Chris Nelson

Hello! I’m Chris, and I love the work I do as a therapist. I taught middle and high school for several years, and my favorite part of that job was the conversations I got to have, being able to help students, and serving my community. Now as a therapist, I’m able to focus on deeper conversations and help on a more personal level; to quote Paul Young, I get to “walk on the holy ground of other people’s stories.”

I work with people navigating depression, anxiety, relational distress, trauma, major life transitions, and much more. I specialize in working with men wanting to grow into healthier relationships and emotional awareness, adolescents and young adults struggling to cope and build meaningful lives, couples seeking stronger and healthier connections, and those who might benefit from a corrective experience with a grounded and compassionate male therapist.

In my clinical work with individuals, I lean heavily on CBT, ACT, and person-centered therapy. In my couples and family work, I utilize Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) as well as my level 1 certification in Gottman Method Couples Therapy. I also recently completed a comprehensive trauma-focused training from the Arizona Trauma Institute that helps shape the way I approach healing, resilience, and learning to re-regulate the nervous system. A few of my role models are Gabor Maté, Esther Perel, Brené Brown, and Fred Rogers (“if it’s mentionable, it’s manageable”).

I chose to become a therapist after having wonderful experiences in therapy of my own, and deciding this would be the best way for me to support others the way I myself have been supported. I believe therapy can be an incredible tool for growth and healing, and it can also be unhelpful, or downright harmful, in the wrong hands. I strive every day to maintain the personal health, values, and dedication necessary to be “one of the good ones,” and it means everything to me to be a positive representation of masculinity in today’s world.

I’ll certainly be honored if you choose to select me as your therapist, but regardless, I’m wishing you peace and wellness on your journey ahead!