About Dr. Volker

Clinical Approach

“Where you stumble, there lies your treasure.” I believe that when we feel pain it is a signal or cue for us to pay attention and seek help, versus avoid, deny, minimize or pretend that the pain is not there. Through education, coaching, counseling or psychotherapy, I will provide a safe, warm and healing environment for you and your loved ones.

I seek to match the particular therapeutic approach with the needs of the person who seeks my help. I work with children, adolescents, adults, couples and families.

With individuals my work ranges from clinical art therapy with nonverbal toddlers to behavioral therapy interventions for elementary school-age children – and from cognitive behavioral therapy with adolescents and adults, to psychodynamic depth-oriented therapy with adults and teens.

With families I favor structural family therapy interventions as well as experiential family art therapy techniques designed to make conscious previously unconscious family dynamics, looking at roles, boundaries and communication (and have fun in the process!)

With couples I take the role of coach and teach effective communication skills with a focus on process vs. content, so you take new coping skills home with you, as well as explore attachment issues and barriers to intimacy.

For those interested, I teach mindfulness meditation skills, which new research has shown to be effective in helping people to self-regulate difficult emotions related to anxiety, depression and relationship difficulties.

While in therapy, I encourage my clients to come in for weekly or biweekly sessions and to keep in touch with me through email. My philosophy is that once you are my client, you are always my client and after treatment has ended, you are encouraged to utilize my services in the future much the same way you would your physician or dentist, which is, when the need arises.

Education

Ph.D. Clinical Psychology
California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, California. April, 1997

Doctoral Studies, Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, Palo Alto, California. 1989-1991.

Master of Arts, Clinical Art Therapy and Family Systems Theory, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, California. 1989. Alpha Sigma Nu-National Honor Society

Bachelor of Science, Portland State University, Portland, OR, 1987.

Bachelor of Fine Arts, School of Art & Art History. Tuition Scholarship. The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. 1986.

Experience

• 1992-Present Private Practice - Licensed clinician with a multi-cultural focus in family therapy, crisis stabilization, brief focused treatment, cognitive and psychodynamic therapies, clinical art therapy, child-centered play therapy, parent training, and mindfulness meditation skills.

• 2001-2006 Adult Psychiatry – 5 years experience as psychologist in Forensic Acute Psychiatric Service Unit and Psychiatric Hospital settings.

• 1998-2001 Creator/Co-Director of a non-profit outpatient clinic serving ethnically diverse SED (severely emotionally disturbed) children, adolescents and their parents/families, funded by a Juvenile Justice Grant.

• 1998-2001 Developed and Coordinated Children’s Outpatient Services through Central Access for the City and County of San Francisco; Member of Management Team for Children’s Services Division - Department of Public Health.

• 1990-2001 Clinical supervisor, consultant, manager, facilitator and participant in multi-disciplinary community based treatment teams for outpatient, in-home, day treatment, residential and acute inpatient settings.

• 1996-1998 Member and Clinical Supervisor Team for the 24 hr Child & Adolescent Crisis Team of Santa Clara County.

• 1995-1998 Created, developed and managed a Centralized Access Center integrating public and private sector behavioral health care services (Medi-Cal, and Managed Care) across a continuum of care for a large multi-program agency.

• 1990-1996 Child and Adolescent Psychiatry – six years experience as clinician and clinical supervisor at bay area inpatient locked psychiatric hospitals. (CPC Fremont Hospital, Charter Hospital, Belmont Hills Hospital).

Publications and Presentations

Volker, C., (2002) “Treatment of Sexual Assault Survivors using Cognitive Therapy and Clinical Art Therapy”
      International Society for Traumatic Stess Studies National Conference, Boston, MA.

Volker, C. (2001) “Girls Issues in Mental Health”
       City and County of San Francisco Conference, San Francisco, CA.
       Primary Presenter.

Jung, M., Kellogg, A., and Volker, C. (1991) Therapy and Social Activism, in Journal of American Art Therapy Association, September.

Volker, C. and Kellogg. A., (1991), Family Art Therapy with Political Refugees, in Art Therapy With Families in Crisis, ed. Debra Linesch, Brunner/Mazel, Inc. New York, NY.

Volker, C and Kellogg. A. (1990) “Art Therapy and the Social Activist”
       National Art Therapy Association Conference. San Francisco, CA.

Volker, Christine – Member of ALPHA SIGMA NU – National Honor Society.