The Rev. Christopher L. Smith, LCAC, LMHC, LMFT
President and Clinical Director
Christopher has experience as both a counselor and as a supervisor of counselors. He is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church who is licensed as a mental health professional in the states where he practices (see his credentials and memberships). He has counseled people in a variety of settings: community mental health, private practice, nonprofit agencies and hospitals. He is experienced working with people individually, within family units as well as other types of groups. Much of his experience has been with children, adolescents and families; however, he has also worked extensively with adults, especially around addictions, loss, depression, relational issues and life direction.
Christopher utilizes a variety of therapeutic approaches. These approaches are brought together in different ways depending on the person or people that he is working with. The root of his therapeutic style is pastoral counseling, whereby he helps the client incorporate spiritual dimensions of both the problem(s) and the ways to move forward. His academic background is broad, including a professional masters from Yale University. He also completed an advanced specialty in behavioral health during his clinical pastoral residency at Lutheran Hospital of Indiana. He is experienced working with people from a wide variety of faith backgrounds. His approach is also usually rooted in a systems understanding of the client’s situation.
Christopher is professionally active. He has served nationally as the president of the American College of Counselors, as the chair of the Presbyterian Serious Mental Illness Network, and on committees and task forces of professional bodies. Locally, he has been involved with the Alfred Adler Institute, serves on the Advisory Board for the NYC Medical Reserve Corps and as a regional officer in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors.
Christopher looks forward to seeing you take a step on your journey to wholeness and peace.
- D.Min., Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI
- D.Sci., Trinity University, Spain
- M.B.A., Universidad Isabel I, Spain
- M.M.T.M./M.D.M.E., European Business School of Barcelona, Spain
- M.S., Touro College, New York, NY
- M.S.Ed., Lehman College (CUNY), Bronx, NY
- Residency, Lutheran Hospital of Indiana, Fort Wayne, IN
- M.Div., Yale University, New Haven, CT
- M.S./ABD, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY
- B.S., Beloit College, Beloit, WI
- I.B., United World College of the Atlantic, St. Donats, Wales UK
National Provider Identifier (NPI): 1023226925
State Licenses:
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist 000899 (New York State)
- Licensed Mental Health Counselor 002224 (New York State)
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist 3216 (State of Connecticut)
- Licensed Mental Health Counselor 39000509A (State of Indiana)
- Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor 87000653A (State of Indiana)
- Licensed Addiction Counselor 86000127A (State of Indiana)
- Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor 068.0135537 (State of Vermont)
- Licensed Clinical Substance Abuse Counselor 17093-132 (State of Wisconsin)
- Licensed Professional Counselor 10591-125 (State of Wisconsin)
State Telehealth Licenses/Registrations:
- Registered Out-of-State Telehealth Provider (Marriage and Family Therapy) TPMF50 (State of Florida)
- Registered Out-of-State Telehealth Provider (Mental Health Counseling) TPMC170 (State of Florida)
- Registered Mental Behavioral Telehealth Marriage & Family Therapist MBTMFT-9775 (State of Idaho)
- Registered Mental Behavioral Telehealth Counselor MBTCOU-9774 (State of Idaho)
- Telehealth Certificate (Mental Health Counseling) TH0002503 (State of Indiana)
- Telehealth Certificate (Clinical Addiction Counseling) TH0002504 (State of Indiana)
- Telehealth Certificate (Addictions Counseling) TH0002505 (State of Indiana)
- Telehealth Registered Marriage and Family Therapist TLC 737 MFT (State of South Carolina)
- Telehealth Registered Professional Counselor TLC 738 PC (State of South Carolina)
Professional Associations:
- Clinical Fellow, American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy
- Fellow and Certified Pastoral Counselor, American Association of Pastoral Counselors
- Fellow and Certified Clinical Member, American College of Counselors
- Endorsed Chaplain, Presbyterian Council for Chaplains and Military Personnel
- Member of Additional Associations: ACA, ACPE, APA, NYMHCA, PSMIN
Previously:
- Licensed Mental Health Counselor 70-MH-CC-TEMP (Commonwealth of Massachusetts) [temporary license]
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therrpist BBH-LMFT-REG-0000372 (State of Montana) [temporary license]
- Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor BBH-LCPC-REG-0000373 (State of Montana) [temporary license]
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist NJDCATEMP-004066 (State of New Jersey) [temporary license exp 2/28/2021]
- Licensed Professional Counselor NJDCATEMP-004370 (State of New Jersey) [temporary license exp 2/28/2021]
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (Temporary) CV19-277 (State of Oregon) [temporary license Exp 9/20/2020]
- Licensed Professional Counselor (Temporary) CV19-278 (State of Oregon) [temporary license Exp 9/20/2020]
- Emergency Temp Mental Health Counselor (State of Rhode Island) [Temporary license exp 7/12/2020]
- Ordained Minister of the Word and Sacrament, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
- Clinical Supervision, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
- Trained in Gottman Couples Therapy (Levels 1 and 2)
- Substance Abuse Professional (SAP), DOT Standards
- Critical Incident Stress Management (Basic, Advanced, Individual, Group)
- Medical Ethics of the Psychiatric Setting, Keele University
- Human Values and Health Care, Oates Institute
- Telementalhealth and Distance Therapy, Various Training Centers
- Dialetic Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder, Late 90s Model
- The Brain Matters, Ghost Ranch
- Advanced Specialty in Behavioral Health, Lutheran Hospital of Indiana
- Healthy Families, Health Organizations, Peter Steinke
- Certified Prepare/Enrich Facilitator
You can e-mail Christopher through the client portal or non-confidentially through the contact form below.
Or directly at (212)655-9605
Christopher is not currently accepting new clients.
Books Related to Therapy
- My Journey to Wholeness and Peace: A Journal of the Walk Through Therapy. (New York, Shalom Press. 2017.)
- How I Respond: A Workbook to Track and Change How You Respond to Things to Which You Often React. (New York, Shalom Press. 2017.)
- Finding Peace at Work and Home: A Workbook to Track and Change How Your Home and Work Lives Interact. (New York, Shalom Press. 2017.)
- This is NOT a Second Honeymoon: Helping Couples Survive Spending A Lot of Time Together (New York, Shalom Press. 2020).
- Honest Talk About Serious Mental Illness. (Louisville, KY, Bridge Resources. 1998.)
- Honest Talk About Serious Mental Illness (Video). (Louisville, KY, Bridge Resources. 1998.)
- Mental Illness Worship Resource. (Louisville, KY, Presbyterian Church. 1999.)
Books in Other Areas:
- Reflections on the Names of God. (New York, Big Apple Publishing. 2017.)
- Sacred Windows: Drawing and Seeing. (New York, Shalom Press. 2016.)
- Walking Labyrinths at Home: A Colorful Journey. (New York, Shalom Press. 2016.)
- Fractals: An Adult Coloring Book Based on Mathematics. (New York, Fun Books Press. 2017.)
- More Fractals: An Adult Coloring Book Based on Mathematics. (New York, Fun Books Press. 2017.)
Books in Which Christopher was a Contributing Author:
- Donna Kozik, et al. Every Day Joy. Amazon. 2018.
- Clif Kay. 50 Things Women Hate About Men; And What Men Can Do About It. (Amazon. 2013)
- Abigail Rian Evans. Healing Liturgies for the Seasons of Life. Louisville, KY, Westchester John Knox Press. 2004.
- “10 Steps to Connect With Your Spirituality While Depressed”, PBS This Emotional Life
- “Lessons Around Bipolar Series of Videos”, HealthGuru
- Contributions and Topic Editor on:
- Good Therapy
- Your Tango
- Choose Help
- Global Post