Erica Van Buckner is a dynamic, culturally innovative social work clinician and research scientist with 15+ years of clinical training and experience, assessment validation, and progressive international advocacy and community organization. She holds a Bachelor of Psychology from the University of Louisville; a Masters of Social Work from Louisiana State University (LSU), and is a  Ph.D. candidate of Social Work, in the dissertation phase at LSU – anticipated December 2025. She’s an adjunct professor at Tulane University School of Social Work -teaching Diversity and Social Justice (SOWK 7130); and Integrative Capstone Seminar (SOWK 7440)

Professor Buckner has fulfilled the education, training, and experience requirements established by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Credentialing Committee for self-regulated practice as a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW). Additionally, she is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the states of Louisiana, Texas, and Washington – pending licensure in Maine and Hawaii. She’s also an associate social worker in Georgia and Ohio. Prof. Buckner is also a  Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) for the United States Department of Transportation, a Certified Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT) Facilitator for adults and juveniles, a Certified Parenting Instructor, and a Certified Anger Management Specialist (CAMS) who is well-versed in ASAM Level .5, 1, and 2 treatment. In addition to her licensures and certifications, Prof. Buckner is trained in the following evidence-based practices: Substance Abuse Treatment; Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT) for adults & adolescents; Values Clarification; Prime for Life (coming soon); Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) for Anger Management; Shoplifting and Theft Prevention; Mindfulness Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (M-CBT); Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT), Exposure Therapy (ET), Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), Brief-Solution Focused Therapy, Grief and Trauma Intervention (GTI; groups only), career and life coaching.  She offers individual, family, and group therapy to clients from ages 10 to 65. Prof. Buckner is currently undergoing training to be a Certified Sex Therapist and a Certified Sound Therapist under the world renowned instruction of Vikrampal. Therapeutic orientations: anxiety;  performance anxiety; social anxiety; phobias; depression; suicidal thoughts; coping skills; substance abuse; school/career/life stress; life transitions; grief; ADHD; anger management; behavioral issues; family conflict; parenting stress; self-esteem; and mental toughness.

Prof. Buckner has held leadership positions as the Lead Medical Social Worker, Therapist, and Intern Supervisor on the Adolescent Unit of a local New Orleans psychiatric and substance abuse acute treatment facility. She has also served as the Mental Health Program Director of the Mindful Men At-Promise Program (MMAP) for at-risk male youth in Louisville, KY partnered with Louisville Metropolitan Police Department and the University of Louisville Center for Mental Health Disparities. Additionally, Prof. Buckner was appointed as the Co-Lead Principal Investigator across three minority mental health research studies: Screening Aggression Violence Expression (SAVE) Project; Community and Family Excellence Project; and the Multi-cultural Family Project. At present she is the Principal Investigator of the Dagbon Digital Literacy Project, Northern Region, Ghana, West Africa.