Dr. Tanisha L. Knighton has served as a consultant, designed curricula and presented/led hundreds of seminars and workshops on a variety of topics for federal/state grants/grantees, NGOs, CACs and national conferences.  Dr. Knighton has over a two decades of experience working with culturally diverse clients in social service roles, law enforcement roles, and clinical practice.  She has over 15 years of experience as a Social Worker with Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Services, 9 years in the Missing Persons Unit for the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department, and 2 years in private practice.  Dr. Knighton’s clinical interest areas are suicidality/grief/loss, human trafficking, depression, trauma, sexual abuse, sexual offending behaviors, forensic issues, substance use disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD), ethics, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Dr. Knighton has a passion for working with those affected by missing persons and human trafficking issues.  She also enjoys serving those in the BIPOC community that are impacted by suicidality and helping those who identify as LGBTQI+ navigate the complexities that may exist in being their authentic selves. 

Dr. Knighton earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Baldwin Wallace College in 1998, her master’s degree in forensic psychology from Tiffin University in 2001, and her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Walden University in 2014.  She is a member of several social and civic organizations in her community.