About Christopher

My academic background includes two M.A. (Masters of Arts) degrees, the first in Communication Studies from Northwestern University in 1988, and the second in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology from Naropa University in 2005.  I also spent a year on a fellowship at the University of Texas (1989-90) doing doctoral research into the healing potential of re-visioning one’s life story.  I have taught classes and done keynotes on this topic at the National Storytelling Conference, for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors, and at universities, churches, and conferences.

Beyond my formal education, my theoretical approach integrates my training and experience in Client-Centered, Narrative, and Transpersonal psychotherapies.

I first learned Client-Centered approaches beginning in 1984 through training in and practice of an approach to counseling (ReEvaluation Counseling) in which individuals take turns helping each other to release old emotional pain so as to be able to think more clearly in present time.  

The Narrative part of my orientation is based on several decades of professional work as a playwright, story creator and storyteller, as well as the study of narrative approaches to healing life-stories.

My Transpersonal orientation is founded on over three decades of study and practice of mindfulness disciplines (Buddhist and Christian), including certification by Naropa University as a Mindfulness Instructor and my ongoing teaching at Naropa University as an Adjunct Faculty Member teaching Psychology of Meditation and Mindfulness courses.