Yulia Gavrilova, PhD

Dr. Yulia Gavrilova is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who specializes in trauma, substance use, depression, and anxiety treatment as well as adjustment issues after traumatic injuries and burns. She received her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Dr. Gavrilova completed her predoctoral residency at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University and her postdoctoral fellowship at the Medical University of South Carolina. She joined MUSC faculty in 2020 as an instructor in the Department of Surgery.

Dr. Gavrilova sees patients predominantly at the MUSC University Hospital, Rutledge Tower, and via telehealth. Her clinical practice currently focuses on helping patients who are admitted to acute care medical emergency department, Level 1 trauma center, and comprehensive burn center settings for the treatment of traumatic injuries and burns. Using cognitive-behavioral techniques, she works with her patients and their supportive others to enhance resilience and accelerate mental health recovery following the injury. Her services encompass a stepped-care approach: (1) patient education, risk assessment, and brief intervention to alleviate distress and reduce risk; (2) automated text-based symptom-monitoring to track and accelerate recovery; (3) 30-day screening to identify patients with clinically elevated symptoms of PTSD and depression; and (4) referral to mental health treatment for patients who need it.

Dr. Gavrilova is passionate about improving mental health care access and resources for vulnerable and clinically underserved populations. Since joining MUSC, she has been leading various technology-enhanced initiatives to promote recovery and well-being among traumatic injury patients, firefighters, and disaster survivors. Currently, she is leading the development of the Burn Behavioral Health (BBH) program housed within the MUSC's newly launched comprehensive Burn Center to support mental, physical, and social rehabilitation of burn patients to improve well-being and quality of life post-burn. She works closely with an interdisciplinary burn team to accommodate the unique needs of burn survivors and provide the most optimal care to these patients.