Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Activities
References
Certification
Timeline
Generic

Gordon Christenson

Burlingame,CA

Summary

Offer multiple modalities to fit the individual, couple, or family. Help clients develop personal agency, self-awareness, self-compassion, and more intimate relationships with self and others. Accompany clients as they process defended or ignored trauma wounds. Be present when clients act out in their traumatic responses.

Overview

49
49
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

MFT Associate

Marina Counseling Center
01.2016 - Current
  • Provide psychotherapy to individuals and couples, including adults, adolescents, and children
  • Focus includes, psychodynamic, attachment, dream-work, AEDP, and Refined Hakomi.

MFT-Trainee

Integral Counseling Center
08.2014 - 12.2015
  • As Trainee at Integral Counseling Center at Pierce Street; provided psychodynamic counseling services to individuals and couples.

Counselor

Acknowledge Alliance
03.2014 - 12.2015
  • School-Counselor at Selby Lane Elementary School providing counseling, play therapy, and sand tray sessions with students in collaboration with teachers and families.

Volunteer—Sexual Assault Counselor

Rape Trauma Services
02.2012 - 12.2013
  • Provided peer counseling to survivors and significant others including family members to individuals who suffered sexual trauma; as certified Sexual Assault Counselor provided support at Medico/Legal Examinations to individuals and families; and rotated weekly phone shifts on the Sexual Assault Hot- line.

Attorney

Private Practice
01.1983 - 01.2005
  • General Practice including representing youth in delinquency and dependency courts; trials, trial preparation, presentation of evidence, administrative hearings, and writing motions and other advocacy documents.

Staff Attorney

Board of Veterans Appeals
01.1982 - 01.1983
  • Reviewed Veterans Administration agency rulings related to veterans benefits, including medical disability claims, specializing in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder; analyzed medical evidence and agency files; wrote final appellate decisions for signature by the Board.

Analyst

Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress
01.1975 - 01.1981
  • Wrote U.S House and Senate Committee Reports, Prints, and Legislative Histories; responded to information requests from Committee and Congressional Staff on various issues of legislative importance, including national health care policy, Veterans health care, criminal justice, and immigration.

Education

Juris Doctor -

Washington College of Law, American University
Washington, D.C.

B.A., History -

Carleton College
Northfield, MN

Doctoral Student in East West Psychology -

California Institute of Integral Studies
San Francisco, CA
05.2026

Refined Hakomi Practitioner (pending Certification) -

Ron Kurtz Center
Ashland, OR
11.2020

MA, Integral Counseling Psychology -

California Institute of Integral Studies
San Francisco, CA
01.2015

Skills

Create Safe and Sacred Space

Deep Listening

Connect Inter-subjectively

Track Body Adaptations (Hakomi)

Work with Spiritual Emergencies, Dreams, Visions

Attract and Willing to Work with Diverse Clients

Focus on Trauma, Grief, Depression, and Anxiety

Relational Therapy

Accomplishments

Recipient of Attorney of the Year from Santa Clara and San Mateo Child Advocates

Fundraiser for Leukemia Society of America

Team leader for Bay Area Carleton College Representatives

Assistant Regional Commissioner for AYSO26

President and Member Board of Trustees Palo Alto Unitarian Universalist Church

Activities

  • Recipient of Attorney of the Year from Santa Clara and San Mateo Child Advocates Fundraiser for Leukemia Society of America
  • Team leader for Bay Area Carleton College Representatives
  • Assistant Regional Commissioner for AYSO26
  • President and Member Board of Trustees Palo Alto Unitarian Universalist Church

References

References available upon request

Certification

Registered Associate MFT: #145809

Timeline

MFT Associate

Marina Counseling Center
01.2016 - Current

MFT-Trainee

Integral Counseling Center
08.2014 - 12.2015

Counselor

Acknowledge Alliance
03.2014 - 12.2015

Volunteer—Sexual Assault Counselor

Rape Trauma Services
02.2012 - 12.2013

Attorney

Private Practice
01.1983 - 01.2005

Staff Attorney

Board of Veterans Appeals
01.1982 - 01.1983

Analyst

Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress
01.1975 - 01.1981

Juris Doctor -

Washington College of Law, American University

B.A., History -

Carleton College

Doctoral Student in East West Psychology -

California Institute of Integral Studies

Refined Hakomi Practitioner (pending Certification) -

Ron Kurtz Center

MA, Integral Counseling Psychology -

California Institute of Integral Studies

Registered Associate MFT: #145809

Gordon Christenson