Scaling Compassion: Sara Rabinovitch Brings Mental Health Innovation to Tech and Cybersecurity
"Precise care for high-pressure populations shouldn’t be rare—it should be scalable, accessible, and stigma-free." —Sara Rabinovitch, PhD Counseling Psychology ’17
Sara Rabinovitch’s career is a testament to what happens when clinical expertise meets entrepreneurial vision. A 2017 graduate of the University of Oregon’s PhD program in Counseling Psychology, Sara now works at the intersection of mental health, technology, and performance. She is the Founder and Chief Clinical Officer of Pacific Mindful Wellbeing @ Work, the creator of the CyberCalmer App, and Chief Science Officer at Mind Over Cyber. She also serves as a contractor therapist for NCAA student-athletes, bringing tailored care to those navigating intense performance environments.
Her path was shaped by formative experiences at UO, where she trained in evidence-based therapies through externships at the VA Clinic in Eugene and an internship at the Portland VA. “I had a phenomenal experience at UO,” she says. “The training I received in treating PTSD and stress-related disorders was exceptional. UO’s emphasis on prevention and serving underserved populations with science-backed care deeply influenced my desire to work with cybersecurity professionals and elite athletes, two domains where stigma often blocks access to the care people need.”
Sara’s work is driven by a dual commitment: precision and scalability. She believes that interventions must be tailored to the unique stressors of specific populations but also designed to reach people at scale. “As a tech founder and interventionist, I’m passionate about enhancing access to care,” she explains. “We’re working to scale high-fidelity interventions for stress and burnout, without compromising quality.”
Her advice to current students is both practical and empowering: “Shoot your shot, over and over again! You need to fail many times, as quickly as possible, to get where you want to be. Welcome failure. Don’t overthink it. Learn and pivot. Give yourself the biggest dose of self-compassion possible. And link up with mentors who love mentoring and give honest feedback to help you grow. Then pay it forward, mentor others!”
From clinical practice to app development, Sara Rabinovitch is redefining what it means to care for people in high-stakes environments. Her work is a powerful example of how UO alumni are leading with innovation, compassion, and purpose.
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