Brenda McQuillan

Brenda McQuillan is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University at Buffalo School of Social Work. She holds a PhD in Health Practice Research from the University of Rochester (2016), an MSW from Roberts Wesleyan University (2000), and a BA in Psychology from Nazareth University (1995). She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over 25 years of experience in various social work settings, including schools, foster care, juvenile detention, and mental health clinics.

Professional/Research Interests: McQuillan focuses on the impact of trauma on youth development and familial relationships, and the implementation of evidence-based interventions for trauma treatment. Her clinical expertise includes trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), and parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT).

Affiliations and Roles:

• Teaches full-time at UB School of Social Work
• Runs a private practice in Rochester, NY
• Provides clinical supervision via a teletherapy agency in NYC

Experience: She has worked across multiple settings including school districts, foster care agencies, outpatient clinics, and children’s advocacy centers. Her work emphasizes combining evidence-based practices with real-world applications in social work education.