Neal Christensen

PhD, LP

Dr. Neal Christensen is licensed psychologist and an owner and therapist at Elements Wilderness Program in Utah. He is a native of Kansas and attended the University of Kansas for his graduate degree, and conducted his dissertation studying adolescents in wilderness therapy. He moved to Utah in pursuit of working in the field of wilderness and adventure therapy nearly 20 year ago. Issues Neal frequently treats include depression, anxiety, digital media, neurobehavioral (OCD) and neurodevelopmental (ADHD and autism) disorders, and associated family conflict. He was the Research Committee Chair of the Outdoor Behavioral Health Council for eight years, supporting a large multi-site research study investigating the efficacy of Outdoor Behavioral Health Care. He has written and presented on topics including OCD, autism, pathological demand avoidance, Digital Media Overuse, and benefits on mental health and family functioning related to wilderness therapy. Neal is fascinated with how the outdoors and wilderness and adventure therapies help to treat teens and families in a holistic way with neurobehavioral challenges and neurodevelopmental deficits.