Cayce Watson

Social Work Program

Associate Professor

Biography

Dr. Cayce Watson is a Licensed Advanced Practice Social Worker in the state of Tennessee and has been a professional social work practitioner for over 20 years. She earned a B.S. in Social Work from Lipscomb University, an MSSW in Clinical Social Work from The University of Tennessee, and a Doctorate of Social Work Practice in Organizational Leadership from the University of Alabama.

Dr. Watson has been in higher education since 2010 and joined Lipscomb’s faculty in 2011 where she taught courses and coordinated the Field Education Program until 2021. Prior to teaching, her practice experience included working as a clinical social worker with adolescents, families, and adults at Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital. She also served as a research coordinator in behavioral health and substance misuse, specifically serving pregnant women with opioid use disorder through the Vanderbilt University Department of Addiction Medicine Research.

Dr. Watson is currently a Building Strong Brains Trainer with the Tennessee ACEs Initiative that seeks to prevent Adverse Childhood Experiences and promote a trauma-informed approach to practice. She is also an IDEAL faculty partner and serves as the Vice-Chair of the Tennessee Statewide Field Consortium and on the Lipscomb Institutional Review Board.

Academic Degrees

B.S. Social Work Lipscomb University
MSSW University of Tennessee
DSW University of Alabama

Academic Department

Social Work

Classes

Research Interests

Research and Publications

Watson, C. (2022, March). Prevention-based wellness among BSW field students: A feasibility study of self-care practices and self-compassion. University of Alabama Institutional Repository, Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Watson, C., Mallory, A., & Crossland, A. (2019). The spiritual and ethical implications of medication-assisted recovery in pregnancy: Preserving the dignity and worth of mother and baby. The Journal of Social Work & Christianity.

Watson, C., Chaffin, K., & Mallory, K. (2018, July). Clinical practice, social Justice, and ACEs: Bridging the gap with science. The New Social Work Magazine, 25(3), 28-29.

Watson, C. & Mallory, A. (2017, January). The criminalization of addiction in pregnancy: Is this what justice looks like? The New Social Worker Magazine 24(1), 14-16.

Watson, C. (2015, March). When “Just Say No” is not enough: Teaching harm reduction. The New Social Worker Online.

Morse, S. A., Watson, C., MacMaster, S., & Bride, B. E. (2015). Baseline characteristics and retention of older and younger adults in residential treatment for co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders. Journal of Dual Diagnosis, 11(1), 75-82.

Watson, C. (2014, June). Generalist social work: A unified approach to practice. Social Justice Solutions.

Watson, C. (2014, March). The strengths perspective: It’s more than some catchy tagline. Social Justice Solutions.

Morse, S. & Watson, C. (2016). Factors influencing dual diagnosis treatment retention; Paradigm Magazine, 20(1), 20-21.

Bride, B. E., MacMaster, S., Morse, S. A., Watson, C. M., Choi, S., & Seiters, J. (2016). A comparison of opioid and non-opioid substance users in residential treatment for co-occurring substance use and mental disorders. Social Work in Public Health, 31(7), 678-687.

Adams, S., Morse, S., Choi, S., Watson, C., & Bride, B. (2017). Substance use and mental health treatment retention among young adults. Global Journal of Addiction & Rehabilitative Medicine, 1(3) 555564.

Awards

2022: Contributions to Social Work Education Award, University of Alabama School of Social Work

2020: Writing Excellence in Social Work Practice Award, University of Alabama School of Social Work

2013: Lipscomb University Graduating Class Sponsor

2012: My iTools Teaching with Technology Grant recipient, Center for Teaching and Learning

2011: Grandpa’s House Ten Year Appreciation Award

Talks and Presentations

Watson, C. (April, 2022) Prevention-Based Wellness and Field Students: A Study of Self-Care and Self-Compassion, Southeastern Graduate Research Symposium, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Watson, C. (March, 2022). Self-Care and Self-Compassion: An Ethical Approach to Professional Wellness, 20th Annual Social Work Conference, University Of Southern Indiana, Evansville, Indiana.

Watson, C. (February, 2022). Professional Wellness in Field Practicum, Spring Tennessee State Field Consortium Conference, Nashville, TN.

Pipher, H. & Watson, C. (November, 2021). Hunger is a Racial Issue: Health Equity and Social Determinants, Connecting for Children’s Justice Conference, Nashville, TN.

Watson, C. (August, 2021). University Partnerships, Panel Member. National Association of Social Workers, Middle Tennessee Branch, Nashville, TN.

Watson, C. (January, 2021). Self-Care and Self-Compassion: An Approach to Professional Resilience, Center for Teaching and Learning, Lipscomb University, Nashville, Tennessee.

Watson, C. (October, 2020). Self-Care and Self-Compassion: An Approach to Professional Resilience, Connecting for Children’s Justice Conference, Nashville, Tennessee.

Watson, C. & Mallory, A. (November, 2019) Medication-Assisted Recovery: Spiritual and Ethical Implications, North American Association of Christian Social Workers National Program, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Moon, K. & Watson, C. (October, 2019) Strengths-based Practice: Empowering Deaf Youth to Thrive, Connecting for Children’s Justice Conference, Nashville, Tennessee.

Mallory, A. & Watson, C. (March, 2019). Ethical implications of medication-assisted treatment. 2019 Social Work Conference, University of Southern Indiana, Evansville, Indiana.

Watson, C. & Mallory, A. (November, 2018). Medication-assisted recovery in pregnant women. Tennessee Conference on Social Welfare, Southeast Conference. Hixson, TN.

Watson, C. (October, 2018). Panel Member: Service Learning and LiGHT Faculty, Lipscomb University. Nashville, TN.

Watson, C. & Mallory, A. (October, 2018). Medication-assisted recovery: Strengthening the mother-infant bond. Children’s Justice Conference, Nashville, Tennessee.

Watson, C. & Mallory, A. (March, 2018). The criminalization of addiction in pregnancy. 2018 Social Work Conference, University of Southern Indiana, Evansville, Indiana.

Watson, C. & Mallory, A. (December, 2017). Professionalism and Ethics in Human Services. Probation and Recovery Court Training. Manchester, Tennessee.

Watson, C. & Mallory, A. (November, 2017). Evidence-based Treatment for Opioid Use in Pregnancy. North American Association of Christian Social Workers: Advocating for Peace, Justice, and Reconciliation in Communities, Charlotte, North Carolina.

Watson. C., & Crossland, A. (October, 2017). Empowering Emerging Adults: Social Work Education Through a Trauma-Informed Lens. Children’s Justice Conference. Nashville, TN.

Mallory, A., & Watson, C. (September, 2017) Evidence-based Interventions for Opioid Dependent Pregnant Clients. Indiana Recovery Symposium, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Mallory, A. & Watson, C. (August, 2017) Professionalism in Human Services Organizations. South Central Social Services Training Program, Lafayette, Tennessee.

Adams, S., Choi, S., Morse, S., Watson, C., & Bride, B. (2016). Substance Use and Mental Health Treatment among Emerging Adults. Association for Medical Education and Research in Substance Abuse. Research Poster.

Watson, C. M., Chaffin, K., & Mallory, K. (October, 2016). Teaching Poverty as an ACE: Engaging Students in Policy Change. Council on Social Work Education Annual Program, Atlanta, Georgia.

Watson, C. M., (August, 2016) Field Supervisor Training: 2015 CSWE Competencies Workshop. Lipscomb University, Nashville, Tennessee.

Watson, C., (2016) Give and Take: The Dynamic Relationship Between Social Work Education and Employment. Christian Child and Family Services Association, Huntsville, Alabama.

Watson, C., (2013). When Just Say No Is Not Enough: Strategies for Teaching Harm Reduction. North American Association of Christian Social Workers National Conference on Social Justice and Spirituality, Atlanta, Georgia.

Contact Information

(615) 966-5756
cayce.watson@lipscomb.edu