Chair of the Dept. of Educational Leadership and Human Development.  Graduate courses taught include Group Counseling and Counseling Diverse Populations . His research centers on the holistic approaches of Eastern and Native American psychologies.  Completed a four-month Fulbright sabbatical in India in 2003 researching indigenous healing methods.  Christopher presented on group counseling, strength-based assessments, mind-body integration, and other topics to faculty and graduate students at several Indian institutions of higher education.   Since joining the Department in 1993, Christopher has explored aspects of diversity, both locally and globally.  In addition to conducting research in India, Christopher has presented papers at international conferences in India, Thailand, Nepal, China, and Australia. Locally in the Peoria area, Christopher has collaborated with Native Americans to explore common themes of healing in Native American practices and counseling, and to offer support groups.   He is a member of the Executive Board of Directors of the Seven Circles Heritage Center that seeks to preserve and restore indigenous culture and to improve cross-cultural understanding and respect.  He has served on the editorial board of The Journal for Specialists in Group Work since 1998. Christopher is co-author of the 2004 textbook Group Leadership: Interpersonal Process in Group Counseling and Psychotherapy. Christopher is currently engaged in research to document Native American healing practices and experiences at Seven Circles Heritage Center and is developing a DVD based on this research.

Background

Christopher helped re-establish the Illinois Association for specialists in Group Work as a division of the Illinois Counseling Association and was given this organization's 2004 award for outstanding contributions to group work.  From 1997-2002, Christopher served as director of the Department of ELH Counseling Research and Training Clinic. He served as Director of the College of Education and Health Sciences Center for Research and Service from 2003-2005. Christopher enjoys collaborating with colleagues and students in presenting workshops at counseling conferences and co-authoring articles for professional publications.  Collaborating with a colleague from India, Christopher published and presented in 2006 “Application of The Resiliency Wheel from the Indian perspective to facilitate counselor growth” at the 11th International Counseling Conference held in Bangkok, Thailand.   Working with former and current Indian psychology students from Pune University, Christopher has an upcoming 2007 publication: "Experiential Learning Workshop for Indian students” in the Journal for Humanistic Counseling, Education and Development .

Degrees

Ph.D. in Educational Psychology/Counselor Education in 1993 from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale that also awarded his masters degree in 1991.  Sociology-Anthropology BS from Illinois State University awarded in 1975.