Laurie Brockhaus

Laurie Brockhaus, MSW, LCSW joined UMSL's School of Social Work in 2026 as Assistant Teaching Professor and Bachelor of Social Work Program Director. Her professional interests include trauma-informed clinical social work practice, somatic and mindfulness-based mental health interventions, antiracist and anti-oppressive social work practice, and trauma-informed, student-centered social work education.

Prior to joining UMSL, Laurie taught undergraduate and graduate social work courses at Saint Louis University, first as adjunct faculty and later as Assistant Clinical Professor. Her teaching focused on clinical practice, diversity, and antiracist social work practice.

Outside of higher education, Laurie co-founded The Oxygen Project, a St. Louis nonprofit that provides trauma-informed yoga and mindfulness programs in schools and youth organizations to support mental health and social-emotional learning. She currently serves as Secretary of the Board of Directors and trains instructors in the organization's youth yoga curriculum, which she developed during her tenure as Executive Director. Laurie also maintains a clinical social work practice, integrating somatic and mindfulness-based approaches with EMDR therapy in her work with adolescents and adults.

Courses Taught

SOC WK 3510: Human Behavior in the Social Environment
SOC WK 3700: Diversity and Social Justice
SOC WK 5100: Generalist Social Work Practice

Education

MSW, Specialization in Clinical Practice, Saint Louis University (2008)
BS in Education, Illinois State University (1999)