Sara E Ratliff, DBH, LCSW, C-DBT

Dr. Sara E. Ratliff is a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in a variety of areas, including family systems and relationship issues, stress management, grief and loss, anxiety, depression, and personal growth. Her broad range of certifications—such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT), ScreamFree Marriage and Parenting, Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Pain (CBT-Pain)—enables her to offer comprehensive support to her clients. Dr. Ratliff holds unrestricted clinical licenses to practice social work in Illinois, Arizona, and Maryland.

Dr. Ratliff earned her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Southern California in 2012, with a focus on Children and Families. She further pursued her Doctoral degree in Behavioral Health at Arizona State University, graduating in 2018. Her research during this time centered on implementing evidence-based behavioral interventions in integrated primary care settings, particularly exploring how psychoeducation can reduce A1C levels while improving depression and anxiety symptoms in uninsured and undocumented diabetic patients.

Her career began working within the criminal justice system in Southern Arizona, where she actively contributed to the reintegration of individuals grappling with substance abuse challenges. Dr. Ratliff has also made a meaningful impact on the lives of children and families stationed overseas, helping them connect with permanent families through international and national adoption programs, including the U.S. Foster Care System. Since 2012, she has been working with active-duty service members, retirees, their families, and Department of Defense employees at the United States European Command in Stuttgart, Germany. Before her current role at the United States Naval Academy Midshipmen Development Center, she provided vital clinical social work services to service members at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Fort Huachuca, and Fort George G. Meade.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Ratliff is an enthusiastic supporter of education for military spouses and unlicensed mental health professionals. She actively provides clinical supervision to aspiring licensed professionals, fostering their development in the field. Her roles as an Adjunct Internship Advisor at the University of New England and Salisbury University, as well as her involvement as a Doctoral Committee member for Eastern University, highlight her commitment to mentoring the next generation of social workers and mental health providers.

Dr. Ratliff’s contributions to the field have been recognized through prestigious accolades, including The Army Commander's Award for Public Service Medal, which she received in 2017. She continues to make a positive impact on her community and the lives of those she supports.