Get to Know Christopher Nora, MA, MS, LPCC (He|Him)
Doctoral Intern
Christopher Nora, he/him, is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) and Doctoral Intern located at the UC CAPS Calhoun location. He graduated from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in North Chicago with a master’s in psychology focused on counseling, as well as earning a second master’s in psychology from Adler University in Chicago. He is currently licensed to practice in Ohio and Illinois, and is in the fifth and final year of his PsyD program at Adler University.
Chris’s therapeutic approach is to foster and develop an open and welcoming environment, one in which the clients that he works with can feel more comfortable in discussing that which they find most difficult at any time. The therapeutic alliance is a priority for him in his work, and he views treatment through a collaborative lens, in which he works with the client as a partner in making the therapeutic journey as effective and efficient as possible. By creating a safe space for which individuals can explore their vulnerabilities, it is possible to uncover emotions and experiences that would normally be too difficult to openly discuss. The therapeutic techniques he employs are rooted in Cognitive Behavioral Theory, as well as Humanistic theory, in that emotions, body sensations, thoughts and behaviors are linked and interconnected, and that by exploring that connection, healing can occur. Chris has strong interests in working with students who are working through depression, anxiety, challenges with substance use, self-harm, trauma, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Chris employs a goal-oriented and solutions focused approach, tailoring the therapeutic experience to how directly the client seeks to address their concerns. Chris views himself as an empathic listener, collaborator, and co-facilitator in the client’s journey toward their own well-being.
When not at work, Chris enjoys being at home and spending time with his many pets, including his new puppy Booker. He also greatly enjoys playing video games, watching movies either at the theater or at home, attending sporting events, and exploring Cincinnati. His favorite movie is Alien and his favorite bands are Disturbed and Slipknot. When he is taking some time for self-care, he likes to drive to nowhere in particular and listen to audiobooks or podcasts, baking, and taking the occasional nap.
My favorite movie about mental health: The Shining. Beyond the horror and the supernatural, it shows how isolation, stress, and addiction can take a serious toll on someone’s mind and relationships. I connect with it because it’s a reminder that even the scariest struggles come from very human places and that resiliency and healing is possible following even the most dire of circumstances.
The Podcasts I’m Listening to Right Now: Dead Meat and The Necessary Conversation
If I wasn’t in this line of work, I would be: Working on a fishing boat in a small town in Alaska.