BENJAMIN D. CHRISTIANSEN, PsyD, LP

2618 North 1600 East

Layton, Utah 84040

801-721-7055 (cell)

Education

Clinical PsychologyDoctor of Psychology

Minnesota School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University/Twin Cities (MSPP/AU), Eagan, Minnesota

APA-accredited

September 2008 – August 2013

Masters of PsychologyMasters of Science in Counseling

University of Phoenix/Salt Lake City (UOP), Salt Lake City, Utah

January 2004 - August 2007

PsychologyBachelor of Arts

Minor – SpanishWeber State University, Ogden, Utah

September 1996 – December 2002

Professional Licensures

July 2014 – present Licensed Psychologist (Utah)

Clinical Neuropsychology Post-Doctoral Fellowship

Neuropsychology Center of Utah

Clinton, Utah

August 2013 – June 2015

Neuropsychology Center of Utah provides comprehensive evaluations to children, adolescents and adults presenting with various brain based disorders, including ADHD, Autism, depression, anxiety, traumatic brain injury, dementia, PTSD, and developmental disabilities. Referrals originate from courts, medical facilities, schools, child welfare, probation, rehabilitation, disability, and self-referrals. Patients report issues in executive functioning, developmental delays, learning, memory, competency and insanity requests, motor impairments, language impairments, and rehabilitation concerns. As a specialized center, Neuropsychology Center of Utah follows closely and participates in innovative mental health and behavioral studies.

Experience / Training:

  • Perform outpatient testing for neuropsychological functioning, personality, and cognitive ability using various projective and objective batteries.
  • Provide feedbacks and perform intakes for testing patients.
  • Provide individual, family, and group therapeutic services.
  • Attend multidisciplinary meetings with community partners.
  • Create and present trainings and presentations to clinical staff.
  • Train and supervise master-level clinical staff in testing and therapeutic techniques.
  • Provide community trainings.
  • Translate for and provide services for Spanish speaking patients.

Clinical Pre-Doctoral Internship

Applied Psychology Group of Texoma

Sherman, Texas

August 2012 – July 2013

The Applied Psychology Group of Texoma provides neuropsychological, psychological, forensic, and medical evaluations for patients referred for various issues. Referrals originate from courts, medical facilities, schools, child welfare, probation, rehabilitation, disability, and self-referrals. Diagnoses vary from psychological issues, trauma, attention deficit disorders, learning disorders, and severe and complex neurological impairments and deficits. Patients report issues in learning, memory, competency, insanity requests, motor impairments, language impairments, and rehabilitation concerns. The clinic also provides therapy for clients referred from courts, doctors, and self-referrals.

Experience / Training:

  • Perform outpatient testing for neuropsychological functioning, personality, and cognitive ability using various projective and objective batteries.
  • Perform competency and insanity evaluations using evidence based testing measures.
  • Participate in and provide feedback and perform intakes for testing patients.
  • Provide pro bono individual, family, and group therapeutic services.
  • Participate in weekly neuropsychology didactics.
  • Participate in weekly test battery didactics.
  • Participate in weekly case reviews.
  • Participate in weekly case conceptualization and therapy based didactics.
  • Attend multidisciplinary meetings with community partners.
  • Participate in Grand Rounds at local Rehabilitation Hospital (CARRUS) and perform medical neuropsychological assessments.
  • Create and present trainings and presentations to clinical staff.
  • Train and supervise master-level clinical staff in testing and therapeutic techniques.
  • Provide community trainings.
  • Translate for and provide services for Spanish speaking patients.

Clinical Doctorate Practicum Placements

Advanced PracticumValley Mental Health – Forensics Unit (VMH-F)

Salt Lake City, Utah

September 2011 – May 2012

The Valley Mental Health – Forensics Unit provides outpatient services for clientele court ordered for substance abuse, domestic violence, and other criminal charges. Patients participate in individual and group psychotherapy. They also receive psychological testing as required. Patients are referred from the State and Federal level for outpatient to intensive outpatient services. The Forensic Unit serves relatively high-functioning adults, intellectually low functioning adults, and those individuals who qualify as Severely and Persistently Mentally Ill (SPMI). This program is also a partner with local Mental Health Courts.

Experience / Training:

  • Perform new client intakes and assess required level of treatment.
  • Perform outpatient testing for neuropsychological functioning, personality, and cognitive ability using various projective and objective batteries.
  • Perform emergency intakes and crisis counseling for patients
  • Provide individual therapy for Spanish speaking clients.
  • Provide group therapy for Spanish speaking men’s Domestic Violence and Substance Abuse groups.
  • Participate in Mental Health Court

Therapy PracticumFederal Medical Center – Rochester (FMC-Rochester)

U.S. Department of Justice / Federal Bureau of Prisons

Rochester, Minnesota

September 2010 – May 2011

The Federal Medical Center in Rochester, Minnesota is an administrative facility for the Bureau of Prisons that provides medical and psychological/psychiatric services for federal inmates. The population consists of inmates with chronic and significant medical issues (e.g. cancer, TB, HIV), Severely and Persistently Mentally Ill (SPMI) inmates, and Civilly-committed inmates. The Mental Health Unit is designed for the evaluation and treatment of offenders with mental illnesses. Inmates assigned to this unit may be sent to the FMC directly from the U.S. District Courts or from other Bureau 6 of Prisons facilities.

Experiences/Training:

  • Provided individual therapy to severe and persistently mentally ill and civilly-committed inmates.
  • Co-created and co-facilitated a Health and Wellness group and Spanish speaking inmates processing group.
  • Created and facilitated a Commitment “Life Skills” group.
  • Assisted in court-ordered competency assessments.
  • Performed forensic neuropsychological batteries for inmates with chronic infectious diseases and cognitive impairments.
  • Assessed suicidal ideation, safety, competency/responsibility assessments in Segregation Unit.
  • Participated in risk panel evaluations and weekly treatment team meetings.
  • Participated in forensics didactics and case law formulation.
  • Attended Mayo Clinic ground rounds.

ASSESSMENT Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) Neuropsychology,

PRACTICUMMinneapolis, Minnesota

September 2009 – July 2010

HCMC – Neuropsychology provides assessment evaluations for all inpatient populations and outpatient referrals. Patients suffer from various medical complaints ranging from difficulty in school, traumatic brain injuries, problems learning English, and severe mental illness, to complex organic neurological impairments (e.g. Arnold Chiari Malformation, HIV, diabetes, Huntington’s Disease).

Experiences/ Training:

  • Performed outpatient and inpatient neuropsychological batteries and assessments to diagnose various neurological impairments.
  • Completed required neuropsychological reports for patients whom have been diagnosed with a broad range of medical and physical ailments.
  • Performed neuropsychological evaluations for Spanish speaking clients.

Clinical Masters Practicum Placements

PRACTICUM / St. John Therapeutic Services, Inc.

CLINICAL Ogden, Utah

INTERNSHIPAugust 2006 – July 2007

St. John Therapeutic Services provides outpatient treatment to individuals diagnosed with Severe and Persistent Mental Illness, eating disorders, self-injurious behaviors, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. They provide services to Military personnel, families, couples, adults and children.

Experiences/Training:

  • Provided individual therapy for children with behavioral issues, adolescents with legal charges, military personnel returning from war, and individuals with self-injurious behaviors.
  • Provided group therapy to Eating disorder groups for adults and adolescents.
  • Completed Intakes and treatment plans.

The Division of Child and Family Services (State of Utah – DCFS)

Salt Lake City, Utah

August 2006 – August 2007

The Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) provides services to families who have been investigated for neglect or abuse of children. Cases include substance abuse referrals, domestic violence, and child abuse (physical, verbal and sexual).

Experience/Training:

  • Provided clinical interventions for families and foster families in crisis.
  • Performed various assessments in for domestic violence referrals, substance abuse evaluations, developmental milestones, and treatment outcome and effectiveness.
  • Provided court reports for “readiness to Change” assessments and “Level of Care” evaluations for juvenile delinquency.

Masters Licensure Training

LICENSED PROFESSIONAL CLINICAL COUNSELOR (LPCC) LICENSURE SUPERVISION

Touchstone Mental Health

Minneapolis, Minnesota

May 2009 – July 2011

  • Provided individual therapy, crisis interventions, and facilitated treatment groups to adults diagnosed with Severe and Persistent mental illnesses.
  • Completed Intake assessments on new patients.
  • Provided clinical training to company staff on eating disorders and self-injurious behaviors.

CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING INTERN (C.P.C.I.) LICENSURE SUPERVISION

St. John Therapeutic Services, Inc.,

Ogden, Utah

August 2007 – July 2008

  • Provided individual therapy for children with behavioral issues, adolescents with legal charges, military personnel returning from war, and individuals with self-injurious behaviors.
  • Provided group therapy to Eating disorder groups for adults and adolescents.
  • Completed Intakes and treatment plans.
  • Assessed therapeutic needs and created treatment plans.

Employment

Owner/Utah Center for Assessment and Treatment

NeuropsychologistLayton, Utah

June 2015 - Present

Utah Center for Assessment and Treatment provides comprehensive evaluations to adolescents and adults presenting with various brain based disorders, including ADHD, depression, anxiety, traumatic brain injury, dementia, PTSD, and developmental disabilities. Referrals originate from courts, medical facilities, schools, child welfare, probation, rehabilitation, disability, and self-referrals. Patients report issues in executive functioning, developmental delays, learning, memory, competency and insanity requests, motor impairments, language impairments, and rehabilitation concerns. Utah Center for Assessment and Treatment also provides comprehensive mental health, disability, fitness for duty, forensic, and pre-surgical evaluations.Therapy is provided on a limited basis for various medical, health, mental health, and adjustment disorders. Services are also provided for Spanish speaking clientele.

Mental Health Touchstone Mental Health

Worker IIIMinneapolis, Minnesota

September 2008 – July 2011

  • Assessed severe and persistent mentally ill (SPMI) adults symptomology, safety, staff interactions and treatment modality outcomes.
  • Facilitated various treatment groups pertaining to communication, social relationships, and family support / psycho-educational processing.
  • Assisted clients in problem solving skills, applying treatment goals and assessing behaviors, barriers and needs in attaining therapeutic goals.
  • Monitored and supported severe and persistent mentally ill (SPMI) adults in a transitional residential treatment program.

Counselor, C.P.C.I. St John Therapeutic Services, Inc.

Ogden, Utah

February 2006 – July 2008

  • Provided therapy from various theories and modalities to extensive mental health populations.
  • Facilitated teen/parent eating disorder group.
  • Provided family and couple counseling.
  • Provided “re-entry” counseling for military personnel and their families.
  • Provided Intake interviews and diagnostic assessments for new clients.
  • Created trainings, groups, and treatment modalities for individuals suffering with persistent eating disorders and self-injurious behaviors.
  • Prepared and co-presented professional trainings.

Program ManagerState of Utah/ Division of Child and Family Services

(SSW), C.P.C.I.Salt Lake City, UT

September 2006 – July 2008

  • Assessed patients for medical, dental and mental health needs and reviewed mental health assessments provided by therapists, psychologists and physicians for content, quality and recommendations for treatment.
  • Supervised and trained case workers in triaging case needs (medical and psychological) for parents, adolescents and children, assessing underlying needs and identifying appropriate services required.
  • Provided legal reports to Juvenile Court Judges regarding assessments, treatment outcomes and treatment modalities.
  • Assessed outcome measures for effectiveness of services.
  • Participated in contracted provider overview committees, contract resolution, and crisis intervention.
  • Coordinated with community partners, legal partners, and inter-agency organizations on service improvement, safety concerns and legal hearings.
  • Reviewed oversight initiatives, trained new practice protocols, staffed successful transition plans, removals and special projects (i.e. Fatality Review Objectives).
  • Administered Federal Qualitative reviews and Case Process reviews.
  • Assessed, implemented and improved current child welfare practices, policies and outcomes of contracted services and Division services provided to patients and implementation of practice improvements and legislative mandates.
  • Managed budgets for DCFS In-home and Foster Care services.

Trainer III, SSWState of Utah/ Division of Child and Family Services

Salt Lake City, Utah

January 2006 – September 2006

  • Trained Salt Lake Region/DCFS, state officials, and new employees on the concepts of Child Welfare: Practices and Protocols; Practice Model and Principles; Developmental Screening Practices and Child and Family Assessment; Developmental Stages and the effects of abuse on developmental milestones; social work ethics, interviewing skills, teaming, self-assessment skills, core conditions, underlying needs, client-centered practice, documentation, abuse and neglect, and tools of child welfare.
  • Developed and presented various training for community partners, Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Annual Youth Conferences (UT-CAN), DHS Joint Commission Planning Committee, “Centro de la Familia” Annual Headstart Training and the Salt Lake Valley Region Permanency Summit.
  • Aided in rewriting current State curriculum and delivery format of DCFS Practice Model, assessing overall effectiveness of trainings, policy changes, and training procedures.
  • Delivered State of Utah Child Welfare Training Curriculum to the State of Wisconsin Child Welfare trainers.

Caseworker, SSWState of Utah / Division of Child and Family Services

Salt Lake City, Utah

March 2003 – January 2006

  • Case managed the treatment objectives for adults, children, youth (victims and delinquents) involved with services either by court order or voluntarily.
  • Prepared court reports for legal entities regarding the achievements and failures of families and/or programs in meeting treatment objectives.
  • Assist families with referrals for: drug and alcohol treatment and evaluations, Domestic Violence Counseling, psychological evaluations, perform developmental screenings, medical appointments, parenting classes, employment opportunities, housing authorities.
  • Coordinated treatment plans in conjunction with treatment facilities, foster families, therapists, administration, families, lawyers, the court, Department of Services for People with Disabilities (DSPD), Department of Workforce Services (DWS), Division of Juvenile Justice Services (DJJS), Adult Parole and Probation (APS), Homeland Security, and schools.
  • Investigated CPS referrals involving child protection issues.

Youth Corrections State of Utah/ Division of Youth Corrections (DJJS)

Counselor IIIMillcreek Youth Center

Ogden, Utah

May 2001 – March 2003

  • Assisted residential youth offenders committed into a secure facility, in achieving court ordered treatment based on individual circumstances (i.e., gangs, drug and alcohol, sexual offenses, etc.).
  • Insured safety of all individuals associated with facility.
  • Assisted residents in crisis intervention and resolution.
  • Prepared court documents and progress reports sent to case managers and courts.
  • Assisted caseworkers and therapists to resolve individual residential issues and report weekly progress of clients.
  • Assist residents in achieving parole goals of release.
  • Assist in family therapy, family meetings and transitions to lower level of care or home environment.
  • Designed and delivered treatment groups on Interpersonal Communication.

Substitute Teacher Ogden School District and Weber School District

Youth in Custody Program

Ogden, Utah

September 2001 – May 2002

  • Provided supervision, lesson plans and activities for youth in the temporary custody of the State of Utah.
  • Assisted in problem-solving skills, communicating needs appropriately, following court ordered behavioral plans and achieving educational milestones.

Mental Health Worker II Benchmark Behavioral Health

Developmentally Delayed Unit (DDU)

Woods Cross, Utah

May 2000 – May 2001

  • Assisted mentally handicapped youth offenders in following personal therapy programs for sex offenses and other issues (i.e., violence, drug and alcohol, gangs, general delinquency, etc).
  • Assisted patients to develop problem solving skills.
  • Assisted therapists in tailoring therapeutic programs for residents, and translate for therapists during crisis interventions with Spanish speaking patients.

Mental Health WorkerYouth and Family Centered Services (YFCS)

Ogden, Utah

September 1999 – May 2000

  • Assisted youth offenders in personal therapy programs, schoolwork and cultural etiquette restructuring (personal hygiene, cooking, cleaning, and job interviews).
  • Conducted group discussions covering drugs and alcohol, sexual

issues, and criminal thinking.

Research

September 2010 – July 2013

Clinical Research Project

Comparing Behavioral and Cognitive Treatments for Chronic Insomnia: A Meta-analysis

CRP chairperson: Kathryn Hathaway, PhD

Committee members: John Gonsiorek, PhD; Jack O’Regan, PhD

CRP proposal approval: September 2011

CRP completion: July 2013

Invited Presentations

Christiansen, B. (2015). “Call in the Reinforcements: What to do when schools, doctors, and parents run out of ideas” and “The Final Chapter: Making the hard Decisions for Ourselves and Our Parents”. FeastWeek. Layton, Utah

Christiansen, B. (2015). “Trauma and Brain Development”. Foster Parent Cluster Trainings. Ogden (Spanish Speaking) and Bountiful, Utah

Christiansen, B. (2015). “Effective Foster Parenting: The Toolkit”. Utah Foster Care Foundation. Aspen Grove, Utah

Christiansen, B. (2014-2015). “Parenting and Mental Illness”. Foster Parent Cluster Trainings. Logan, Clearfield, Ogden (Spanish Speaking), Bountiful, Utah

Christiansen, B. (2013). “Parental Survival Kit: Parenting Children with Neurological Disorders”. Annual United For Adoption Conference. Provo, UT.

Christiansen, B. (2013). “Parenting and ADHD”. CHADD Conference, Bountiful, UT.

Christiansen, B. & St. John, S. (2007). “Therapeutic Approaches in the Treatment of Women with Eating Disorders”, GENERATIONS 2007, Salt Lake City, UT.