Chris Bradshaw, MA, LAC
Specialty Therapist
Chris maintains that the most important factors in effective psychotherapy are when the therapist and client: form a strong alliance (bond), create a sense of meaning and hope, collaborate on tasks and goals, understand clearly how therapy will work, repair ruptures to the alliance, and buy into the process. He believes that empathy as well as competence in therapeutic approaches which span a range of styles and approaches are often important for therapists. This is supported by the “common factors” research in psychotherapy.
A licensed counselor, Chris tailors his approach to the client, drawing from several modalities, including Existential-Humanistic (EH), Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based/contemplative, Positive Psychology (PP), Motivational Interviewing (MI). Chris is currently engaging Somatic Experiencing training and is able to utilize some aspects of that modality in his practice. Chris has completed all core courses and examinations for the Ph.D. in clinical psychology and is currently in the dissertation phase.
Chris is certified as a foundational-level EH Psychotherapist from the Existential-Humanistic Institute (EHI), is currently engaging advanced certification at EHI, and completed a concentration in EH practice at Saybrook University, a leading non-profit university in EH Psychology and Psychotherapy.
Chris writes a monthly blog for Psychology Today titled “The Existential Station: Fuel for Presence, Meaning, Awe, and Transcendence.” He is co-editing and writing a piece for the book “Existential Psychology in Cross-Cultural Contexts” forthcoming from University Professors Press. Chris is on the organizing/planning committee for the upcoming 4th World Congress of Existential Therapy to be held in Denver, Colorado, in June 2026.
A lover of literature and art, Chris earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He also holds an MA in Clinical Psychology from Saybrook. In 2010, he joined AmeriCorps and worked with at-risk youth in Phoenix. In 2011, he began his journey as a counselor, facilitating a wide range of group therapies and psychological education. For seven years, Chris served as lead counselor and then manager of large outpatient clinics in Phoenix and Tucson serving 850 clients with a range of substance use and mental health treatment needs. He supervised an interdisciplinary team of 25 employees.
Chris enjoys yoga, meditation, reading, creative writing, comedy, dancing, and spending time with friends and family.
