Michael LaSala

Michael C. LaSala, MSW, PhD is a licensed clinical social worker in three states and is currently the Dean at the School of Social Work at Simmons University. Dean LaSala began his social work career in child welfare, children’s mental health, and family therapy practice, and served in several clinical, supervisory, and agency administrative roles before attaining his PhD and entering the academy. Prior to this position, Dean LaSala had served as Director of the Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) program at Rutgers University for seven years and Director of their Masters of Social Work (MSW) Program for six years. He has also served on the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) task force for the Doctorate of Social Work Accreditation Standards. Dean LaSala has won several awards for innovation in teaching.

Dean LaSala is also a recipient of the American Family Therapy Academy’s 2017 Distinguished Contribution to Social Justice Award and has been recognized by Sage Journals as One of the Most Impactful Contributors to Social Work Journals. He has been a clinical teacher/trainer for over 35 years and has taught family therapy as well as clinical practice with LGBT families nationally as well as in Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Italy, and China. His research and clinical specialties are the couple and family relationships of gay men and lesbians and the role of family influences on the sexual behaviors of gay and bisexual youth. 

Dean LaSala’s first book, Coming Out, Coming Home (Columbia University Press), describes the findings and practice implications of a National Institute of Mental Health funded qualitative study of 65 gay and lesbian youth and their families. He also is the author of Clinical Social Work with Individuals, Families, and Groups: The Power of Healing Relationships (Routledge). Other examples of Professor LaSala’s work can be found in over 30 journal articles. Dean LaSala has maintained an active presence on social media and his social work related posts can be found on Facebook: Michael C. LaSala, PhD, LCSW; Twitter: @MichaelLaSala11; and Instagram: drmichaellasala. Other examples of Professor LaSala’s work can be found in his blog for Psychology Today.

Areas of Expertise:
Clinical Social Work
LGBT Families
Qualitative Research Methods

Education

• PhD, State University of New York at Albany
• MSW, State University of New York at Albany
• BA, State University of New York at Binghamton

License/Certifications

• LCSW, New York State 
• LCSW, New Jersey 
• LICSW, Massachusetts