Intake Role

Chris Klem at the Phoenix Center for Experiential Trauma Therapy, Manager of Community Relationships

Part of my role is to help you take the first steps towards accessing care.  I have spent my entire life striving to create safe spaces, meeting people with compassion, and a drive to change how we connect to each other.  My goal is to provide you with a welcomed opportunity to share more about yourself, your goals, and any preferences you have in finding a therapist.

I understand compatibility is essential to developing a safe and effective therapeutic relationship. I will work with you to determine which of our therapists at Phoenix Center may be best suited for you. When we experience a trauma, we can often lose our autonomy. While I may make therapist suggestions, I want to empower you to make selections based on who you want to work with.

Most of my work has been with direct service, anti-violence and anti-oppression organizations. This has contributed towards my drive of ensuring clients feel safe, seen and heard.  As a member of the queer and trans community, I am a fierce advocate for inclusion and strive to create a space where all feel welcomed and valued for existing as their authentic self. I look for ways to purposely and actively change systems to be inclusive and trauma informed. Aside from phone intake calls, I also offer video intake appointments. You can connect with me through text (scheduling only), email, or our online booking platform here: https://phoenixtraumacenter.clientsecure.me/

Community Engagement

The other aspect of my role at the Phoenix Center is to engage with our clients and the community. I do this through outreach, networking, social media, newsletters, and workshops. Whether we cross each other in the lobby, communicate through Facebook, or meet at an event, I love to hear about how we are doing. I also want to hear about ways we can improve our clients’ experiences and how we can better support you.

Diversity, Trauma-Informed Care, Safety, Inclusion and Choice in Trauma Therapy at the Phoenix Center

I strive to ensure our marketing is aligned with our values, is trauma-informed, and represents the diversity of our clients. Creating a space (whether physical or virtual) that feels safe and welcoming is my highest priority.

Whether you are a client, a community member, a website visitor, or a partnering provider, I invite you to reach out to me. Let me know how we are doing and if there are ways we could improve your experience.

Continuing Education

Outside of my role, I also love designing and facilitating trainings and workshops. My love of teaching started during college, where I was a Sociology tutor, and has developed throughout my career as my interests grew deeper and wider. I have over a decade of experience designing and facilitating training programs for both large and small organizations. Some of my past training topics include: Trauma-Informed Care, Supporting LGBTQIA+ Clients (including Gender Affirming Care), Sexual Violence, Mandatory Reporting, Ethics and Values, Capacity & Competency, Aging-Related Care, and Caregiving.

Adult learning and continuing education have been embedded in my professional career and have always been my favorite aspect of any role I have held. As someone who struggles with reading comprehension, but thrives with hands on learning, I strive to incorporate various learning techniques in my workshops. I also prioritize practice-based and experiential learning. Knowing that some of the most valuable opportunities for learning arise from first-hand experience, I find that all of us have valuable information to share, and knowledge doesn’t just come from formal education.


Sample Past Workshops

The Aging Brain: When Dementia and Mental Health Overlap
Integrating Gender Affirming Care into Trauma Informed Care
Supporting Transgender Clients During Their Transition