About Lumen Psychotherapy Institute

As a licensed mental health professional and owner of the Lumen Psychotherapy Institute in Fort Lauderdale, Florida I am dedicated to providing a safe, nonjudgmental, and empowering environment where all of my clients can work through their emotional and mental health struggles.  

Being a licensed trauma-informed psychotherapist in Florida, I offer you collaborative, confidential, and shame-free care where you can feel safe to explore your experiences and begin your healing journey to find hope again. 

I work with a diverse range of clients of all genders and ethnicities experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, low self-esteem, grief, problematic substance use, relationship conflicts, LGBTQIA+ issues, men's issues and more. 

My approach to therapy is brain-based, meaning that I integrate neuroscience into the way I practice. This allows me to  move beyond traditional talk therapy by considering how experiences, particularly traumatic ones, impact and shape the brain. It utilizes the brain's amazing plasticity to allow us to rewire the brain, through therapy, to improve functioning.

I firmly believe that  everyone that has a different path to healing. I utilize  Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and other evidence-based therapies like CBT, DBT, mindfulness, and Buddhist Psychology to create a personalized treatment plan that meets your unique needs.

I'm not the stereotypical therapist in a suit, just asking 'how do you feel about...?" and nodding. I believe in actively collaborating with you and helping you discover your core values and using them to drive positive change in your life. We'll work together to develop concrete solutions that address your specific mental health needs and help you achieve tangible results.

  Chris received his primary license to provide psychotherapy from Florida’s Department of Health. He earned his graduate degree in Trauma-Informed Clinical Social Work from Barry University’s Graduate School of Social Work.   

 During graduate school, Chris completed his two clinical internships in Florida at Active Community Health Center in Fort Lauderdale and later at SunServe’s Adult Mental Health Outpatient Clinic in Wilton Manors. As a registered clinical intern, he worked at Broward Health Medical Center for the hospital’s integrated Medication Assisted Treatment Response (iMATR) program, treating the complex issues of  substance use and mental health. Later as a licensed therapist, he was a tenured mental health services provider at Care Resource Community Health Center in Broward County.

Prior to becoming a psychotherapist, Chris enjoyed a career of over 15 years in various leadership roles in the private sector, government, and non-profits. In his spare time, Chris is passionate about caring for animals and promoting compassion for them. He is also a certified yoga teacher by the Ananda School of Yoga in Kerala and Fort Lauderdale. Chris believes that being a therapist is his calling to a life of service to others, helping end human suffering by helping one individual at a time.