Dr. Alexander maintains an office in Rio Rancho, New Mexico where he provides child psychotherapy, psychological testing, court-appointed custody and placement evaluations, parent education, and clinical supervision.

Dr. Alexander holds memberships in the American Psychological Association, as well as the Association for the Treatment and Training in the Attachment of Children, the American Adoption Congress, and the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts. In addition, Dr. Alexander serves on the Board of Namaste, a treatment foster care organization with offices throughout New Mexico.

Dr. Alexander is considered an expert on attachment and frequently testifies in court cases pertaining to issues of childhood bonding, abuse, termination of parental rights, neglect, trauma, abandonment, divorce, and adoption. In addition to the articles he has written on parenting and child psychology, Dr. Alexander has authored the book, WELCOME HOME: A Guide for Adoptive, Foster, and Treatment Foster Parents (July 2005)

Christopher J. Alexander, Ph.D. & Associates host conferences and workshops for mental health and legal professionals, as well as for parents and families. Christopher J. Alexander, Ph.D. & Associates is approved by the American Psychological Association, as well as several state and national credentialing boards to offer continuing education for counselors, social workers, and psychologists.

Dr. Alexander also hosts professional supervision groups for persons working with children and families. Topic areas for presentations are listed below.

Dr. Alexander is available to provide presentations and training on a variety of topics, including:

* Children's Mental Health
* Understanding and Using DSM-IV-TR
* Diagnosing and Treating Childhood Psychological Disorders
* The Effects of Adoption or Foster Placement on Children
* Mental Health Professionals and the Courts
* Childhood Bonding and Attachment: Implications for Parenting and Treatment
* Issues and Trends in Sibling Placement


Below is an abbreviated copy of Dr. Alexander's resume:



EDUCATION:

Ph.D., l992, Clinical Counseling.
The Professional School of Psychology, San Francisco.

M.S., l987, Counseling and Mental Health.
California State University, Hayward.

B.A., l983, Clinical Psychology.
California State University, Hayward.


CLINICAL & TEACHING EXPERIENCE:

12/95 - Present Clinical Psychologist: Albuquerque, New Mexico.
* Specialization: Working with children and adolescents who are coping with the effects of divorce, physical/sexual abuse, adoption, trauma, and/or foster placement.
* Specialized training: Childhood attachment, child custody, trauma, criminal behavior and mental health, foster care, and adoption.
* Psychological testing (personality, intellectual, achievement, social/emotional, and neuropsychological) for children, adolescents, and adults.
* Rule 11-706 Custody evaluations for New Mexico courts.
* Clinical supervision for mental health professionals.
* Presenter/Lecturer

Adjunct Faculty, Southwestern College. Recent courses taught:

* Law and ethics
* Practical use and understanding of the DSM-IV-TR
* Diagnosing and treating disrupted attachment

Expert Witness Testimony, Interviews, Assessments, File Reviews, and/or Consultation. Recent cases include:

* Child custody
* Termination of parental rights
* Trauma; Long-term effects on children or adults
* Sibling placement
* Bonding and attachment
* Prison suicide; Institutional liability
* Client death; Therapist liability
* Personal Injury; Neurological effects on child
* Inmate mental health & classification; Institutional liability
* Adult-child bonding in non-marital relationships
* Staff sexual assault; Institutional liability

Recent Presentations Offered:

* National and Regional Trends in Children's Mental Health.
* Diagnosis and Treatment of Attachment Disturbance in Children & Adults.
* The use of Psychiatric Medication with Children.
* Bonding, Attachment, and International Adoptions.
* Clinical applications of the DSM-IV-TR.
* Principles of clinical supervision.
* Parenting children in treatment foster care.
* Treatment of traumatized children.
* Therapeutic and parental interventions with children with behavior disorders.
* Designing group interventions for adult male sex offenders.
* Writing orders and directives to meet the needs of children with attachment disorders. New Mexico Children?s Court Judges Annual Meeting. 06/26/03.
* Cross-cultural considerations in child custody evaluations. American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. 06/06/03.
* Interventions for foster and adoptive parents. Children, Youth and Families Department-Sponsored Training, Las Cruces, New Mexico. 02/03.
* Parenting the child with ADHD. CYFD Foster and Adoptive Parent Conference. 05/09/03.
* Parenting the child with reactive attachment disorder. CYFD Foster and Adoptive Parent Conference. 05/09/03.
* Diagnosing children and adolescents with the DSM-IV. John Hopkins University, Mental Health Staff Training, 12/10/02.
* Siblings In foster care; Advocacy, Inc. & New Mexico Children's Court Attorney Annual Training, Albuquerque, 11/01/02.
* The four attachment patterns: Implications for parenting, placement and counseling, Association for the Treatment and Training In the Attachment of Children. International Conference, Costa Mesa, California, 10/17/02.
* Facilitating developmental attachment in foster/adopted children. Children, Youth and Families Department Supervisor Training, 07/19/02.
* Clinical Interventions with children and adolescents. Phoenix, 05/09/02; Albuquerque, 05/14/02.
* Principles of clinical supervision. Albuquerque, 04/27/02.
* Childhood bonding and attachment. 9th Annual Foster and Adoptive Parent Conference, Albuquerque, 04/19/02.
* The Inner world of the adopted child. American Adoption Congress, International Conference, Baltimore, MD, 04/11/02.
* Adoption, attachment, and permanency planning. Children's Court Attorney Statewide Training, Albuquerque, 01/10/02.
* Interventions for foster and adoptive parents. San Raphael, California. 10/01.
* Assessing men accused of sexual offenses. Ayudantes Spring Training, Santa Fe, 03/01.
* Assessing allegations of sex abuse. CYFD Staff Training. 05/01.
* Inmate Mental Health: DSM-IV Applications.
* The role of childhood attachment in adult psychological disorders.
* A developmental perspective on adjustment to adoption.
* The effects of divorce on children.
* The effects of adoption on children.
* Children in stepfamilies: Models for adjustment.
* Prenatal substance exposure and children's behavior.