Philip J. Lazarus, Ph.D.   Associate Professor and Director,   School Psychology Training Program,   Florida International University   University Park ZEB 238 A   Miami, FL 33199   305-348-2725 (Phone)   305-348-4125 (Fax)   Philaz1@aol.com (e-mail)

Philip J. Lazarus, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor and Director of the School Psychology Training Program at Florida International University. Dr. Lazarus has served as the Director of the Program for 30 years and his primary responsibility is to train school psychologists to work in the schools. He is a graduate of Tulane University, the University of Miami, and the University of Florida.

Dr. Lazarus did a doctoral internship in school psychology in Alachua County, Florida and another doctoral internship in counseling psychology at the University of Florida Student Counseling Center. He also worked at New Dawn Partial Hospitalization, Shands Hospital and the North Central Florida Community Mental Health Center. He has also worked as a teacher of mentally handicapped children in Broward County Public Schools, a practicing school psychologist in Palm Beach County Public Schools, and as a school psychologist for the Miccosukke Indian School.  

Dr. Lazarus is the co-editor of the texts, Psychoeducational Evaluation of Children and Adolescents with Low-Incidence Handicaps and Best Practices in School Crisis Prevention and Intervention.  He has written more than ten book chapters and over three-dozen scholarly articles. Dr. Lazarus has given more than 100 presentations both nationally and internationally and gave the keynote address at the International School Psychology Colloquium in Switzerland.  .

Dr. Lazarus has served the profession of psychology as the President of the Florida Association of School Psychologists, founder and Vice President of FASP Children’s Services Fund, Inc., Chairperson of the Florida Council of Trainers and Supervisors, founder and Chairperson of the Florida Board of Examiners in School Psychology. He is the founder and current co-chair of the Florida Emergency Assistance Team of FASP and has responded to Hurricane Andrew, Charley, Frances, and Ivan. He is also a founder of Camp Kadima, a camp for physically and mentally challenged youth that now serves more that 75 youngsters.

Dr. Lazarus served as Chair and founding member of the Board of Examiners in School Psychology for the state of Florida. In this capacity he along with the Board developed the first state school psychology examination for private practice licensure. He also served as co-chair of the subject area examination committee which developed the first subject area exam in school psychology for public practice. This exam is required to be passed in order to practice in the public schools. Also, he served as co-chair of the first merit pay examination in school psychology for the state of Florida.

Dr. Lazarus is a founder and Past- Chairperson of the National Emergency Assistance Team of the National Association of School Psychologists. This team has provided direct crisis assistance in the aftermath of the tragic school shootings in West Padukah, Kentucky; Jonesboro, Arkansas; Edinboro, Pennsylvania; Springfield, Oregon; Littleton, Colorado; Flint, Michigan; Lake Worth, Florida; Santee, El Cajon, California and Red Lake, Minnesota.  The NEAT Team also responds to natural disasters such as tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, and floods as well as acts of terrorism.  He led the NASP crisis response in Mississippi and Louisiana where he provided crisis intervention training in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. This nine-person team provides training to professionals in the area of crisis prevention and response as well as consultation to schools and school districts.

Recently, Dr. Lazarus authored the NASP President’s Call to Action to Prevent Youth Suicide. His work with Frank Zenere in the area of suicide prevention is considered the only study reviewed that shows promising evidence for educational/clinical significance according to the Task Force on Evidence-Based Interventions in School Psychology.

Dr. Lazarus has also maintained a private practice for 25 years.  He specializes in working with children, adolescents and families.  His practice encompasses assessment, therapy and consultation with troubled youth and their families. He also consults with schools, law firms and businesses. He consulted with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in their landmark study on profiling school shooters and has worked on school violence prevention and bullying prevention for National Catholic Risk Retention Group, Inc and VIRTUS®.

Dr. Lazarus has been interviewed by a number of news sources such as the CNBC, CNN, the Glenn Beck Show, Newsweek, Seventeen Magazine, Washington Post, Reader’s Digest, and has appeared on numerous radio talk shows dealing with such topics as depression in children, anxiety in children and adolescents, responding to natural disasters, coping with trauma following school shootings, school violence, helping children deal with grief and trauma following 9-11, bullying in schools, threat assessment, and identifying troubled students.

Dr. Lazarus is a recipient of the FASP Presidential Award for his contribution in writing ethical guidelines for dual practicing school psychologists and the NASP/NEAT “Dare to Dream” Outstanding Contribution Award for his leadership in crisis prevention and intervention  and was recognized for his work in the aftermath of September 11th. In 2006, he received the NASP Certificate of Appreciation and the NASP Presidential Award for his work in providing crisis intervention services in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. In 2009, he received the DASP recognition of appreciation for his work in advocating for school psychological services for Miami-Dade County Public Schools and the 340,000 students in the system.  And in 2008 he received the Willard Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award from the Florida Association of School Psychologists and in 2009 the NASP Government and Professional Regulation Award of Achievement. .

Dr. Lazarus is married to Jane, who is also a school psychologist, and they have a teenage son, Adam. In rearing their son, they are reminded of the quote by Neil Postman, “Children are the messages we send to a time we will not see.”