Clinician & Doctoral Student
University of Tennessee, Knoxville School of Social Work
Michaela Buckhannon, is a doctoral candidate at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and a full-time clinical social worker within the Addiction Sciences Program at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Institute of Psychiatry. She is a Licensed Independent Social Worker–Clinical Practice (LISW-CP), Masters Addiction Counselor (MAC), Certified Prevention Consultant (CPC), and an approved supervisor for social workers through the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR). Michaela earned her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Michigan in 2017 and will graduate with her Doctorate in Social Work (DSW) in May 2026. She has clinical experience across diverse settings, including community-based organizations, non-profit agencies, county government, hospital systems, and school systems. Michaela is trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Risk Reduction Through Family Therapy (RRFT), and has experience working with adolescents, adults, and families impacted by substance use and co-occurring conditions. Her approach is grounded in a strengths-based, trauma-informed framework that emphasizes resilience, adaptability, and growth. As an early-career researcher, Michaela is committed to translating research into practice to improve treatment efficacy and access for individuals.