Dr. Christopher J. Ward, PhD, LPC, ACS, NCC
Title: Assistant Professor of Counseling, National Louis University
Programs/Classes Taught:
CMHC
- HSC 504: Clinical Techniques of Counseling
- HSC 511: Professional Practice & Ethics in Counseling
- HSC 501: Fundamentals of Counseling
- HSC 506: Introduction to Theory & Practice of Family Therapy
- HSC 509: Human Development Theory
Areas of Expertise:
- Counselor Education & Supervision
- Couple and Family Therapy
- Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- Play Therapy
- Counseling Supervision
- Crisis Services & Substance Treatment
Biography:
Dr. Christopher J. Ward is an Assistant Professor of Counseling at National Louis University and serves as a faculty advisor for the National Louis University Counseling Association. He earned his Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of Northern Colorado, with emphases in Couple and Family Therapy and Play Therapy. Dr. Ward is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Colorado and currently provides therapy and supervision services through his private practice, Pellucid Counseling & Supervision. He previously worked as a clinician in crisis services, substance treatment, and rural community behavioral health, serving diverse populations including veterans, clients with dual diagnoses, individuals experiencing homelessness, and those involved in the criminal justice system. His scholarly interests include counselor identity development, student persistence and engagement, and the relational experiences of counselors in training. Dr. Ward received the University of Northern Colorado Graduate Dean’s Citation for Outstanding Dissertation for his interpretive phenomenological analysis study exploring how counselors in training experience their interpersonal and intrapersonal relationships.
Education
- Ph.D., Counselor Education & Supervision, University of Northern Colorado (2022)
- M.A., Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Adams State University (2015)
- B.A., Political Science, Colorado State University (1997)
Credentials
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Colorado, LPC.0014304
Research and Interests:
Counselor identity development, student persistence and engagement, relational experiences of counselors in training, interpersonal and intrapersonal impacts of counselor training, crisis intervention, couple and family therapy
Memberships
- American Counseling Association (ACA)
- Association of Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES)
Publications
Hauck, A., Persutte-Manning, S. L., Ward, C., Ohde, K., Vaughan, A. L., & Critchlow, C. (2020). Assessing First-Year Seminar Performance with College Engagement, Academic Self-Efficacy, and Student Achievement. Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice.
Ward, C., Ohde, K., Rose, J. S., Park, J., & Vaughan, A. L. (2020). First-year seminars: Supporting STEM college student academic success and persistence. The Journal of The First-Year Experience & Students in Transition, 32(2).
Vaughan, A., Dorn, B., Rose, J.S., Ward, C., Hauck, A.A. (2020). Intersection between TRIO/SSS Programs and FYS: Effects on first-generation students. Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, 20(15).
Presentations
The Mental Health Impact of Reproductive Rights Uncertainty: Supporting Clients Through Shifting Legal Landscapes.
Dr. Donna Kirkpatrick Pinson Legacy Conference, National Louis University, Virtual. (April 2026)
Braving the Sea Change: An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis Study of how Counselors-in-Training Experience their Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Relationships.
National Louis University Counseling Association (NLUCA), Illinois Counseling Association (November 2023); Rocky Mountain Association of Counselor Educators Conference (October 2022).
Kindness: The Impact on Counselor, Counselor Educator, and Supervisor Relationships.
Association for Humanistic Counseling Conference (June 2018).
What Intercultural Couples Want Counselors to Know.
Colorado Mental Health Professionals Conference (Spring 2016); Rocky Mountain Association of Counselor Educators Conference (Fall 2016).
Death with Dignity: Implications for Mental Healthcare Providers.
Colorado Mental Health Professionals Conference (Spring 2016).
Counselor Educators and The Issue of Impairment.
Rocky Mountain Association of Counselor Educators Conference (Fall 2016).
Do I Really Have to Ask That? Advocating for Suicide Risk Assessment and Intervention Competency in Counselor Training.
Colorado Mental Health Professionals Conference (Spring 2015); Rocky Mountain Association of Counselor Educators Conference (Fall 2014).
Contact Information:
Phone: 970-680-3185
