Emily Lauren Tilstra-Ferrell, PhD

Dr. Emily Tilstra-Ferrell, PhD is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Research Assistant Professor at the National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center (NCVTRC) at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). Her research and clinical interests focus on improving treatment options and access to evidence-based treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and co-occurring conditions, particularly disordered eating behaviors and substance use. Dr. Tilstra-Ferrell enjoys working with children, adolescents, adults, and families impacted by traumatic events across the lifespan. Although she enjoys working with all trauma-exposed people, she is especially passionate about treating survivors of interpersonal violence and abuse, particularly violence perpetrated against girls and women (e.g., sexual abuse, sexual assault, intimate partner violence). Dr. Tilstra-Ferrell completed her predoctoral internship in clinical psychology at the MUSC Charleston Consortium in 2021 with a specialization in traumatic stress. She earned her PhD from Bowling Green State University in 2022 with dual concentration in Clinical-Health and Clinical-Community psychology. Most recently she served as the Chief Postdoctoral Fellow on the National Institute of Mental Health-funded fellowship in Basic and Translational Research Training in Traumatic Stress Across the Lifespan at the MUSC NCVTRC.