Sara Witcraft

Dr. Sara Witcraft is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). She holds dual affiliations with the Women’s Reproductive Behavioral Health (WRBH) and Sleep and Anxiety Treatment and Research Divisions. Dr. Witcraft completed her B.A. in Psychology at the University of Miami, followed by her M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Mississippi. She completed both her predoctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship at MUSC, specializing in evidence-based treatments for anxiety and trauma-related disorders.

Her research focuses on developing technology-enhanced interventions to improve treatment retention and adherence for individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs), particularly among pregnant/postpartum populations. She is funded by an NIDA K12 award to create digital tools for medication-assisted treatment (MAT) optimization. Key research areas include transdiagnostic mechanisms, perinatal mental health, and integrating sleep interventions into SUD care.

Dr. Witcraft’s clinical expertise spans cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), trauma-focused therapies (e.g., Prolonged Exposure, Cognitive Processing Therapy), and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Her work addresses comorbidities such as insomnia and PTSD in SUD populations. She has published extensively on anxiety sensitivity, psychodermatology, and sleep variability’s impact on treatment outcomes.

Notable achievements include leading a hybrid-type 1 randomized controlled trial for post-traumatic injury emotional recovery and piloting transdiagnostic group therapy for sleep-anxiety co-occurring disorders. Her contributions have advanced understanding of maternal mental health disparities and digital health solutions in behavioral medicine.