Christopher L. Heffner, PsyD, PhD
I’ve spent decades helping people and systems adapt to change in behavioral healthcare, education, and technology-enabled environments. My interest in technology began early after my dad brought home a TRS-80 computer that led to hours of Pong and conversation. Looking back, I think those experiences shaped my long-standing interest in how technology influences human connection, learning, and well-being.
Today, I serve as President-Elect of APA Division 46 and as a Professor in the APA-accredited Clinical Psychology PsyD Program at Antioch University Seattle. I also direct the Positive Psychology and Technology Lab (+PsyTechLab), where we explore how media, innovation, and technology can be used thoughtfully to support mental health, resilience, and human well-being. My current work increasingly focuses on how technology is reshaping both human-to-human and human-to-computer relationships, including an upcoming APA panel discussion on artificial intimacy and the future of human connection.
My Leadership & Professional Engagement
Much of my professional work focuses on how psychology, education, and technology intersect within rapidly evolving mental health systems. Through national leadership roles, clinician education initiatives, conference programming, and ongoing collaboration with colleagues across the country, I remain actively engaged in conversations about digital mental health, media psychology, professional training, AI, and the future of human connection.
I currently serve as President-Elect of APA Division 46, the Society for Media Psychology and Technology, where I collaborate on initiatives related to professional education, conference programming, strategic planning, and the evolving role of psychology within technology-enabled environments. I also continue to contribute to clinician training, supervision, continuing education, and competency development through my work at Antioch University Seattle, +PsyTechLab, and AllPsych.com.
My broader interests include clinician development, telehealth, digital therapeutics, professional resilience, supervision, media psychology, and helping people and systems adapt thoughtfully to change.
My Books
My new book, with coauthor Dr. Jessica A. Cowan, The Strength-Based Clinical Supervision Workbook: A Complete Guide for Mental Health Trainees and Supervisors (Routledge), is a new approach to training our future mental health professionals. It is focused on collaboration between supervisor and trainee and presented through a real-world, solution-focused, and strength-based lens. Available at Amazon.com.
The Positive Self-Care Starter provides an overview of self-care from a strength-based perspective and includes five activities to help develop positive habits that build resilience and counter stress. Available as a free download at AllPsych.com.
My Research and Presentations
My work has been published in peer-reviewed journals and presented through national conferences, professional organizations, invited trainings, and continuing education programs. I have developed and presented symposia, workshops, and invited presentations on topics related to psychology, technology and mental health, supervision, solution-focused interventions, well-being, and professional resilience. A complete list of publications and presentations can be found here.
Alongside my academic and professional work, I also write reflections and public-facing psychology articles exploring technology, media, human connection, well-being, and modern life at AllPsych.com/chrisheffner.
My Other Pages
Copyright (c) 2026, Christopher L. Heffner, PsyD, PhD