Sarah Meshberg-Cohen, PhD

Sarah Meshberg-Cohen, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist with a background in behavioral medicine, and specializes in the treatment of substance use disorders, chronic depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and dual diagnosis. Dr. Meshberg-Cohen serves as the Director of the VACHS Outpatient Addiction Recovery Service and Program Manager of VACHS Addiction Firm. Her clinical work utilizes evidence-based treatments, including cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational enhancement, cognitive processing therapy, written exposure therapy, and cognitive behavioral analysis system of psychotherapy (CBASP). Her research focuses on improving evidence-based treatments for substance use disorders and comorbid psychiatric conditions, often involving trauma. She has dedicated her work to exploring, developing and enhancing EBTs targeting the unique experiences of individuals presenting with co-occurring SUD and PTSD. She is the Principal Investigator on a grant-funded randomized clinical trial investigating the feasibility and efficacy of written exposure therapy (WET) for veterans seeking SUD treatment who present with comorbid PTSD. Dr. Meshberg-Cohen also serves as co-Investigator on a clinical trial examining the impact of cognitive processing therapy with buprenorphine maintenance for veterans with comorbid opioid use disorder and PTSD.