Klara Prachar
Email: prachark@vcu.edu
Pronouns: she/her
Klara is an assistant professor in teaching at Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Social Work, where she teaches clinical courses in the M.S.W. Program. She is passionate about building clinical course content and contributed to developing courses for VCU’s SSW Mental Health Certificate. She is a former community-embedded faculty and current course sequence lead for SLWK 704/705.
Klara is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in Virginia and Massachusetts, treating individuals with OCD and anxiety disorders. Klara has 15 years of experience working in community mental health, including crisis mental health, serious mental illness, trauma, substance abuse, incarcerated individuals and veterans. Klara also currently serves on the NASW-Virginia Board of Directors and provides clinical supervision toward licensure.
Areas of expertise
- Anxiety Disorders and OCD
- Anti-racist Practice
- Community-Based Mental Health
- Crime and Criminal Justice
- Trauma-Informed Care
- Immigrants and Refugees
- Individuals Living with Severe Mental Illnesses
- Mental Health
- Social Work Practice
Education and credentials
M.S.W., Virginia Commonwealth University
B.A., Boston University
Professional highlights
Teaching areas and interests
- Anti-racist Pedagogy
- Clinical Work with LGBTQ+ Individuals
- Collaborative teaching and learning
- Direct Social Work Clinical Practice
- Experiential learning
- Environmental justice
- Grief and loss
- Homelessness
- Mental Health and Criminal Justice Involvement
- Social Justice
- Social Work Practice in Mental Health
- Social Work Practice with Migrants and Refugees
- Substance Abuse
- Telemental Health
- Trauma-informed Practice
Recent courses taught
- SLWK 703: Mental, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders
- SLWK 704: Clinical Social Work Practice I
- SLWK 705: Clinical Social Work Practice II
- SLWK 791: Treatment of SMI (Serious Mental Illness) Through a Trauma-Informed and Evidence-Based Perspective
Community trainings and workshops
- April 4, 2023 - Mental Health Training for Families of Incarcerated Loved Ones at Assisting Families of Inmates, Inc
- April 11, 2023 - Understanding the ECO/TDO process since the COVID Pandemic: Exploring Challenges Faced when Clients Need Hospitalization– at Henrico Mental Health. 3 CEUs including 2 ethics CEUs