Meet Chris Conley, MA, LPC
With every role I’ve had, from pastor to therapist to speaker, I’ve been drawn to one thing: helping others find clarity, direction, and space to grow.
I've spent over 15 years working in mental health, pastoral care, and community leadership, and every one of those experiences shapes how I show up today. I've worked in private practice, community mental health, and alongside nonprofits, and I've learned that the most meaningful growth happens when people feel safe enough to be honest with themselves and with the people around them.
That's what I try to create, whether I'm supervising a counseling resident, speaking to a room full of clinicians, or sitting with an organization that's trying to figure out how to take better care of its people.
I'm the cofounder of Clinician Connection, a professional community that brings mental health professionals together through an annual oceanfront conference in Virginia Beach. Building that has been one of the most rewarding parts of my career as I continue to watch clinicians show up exhausted and leave feeling connected and reminded of why they got into this work.
Through Open Harbor Consulting, I provide clinical supervision for counseling residents in Virginia, speak on topics like mental health, leadership, and religious and spiritual trauma, and partner with churches, nonprofits, and organizations that want to lead with more intention and care.
One area I'm especially passionate about is the intersection of faith and mental health — specifically, how to support people who've been harmed by religious or spiritual environments. It's a topic I've spoken on at national conferences like ASERVIC, discussed on podcasts like Kinder Mind, Wise Practice, and Colleague Down the Hall, and am currently researching as part of my doctoral work. It's personal to me, and I believe the counseling field needs more people who can hold that space with both clinical skill and genuine understanding.
I'm currently pursuing my PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision, and I've been providing clinical supervision since 2016, walking alongside more than 30 residents on their path to licensure. I also volunteer regularly with organizations like AIDNow, VALeap, and the VB Strong Center.
If there's a thread that ties all of this together, it's this: I believe people and organizations do their best work when they've had a safe place to rest, reflect, and get ready for what's next. That's what Open Harbor is — a place to anchor before you set sail.