Toby Buchanan

Dr. Toby Buchanan is a Professor in the Division of Behavioral and Health Sciences at Indiana Wesleyan University, serving as Subject Matter Expert (SME) for the MSW Generalist Field Program. With over 20 years of teaching experience in online and traditional settings, he specializes in Social Work and Sociology education. His professional background includes roles as a behavioral interventionist, substance abuse counselor, crisis counselor, and adoption advocate.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Social Work, University of Texas at Arlington (2008)
• MA, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (2000)
• MSW, University of Texas at Arlington (1998)
• BA, Wayland Baptist University (1994)

Research & Practice Focus: Dr. Buchanan integrates diverse therapeutic approaches including cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and family therapy models. His work emphasizes mental health treatment, dual diagnosis counseling, trauma intervention, and systemic support for families in crisis. He has extensive experience in adoption advocacy and fostering care systems, combining clinical practice with educational outreach.

Professional Contributions: His career spans public-school system roles as a college/career coach and behavior specialist, alongside clinical work with dually-diagnosed populations. He advocates for evidence-based practices in social work education and community mental health initiatives.