Your People Are Carrying A Lot. Let’s Give Them A Place To Land.
I help organizations, conferences, and communities create space for the conversations that actually matter. Burnout, mental health, leadership, and resilience. With clinical depth, real-world stories, and just enough humor, I make hard topics feel human.
Here To Help You Do Your Best Work
Speaking and Training
I lighten the room even when topics get heavy.Whether you're planning a conference, a staff training, or a community event, I bring clinical expertise and real-world storytelling to topics your people actually need: burnout, mental health, trauma, resilience, leadership, and more. Every session is tailored to your audience and designed to leave people feeling seen, equipped, and ready to go back out there.
Organizational Consulting
Healthy organizations start with honest conversations. 
When teams are burned out, disconnected, or navigating hard seasons, the work suffers and so do the people doing it. I partner with organizations to assess what's getting in the way, strengthen organizational health, and build cultures where people feel supported enough to do their best work. From burnout prevention to trauma-informed practices, every engagement is tailored to what your team actually needs.
If you're a Counseling or MFT resident in Virginia working toward licensure, I know how much this season matters and I don't take that lightly. With 15 years of experience and over 30 residents successfully licensed, I bring honest feedback, genuine investment, and a steady presence to the process. You don't just need a signature on a form. You need someone in your corner to guide you not just clinically, but holistically as a person and a professional.
The right supervisor makes all the difference.Clinical Supervision
What To Expect When You Bring Me In
Every session I lead is built around three things.
Grounded: The content is clinically informed and rooted in real experience. Your people will leave knowing something they didn't know before, and more importantly, knowing what to do with it.
Approachable: No jargon, no lectures, no death by PowerPoint. I take complex topics and translate them into language that actually lands, whether I'm talking to a room full of clinicians or a team of employees who just want someone to be straight with them.
Real: I show up as a whole person… with stories, humor, and genuine care for the people in the room. The topics I cover can be heavy, but I make sure the experience doesn't have to be.
Whether you're a leader trying to take better care of your team, an organization navigating hard seasons, or a clinician building toward licensure… you didn't get into this work to play it safe. You got into it to make a difference.
But even the most dedicated people need a place to anchor. A place to rest, reflect, and get ready for what's next.
That's what Open Harbor is. Not a destination, but a place to come back to, so you can keep going.
“A ship is safe in harbor, but that’s not what ships are for.” -John A. Shedd
What People Are Saying
Chris is an exceptional speaker, trainer, and mentor with a uniquely personable approach and depth of knowledge. His guidance helped me build the confidence to step outside of my comfort zone, present at a conference, and expand my professional skill set beyond the office.
-Lianna Pevar, LPC
Transformation Health Services
Chris brings professionalism, flexibility, and compassion. He’s helped our team and clients move forward with healing and strength after mass trauma.
-Mark Hayes, LCSW
with the VB Strong Center
Chris combines deep knowledge, experience, wisdom, and humor to connect with his audience. He made a complex topic like mental health feel accessible and engaging.
-Mike Johnson, Middle School Pastor
Real Life Christian Church
“Chris was my supervisor from internship through to licensure, and I know I wouldn’t be where I am today without the opportunities he provided for growth. He challenges you to think differently and always has your back.”
-Kaye-Loni Johnston, LMFT
Truth and Purpose Counseling
On The Horizon
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Vent Session. An Improv Comedy Show
Saturday, August 1, 2026
6:30 – 8:30 PM
The Venue on 35th, Norfolk, VA
Part comedy show, part mental health check-in. People drop what's on their mind, I offer a little clinical insight, and an improv team turns it into a sketch on the spot. Honest and ridiculous in the best way. -
Clinical Curveball Summit
September 18, 2026
Online
6 Ethics CE creditsAn online ethics summit on the parts of clinical work nobody trained us for. I'm co-leading a session with an attorney on what to do when the legal system shows up in your practice.
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2027 Clinician Connection Conference
April 22 – 23, 2027
Virginia Beach Oceanfront
10.5 CE creditsTwo days on the oceanfront, built by clinicians for clinicians. I co-founded this one, and this year I'm giving the keynote too. A clinical memoir on why your work matters, but you matter more.
