This is the place where a lot of people list their credentials and experiences in hopes of “wow-ing” visitors of their websites. Although I’ve done a lot of things in my 30+ years of practice as a psychologist and am proud of my accomplishments, I want you to know who I am as a person first because isn’t that the main thing you want to know about when you’re considering whether or not to entrust your mental health to a stranger? Here’s the lowdown on me:
- I believe that healing takes place
- through self-understanding, self-compassion & self-acceptance;
- by learning about yourself – in particular, understanding how your current behavior is a culmination of your past experiences, personality traits, and beliefs;
- by discussing and “working through” things that trouble you; and
- by learning how to use your strengths, newly formed coping skills, and support system to make positive changes in your life.
- If you talked to people who know me these are the words they would likely use to describe me: warm, caring, non-threatening, genuine, trustworthy, humble, sensitive and insightful. These are the qualities that place clients at ease and open to learning about themselves and ways to improve their mental health.
- I don’t force clients to move too far-too fast when discussing things. Rather, I invite them to talk about relevant issues at a pace that’s comfortable for them. Feeling safe is paramount.
- I’m not perfect and I don’t claim to know all the answers to clients’ problems.
- I’ve had my fair share of troubles in life and continue to recover - one day at a time.
- What I offer to clients is my expertise and experience. I’ve been doing this stuff for a long time and have learned some valuable things along the way.
- I like using humor in therapy & psychological testing sessions! (Yes, sometimes laughter is the best medicine. : )
- As a specialization service, I provide telehealth psychological testing services - if desired - to clients nationwide!
Personal stuff…
On a personal note, I grew up in Muskegon, Michigan and participated in sports and band throughout my childhood and teen years. I am married and a dad although my kiddos are all grown up. What a great experience it’s been to be a dad! We moved to Tennessee from Green Bay, Wisconsin in 1997 – where I had been in full-time private practice for six years – in order to teach in the Professional Counseling program. I have retired from teaching but maintain a full-time private practice.
This may or may not be relevant, but who cares – I’m a big Harry Potter fan! (The Weasley twins are my favorite characters, by the way.) Also, Nashville Predators hockey is awesome!
Professional stuff…
OK. Now for the other stuff. I am a Tennessee & Michigan licensed psychologist who is listed in the National Register of Health Service Psychologists. I also possess the PSYPACT credential which allows me to provide telehealth services to clients in most states (https://psypact.gov/mpage/psypactmap). The core part of my practice is assessment (i.e., conducting psychological evaluations), which is a way of answering questions about clients' mental health issues and coming up with customized "game plans" to help them. Specifically, I help people answer these types of questions:
- "Do I (or my child) have Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD or ADHD)?"
- "I'm not sure if I'm dealing with anxiety or depression - or both. Can you help me figure this out and give me some ideas of what I can do?”
- “I’m thinking that the trauma I experienced as a child is having a negative impact on my personal relationships. I want to look into this and figure out what I can do about it. Is it possible to do this through psychological testing?”
- "I've been reading a lot about adult Autism Spectrum Disorder and it sounds a lot like me. Can you tell me if I'm autistic?"
- "Do I (or my child) have a learning disability like dyslexia?"
- "My doctor/therapist/professor/teacher recommended that I (or my child) get a psychological evaluation to find out if [insert reason here]. Is this something that you do?
Prior Work Experience
Although most of my experience has been obtained in private practice, I have also worked in community mental health centers (e.g., AuSable Valley CMHC – West Branch, Michigan) and psychiatric hospitals (e.g., Pine Rest Christian Hospital – Grand Rapids, Michigan). With all of this experience, I am quite adept at helping most clients resolve issues that bring them in for help. : )
Other Work Role
I served as a professor in the Professional Counseling program at Middle Tennessee State University until 2024. I taught courses such as adult counseling, diagnosis and treatment planning, and psychological testing. I am the recipient of the 2007 – 2008 MTSU College of Education & Behavioral Science Teacher of the Year Award, 2012 MTSU University College Distinguished Educator in Distance Learning Award, 2019 Tennessee Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Counselor Educator of the Year Award and 2022 Tennessee Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Legacy League Award. Education is my passion and I sincerely believe that everyone has the potential to learn and change their lives for the better. OK. That’s enough.
Telehealth therapy credential
* Board Certified TeleMental Health (BC-TMH) Provider credential identifies those professionals who are uniquely trained in best practices for delivering traditional counseling through technological means (i.e., telehealth). BC-TMH providers have met nationally established telehealth therapy criteria and adhere to the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) Code of Ethics and Policy Regarding the Provision of Distance Professional Services.
Christopher J. Quarto, Ph.D., PLLC, Licensed psychologist