ABOUT
My community has been a significant source of growth and nourishment for me. I am the constellation of healers, educators, mentors, activists, artists, and leaders, who have helped me internalize the value of support, reliability, transparency, collaboration, and empowerment. These principles inform my vision of holding a space to feel heard and nurtured, lean into discomfort, and soften into healing.
My daily personal journey includes the committed practice of mindfulness and meditation—expanding the space within for the cultivation of present-moment, focused, compassionate, and responsible living. During my morning meditations, I often reflect on how I am feeling about my day and I end the practice grateful for the presence of a compassionate, listening heart.
I believe that with adversity there remains space for healthy expression, healing, and growth. Our ability to embrace this space is influenced by a complex, interconnected system. With a compassionate heart, my daily commitment is to show up for myself and the world, holding brave spaces that inspire motivation for our inner and collective well-being.
EDUCATION
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Clinical Psychology
Multicultural Research Laboratory • Mindful Living Lab
Catholic University (Washington, DC)
Advisors: Sandra Barrueco, Ph.D., David A. Jobes, Ph.D., ABPP, Andrew J. Waters, Ph.D., Claire Adams Spears, Ph.D.
Dissertation: Mindfulness, Negative Affect, Craving, and Smoking Behavior in a Predominantly Underserved Sample
Internship/Residency: UCLA Counseling and Psychological Services
Postdoctoral Fellowship: Arlington | DC Behavior Therapy Institute
Master of Arts (MA), General Psychology
Behavioral Pharmacology and Health Promotion (BPHP) Laboratory
American University (Washington, DC)
Advisor: Laura M. Juliano, Ph.D.
Thesis: The Effects of Mindfulness-Based Yogic Breathing on Craving, Affect, and Smoking Behavior
Bachelor of Arts (BA), Psychology
Knowledge, Imagination, and Development Studies Centre
University of British Columbia (Vancouver, BC)
Advisor: Susan A.J. Birch, Ph.D.
Emphasis: The Role of Perceived Similarity in Empathic Behavior in Children
Clinical Practicum, Externship, and Volunteering
Georgetown University Counseling and Psychiatric Services
The Capital Institute for Cognitive Therapy
Donald Delaney Eating Disorders Clinic, Children’s National Medical Center
Neuropsychology Associates of Fairfax
Community Connections Trauma-Informed Care
New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit, Johns Hopkins University of Medicine
Selected Advanced Clinical Training
Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy (PACT) — Level 1
Compassion-Based Therapy
Emotionally-Focused Couples Therapy (EFT)
Culturally-Informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Integrated Behavioral Couples Therapy (IBCT)
Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBSR, MBCT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Time Limited Psychodynamic Therapy (TLPD)
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
Unified Protocol (UP)
Interpersonal Process Group Facilitation
COMPASS Pathways Psychedelic Clinical Research and Therapy Training
Legal and Ethical Issues in University Counseling Centers: A Review and Update
Suicide Assessment, Prevention, Intervention, and Postvention on University Campuses
Body Inclusivity & Positivity in Patient Centered Care, Eating Disorders Assessment and Treatment
Multicultural Supervision: Making the Invisible Visible
Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Smoking Cessation
Substance Abuse Population Interaction Training
Mindfulness-Based Interventions
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for the Development of Mindfulness and Meta-cognition
Applied Behavior Analysis Training for Autism Spectrum Disorder
Prevention, Postvention, and Outreach (Consultant, Trainer, Educator, Facilitator)
Psychedelic Medicine (Arlington | DC Behavior Therapy Institute)
Understanding Trauma in Adults (George Washington University)
Psychedelic Clinical Research and Peer Support (UCLA)
Psilocybin and Spiritual Practices (UCLA)
Self-Care Through Art Expression (UCLA)
Trauma-Informed Healing Circle (UCLA)
Emotions, Communication, and Boundaries (UCLA)
Suicide Safe Training ( UCLA)
Teaching Assistantship
Clinical Lab
Introductory Statistics for Psychological Data
Research Methods in Psychology
Psychology of Women and Men (Grader)
Publications and Presentations
Lotfalian, S., Spears, C.A., & Juliano, L.M. (2020). The effects of mindfulness-based yogic breathing on craving, affect, and smoking behavior. Psychology of Addictive Behavior, 34(2), 351-359. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/adb0000536
Spears, C.A., Bell, S.B., Scarlett, C.A., Anderson, N.K., Cottrell-Daniels, C., Lotfalian, S., Bandlamudi, M., Sigurdardottir, A., Grant, A., Carter, B.P., Abroms, L., & Wetter, D.W. (2018). Text messaging to enhance mindfulness-based smoking cessation treatment: Program development through qualitative research. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 7(1), e11246. http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/11246
Spears, C. A., Anderson, N. K., Lotfalian, S., Abroms, L., & Wetter, D. W. (March 2017). Qualitative study of text messaging for smoking cessation. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, San Diego, CA.
Lotfalian, S., Spears, C. A., & Juliano, L. (March 2017). A laboratory study comparing the effects of mindful breathing, cognitive strategy, and no treatment for smoking cessation. Poster presented at the annual meeting of The Catholic University of America Research Day, Washington, DC.
Lotfalian, S., Wiseblatt, A., Spears, C. A., & Juliano, L. (November 2016). A laboratory study of the effects of brief mindful breathing on cravings, withdrawal, and smoking behavior. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy, New York, NY.
Lotfalian, S., Cassels, T., Lui, J., & Ongley, S. (June 2011). The relationship between perspective-taking and empathetic behaviour in children. Jean Piaget Society (JPS) Conference, University of California, Berkeley.
Lui, J., Cassels, T., Lotfalian, S., & Ongley, S. (June 2011). Empathy in children with conduct problems and the mediating role of callous-unemotional traits. Jean Piaget Society (JPS) Conference, University of California, Berkeley.
Lotfalian, S., Cassels, T., Lui, J., & Ongley, S. (April 2011). The role of perceived similarity in empathetic behaviour. Psychology Students’ Association (PSA) Conference, University of British Columbia, Vancouver.
Lui, J., Cassels, T., Lotfalian, S., & Ongley, S. (April 2011). Emotion-regulation in children with conduct problems and the mediating role of callous-unemotional traits. Psychology Students’ Association (PSA) Conference, University of British Columbia, Vancouver.
Grant Activity
Community Grants Program (Psychedelic Medicine Coalition), Lead Facilitator. Reclaiming Safe Psychedelic Spaces: Restorative processes to address harms in the DC psychedelic community
Mellon Award (American University), Principle Investigator. Effects of deep breathing practices on craving, mood and withdrawal symptoms in abstaining smokers: A laboratory model