Parsafar is a highly skilled researcher with extensive experience in supervising PhD, Master's, and Honours theses across a broad range of topics. Her research expertise covers several key areas, with a current focus on Mental Health, Trauma, Cross-cultural Psychology, and the Wellbeing of First Nations populations. Dr. Parsafar is committed to advancing impactful research that addresses complex psychological issues through qualitative and mixed-methods research as well as systematic literature reviews. Her work is dedicated to understanding and addressing the unique psychological challenges faced by diverse populations.

    Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology supervision:

    Dr. Parsafar is a supervisor in the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology program, with her focus areas as follows:

    Intimate Relationships & Social/Developmental Factors:

    • Interpersonal Relationships
    • Family & Domestic Violence

    Health and Psychological Interventions:

    • Trauma and Adverse Experiences
    • Resilience

    Cross-cultural Psychology:

    • Refugees
    • Migration and Forced Migration
    • Wellbeing of First Nation Populations

    Training & Assessment in Psychology:

    • Clinical Practice

    If you are interested in studying Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology and would like Dr. Parsafar as your supervisor, please contact Dr Raquel Peel at raquel.peel@nd.edu.au. Alternatively, you can explore other supervisors available for this program.

  • Teaching areas

    Subjects in Honours and Masters Psychology:

    • Ethics for Professionals
    • Psychological Assessments
    • Psychological Interventions
    • Professional Research Projects
    • Traumatology
    • Communication Skills for Professionals

  • Journal articles and proceedings

    • Marsh, S.A., Parsafar, S. & Byrne, M.K. Should my child be given antibiotics? A systematic review of parental decision making in rural and remote locations. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control 13, 105 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-024-01409-1
    • Marsh, S. A., Byrne, M. K., & Parsafar, S. (2023). What Influences Parental Decisions About Antibiotic Use with Their Children: A Qualitative Study in Rural Australia. PloS One, 18(7), e0288480–e0288480. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0288480
    • Parsafar, S., & Yazdkhasti, F. (2015). Investigating The Causal Relationship Between Gender Roles, Resilience, Psychological Hardiness, Learned Helplessness, and Co-Dependency of Addicts' Wives. Women Studies sociological and psychological, 12, 69–92.
    • Parsafar, S., Namdari, K., Hashemi, E., & Mehrabi, H. (2015). The Relationship Between Religious Commitments, Unforgiveness and Forgiveness Styles with Mental Health. Counselling Culture and Psychotherapy, 6(23), 139-162.
    • Parsafar, S., & Yazdkhasti, F. (2015). The Investigation of The Effectiveness of Four Drug Abuse Therapy Styles (MMT, TC, Camp, and NA) On Their Wives' Hardiness, Resiliency, Learned Helplessness, And Co-Dependency. Advances in Environmental Biology, 9(2), 1105-1113.
    • Kajbaf, M., Parsafar, S., and Ahmadi Forooshani, H. (2015). The Effect of The Interventions Based on The Spiritual Training of Nar-Anon's Family on Co-Dependency, Learned Helplessness, and Hardiness in Wives of Addicts. Journal of Fundamental and Applied Life Sciences, 5(1), 3516-3528.
    • Parsafar, S., Akrami, N., & Ghasemiannejad Jahroi, A. (2014). Mediating The Role of Attachment Styles in Predicting the Relationship Between Early Maladaptive Schemas and Marital Satisfaction. Iranian Psychological Association: International Journal of Psychology, 8(2), 89-109.

  • Professional affiliations

    • AHPRA
    • APS
    • ISTSS
    • ASTSS
    • IARR

  • Community engagement

  • Awards

    • Excellence Award in Teaching - Charles Darwin University (2023)
    • Fellow - Higher Education Academy (2020)