I was born during World War Two, to parents who were traveling to various locations around the U.S. to build airfields for the government. I had a serious burn accident as a toddler but survived to enjoy some early years with our milk-goats on a lake near Kansas City. We moved to the small town of Trenton MO when I was four, where my father headed up a small construction company, and I was there until leaving for college. We had the typical small-town atmosphere—a county fair, a lazy river, football homecoming, Boy Scouts, ice skating on the pond in the winter, marching in the school band. Church participation (the Disciples of Christ) was very important for forming my character and defining my values.
I was lucky enough to get into the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where I got a good and very stimulating education, though I changed from engineering as a goal to psychology and took as many philosophy and religion courses as I could at M.I.T. before graduating in 1965, after which I got married and started psychology graduate school at the Univ. of Missouri at Columbia.
I was drafted during graduate school (for Vietnam) but managed to switch from the Army to the Air Force where I could serve as a masters-level psychologist. After three years working at Wilford Hall USAF Hospital in San Antonio, the Air Force sent me back to graduate school to finish my Ph.D. (1971), after which I worked for three years at an Air Force base near Madrid, Spain.
My marriage fell apart, due in part to my relational naivete at the time, and I left the service, taking a job as a psychologist for San Bernardino County in California in 1975, because I thought Southern California would be a good place to pursue further psychotherapy training and get my own therapy. Quickly assigned to lead the doctoral clinical psychology internship program in the Department of Mental Health, I helped the program achieve national accreditation. I was given several county awards as outstanding psychologist of the year in the Department. I also analyzed pending state legislation for its impact on the department and headed up a small Quality Assurance audit team. I helped as an oral examiner of psychology license applicants for the State of California for several years, and served as President of the Inland Psychological Association (for whom I also served as Ethics Chair). I revised the By-Laws of both the Inland Psychological Association and the Education and Training Division of the California Psychological Association. I became board-certified (American Board of Professional Psychology) in clinical psychology, participated as a board-certification examiner for others, and served as President of the American Academy of Clinical Psychology for several years. For part of my time in San Bernardino, I also had a small private practice.
My second marriage resulted in twenty-seven good years together, some of those helping to shepherd two fine children into productive adulthood, before my wife died of lung cancer in 2013. I have two fine (step) grandchildren from that marriage. My current partner, whom I have known for 56 years now, starting in the Air Force, is Diana Peterson—definitely my soul mate and the love of my life.
My passion as a psychologist was psychotherapy, and I trained over 200 interns and 100 post-doctoral psychologists in knowing themselves well and using that knowledge to help clients. After retirement in 2006, I turned to further philosophy studies in a search to put together all I had learned about people into some principles for how to have the best life possible (“how to live”), which is detailed in my 2023 book Live Wisely, Deeply, and Compassionately. I believe that wisdom can be pursued and can help us to understand ourselves and others and make the best decisions we can, while living deeply (fully experiencing life and one’s emotions) prepares us to deal adaptively with life’s ups and downs. Compassion (deeply understanding the lives of others and wishing less suffering for them) is what we need most in this country in order to work together as citizens amicably. For the past several years I have been active in the Religious Society of Friends (the Quakers), who practice radical equality (that all are equal) and seek solutions to problems that are acceptable to all (instead of simply letting majority vote rule).
I have worked seriously and hard over the years to become the kind of person I wanted to be, and I’m pleased with the result! I believe (judging myself in comparison to others) that I am (and would be seen by others as) thoughtful, intelligent, quiet, calm, reasonable, fair, friendly, articulate, trustworthy, honest, responsible, consistent, accepting, cooperative, self-confident, self-aware, compassionate, and empathic. I have good self-control and manage my emotions well. I look for the best in people. I am “nice” but can be very tough in standing up for what I believe in. I have a relatively objective view of reality and can make good decisions. I insist on having adequate data (whenever possible) before coming to conclusions (which is probably frustrating to some). I have good self-esteem and like myself. I have good, happy relations with others in general, and I appreciate real closeness and intimacy. I enjoy making others happy, and I believe firmly in the “win-win” principle of relationships. I am practiced at finding common understandings between parties and finding solutions based on these realistic understandings. I believe that all of these qualities and abilities will serve me well in the position of President of these United States!
VITA
CHRISTOPHER EARL EBBE, Ph.D., ABPP
Home: 14156 SW 115th Terrace
Dunnellon FL 34432
352-237-4823 cebbe@alum.mit.edu
ACADEMIC PREPARATION
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology–University of Missouri at Columbia, June 1971
M.A. in Psychology–University of Missouri at Columbia, August 1967
B.S. in Humanities (Philosophy) and Electrical Engineering (double major)–
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, June 1965
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION
Diplomate (Board Certification) in Clinical Psychology, granted by the
American Board of Professional Psychology, 1984
Licensed as Psychologist in California, March 1976 (Lic. No. PSY 4542)
Listed until retirement in National Register of Health Service Providers in
Psychology
ADDITIONAL TRAINING
Seminars in Mental Health Systems Management by Andrew Robertson, Director of San Bernardino County Department of Mental Health, October 1976–May 1977
Introductory Group Experience portion of training program in gestalt therapy at Gestalt Therapy Institute of Los Angeles, September 1975–June 1976
Certificate of Training in Group Psychotherapy for completion of one-year didactic portion of San Antonio Group Psychotherapy Association’s training program in group psychotherapy, June 1969
Certificates in Continuing Education from California State Psychological Association (1977-79, 1980-82, 1983-85, 1986-88)
PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT
(retired from San Bernardino County service 4-1-06)
Mental Health Intern Program Supervisor (April 1976 to March 2006) San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health; San Bernardino, California.
Supervisor: Terri Franklin, LCSW
– Director of Psychology Training
– Director of nationally-accredited Ph.D.-level psychology internship program (9 interns)
– Preparation of nationwide publicity for program
– Selection of interns
– Design of training program
– Responsibility for weekly intern seminar
– Coordination of intern placements and rotations
- Coordination of intern employment contracts
– Budget preparation
– Communication and coordination with graduate schools
– Supervision of staff psychologists preparing for state licensure
– Coordination of inservice training and continuing education credits for psychology
staff
– Responsibility for monthly psychology staff meetings
– Responsibility for liaison between Department Administration and psychology staff
– Consultation with Personnel Department in developing examinations and selection
procedures for mental health positions
– Participation in applicant qualification interviews
– Participation on Department’s Research Review Committee, Utilization Review
Committee, Peer Review Committee, Training Committee, Disaster Committee,
Clinical Records Committee (chair), Labor-Management Task Force, Quality
Management Committee, Continuous Quality Improvement Committee, System-Wide Applications Team (chair), HighUsers Monitoring Committee, and Performance Outcomes Committee
– Developed and administered APA-approved continuing education program for psychologists
– Coordinated development of new charting and authorization systems for DBH
(SPARS–Service Planning, Authorization, and Review System, 1998-2000 &
SPAT–Service Periods of Allowable Treatment, 2005)
– Responsibility for liaison between the Department and the psychology profession and state regulatory board for psychology
– Analysis of impact of state legislation for Department administration
– Fact-finder for employee–Personnel Department disputes
– Quarterly training in current DSM diagnosis for all clinical staff
– Responsibility for training disaster triage teams and all clinical staff in disaster counseling
– Disaster triage team member
– Grant-writing for FEMA grant for 1992 earthquake disaster in San Bernardino County, and coordinating staff and community training following the disaster
– Clinical work and intern supervision in outpatient clinic
– Occasional court testifying
– Wrote Graduate Professional Education grant, 2002
– Co-chaired Recovery, Wellness, and Discovery Task Force that planned and
implemented the Department’s transition to a mental health recovery
philosophy of care, 2001-2002
– Coordinating all outpatient site and documentation audits/reviews, 2004-
2006
– Serving as HIPAA Privacy Officer and Security Officer, 2005-
Interim Clinic Manager as an assigned duty while serving as Psychology Training Coordinator
Discovery Day Treatment Program (January 1986–September 1986).
Supervisor: Rhoda Saterfield, M.S.W.
– Managed day treatment program with 6 staff and 25 patients
– Administrative supervision
– Clinical supervision
– Program planning and revision
– Training of staff
– Chairing staff meetings
– Chairing peer review meetings
– Assignment of duties
– Written evaluation of employee work performance
– Selection and hiring of staff
– Performing clinical records audits
– Preparing for state program audits
– Community relations
Conditional Release Program (October 1986–May 87). Supervisor: Rhoda
Saterfield, M.S.W.
– Management of clinic providing state Conditional Release program for offenders not guilty by reason of insanity, incompetent to stand trial, or classed as mentally disordered sex offenders
– Coordination with state officials
– same other duties as in Day Treatment Program above
Westside Outreach Clinic (May 87–October 87). Supervisor: Lance Morton, M.S.W.
– Management of full-service outreach clinic in Black neighborhood
– Negotiation for additional space and office rearrangements
– same other duties as in Day Treatment Program above
Staff Clinical Psychologist (January 1975–March 1976) San Bernardino County
Department of Mental Health (Outpatient Program); San Bernardino,
California.
Supervisor: Stephen B. Lawrence, Ph.D.
– Individual, conjoint, and group psychotherapy with adults
– Psychological testing
– Intake evaluations and dispositions
– Case consultation program for pastoral counselors in the community
– Supervision of M.A. and Ph.D. psychology interns
– Coordination of psychology intern training for Outpatient Program
– Assisting in coordination of overall Department psychology intern training program
– Occasional administrative tasks in Outpatient Program
U.S. Air Force Psychologist (June 1971–August 1974) Torrejon USAF Hospital; Torrejon AB, Spain. Supervisor: Lt. Col. James A. Boydstun, M.D.
– Chief of Mental Health Clinic outpatient services
– Individual, conjoint, and group psychotherapy with inpatients and
outpatients
– Psychological testing
– Family evaluations
– Individual intakes
– Case supervision and ongoing training program in testing for two psychiatric
technicians
– Founding and leading a community mental health and welfare organization
for the purpose of establishing new community programs and coordinating
activities of various base helping agencies
– Shared responsibility for coordination and training for telephone crisis-line
program volunteers
– Organization and management of homes-for-runaway-children program
– Leadership of encounter marathons for students in M.A. counseling psychology program (Ball State University)
U.S. Air Force Psychologist (September 1969–June 1971)
– Assigned to school to finish Ph.D. work at University of Missouri under Air Force sponsorship
U.S. Air Force Psychologist (October 1967–August 1969)
Wilford Hall USAF Hospital; Lackland AFB, Texas.
Supervisor: Lt. Col. Maurice Seaquist, Ph.D.
– Extensive training in psychological testing
– Supervised experience in individual psychotherapy and in both inpatient and
outpatient group therapy
– Participation in weekly team family evaluations in Child Guidance Clinic
– Teaching in new psychology internship program
(These two years of supervised experience were later counted by my
doctoral committee as an acceptable internship. The new internship
program at the hospital became APA-accredited a few years later.)
Internship (see immediately above)
Psychology Clerk (September 1966–May 1967) Fulton State Hospital; Fulton, Mo.
Supervisor: Greg Gunzel, Ph.D.
– Duties on both intake unit and unit for the criminally insane
– Intake interviewing
– Psychological testing
– Individual psychotherapy
INDIVIDUAL PRIVATE PRACTICE EXPERIENCE
San Bernardino, Colton, and Glendora, California (January 1980 to present)
– Individual, conjoint, and family psychotherapy
– Psychological testing for forensic (murder) cases
– Participation as psychologist on local radio talk show, KCKC; San
Bernardino, California, 1984
– Member of Community Advisory Council for Psychology Department,
California State College–San Bernardino, 1983, 1984
– Consultant to psychology intern program, Jerry Pettis VA Hospital; Loma Linda, California, 1982, 1983
– Member of Community Advisory Council for new doctoral program at Loma Linda University, 1995
– Training workshops on DSM-III, DSM-III-R, and DSM-IV
offered to the professional community and provided for
various hospitals in Southern California, 1979, 1980, 1988, 1995
– Public talks for various community organizations on self-esteem, 1986,
1987, 1988
– Training workshops for Metropolitan State Hospital on Brief Treatment
and on the Functional Assessment System, 1995
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
Member, American Psychological Association (Divisions of Psychotherapy,
Clinical Psychology, Independent Practice, Philosophical and Theoretical
Psychology) (graduate school to present)
Member, California State Psychological Association (Division of Public
Service, Division of Education and Training) (1975 to present)
Member, Inland Southern California Psychological Association (1975 to
present)
(Program Chair, 1976; Ethics Chair, 1977, 1983, 1991, 1992; Ethics Committee,
1976-1984, 1986-1992; President-Elect, 1979; President, 1980; Membership
Chair, 1982,
1983, 1990; Public Relations Chair, 1984; Chair–Constitutional Revision
Committee,
1990-91; President-Elect, 2015)
American Board of Professional Psychology. Board of Trustees, 2013-2014.
Council of Presidents of Psychology Specialty Academies (ABPP), 2011-2014.
President-Elect 2011-2012, President 2013-2014.
American Psychological Association–accreditation site visitor for clinical
psychology internships (1984 to 2020)
American Psychological Association–accreditation appeals panelist (2001 to
2005)
American Board of Professional Psychology (1984 to present)
Member of Western Regional Board, 1990-1993
examiner of diplomate candidates
American Board of Clinical Psychology
Western Region Examinations Coordinator, 1993-1996
member of examination restructuring committee 1996
American Academy of Clinical Psychology (Founding Fellow, 1995)
Board Member, 2004-present
chair–Continuing Education Committee
webmaster
President—2008-2009
Examiner for candidates for psychology license in California
Founded Southern California Association of Psychology Training Programs,
1996, named Emeritus 2006
HONORS
Award for “Extraordinary Leadership and Dedicated Service”. Council of Presidents of Psychology Specialty Academies (ABPP), 2014.
Award for Distinguished Service to the Division of Education and Training California Psychological Association, 2010
Psychologist of the Year–San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health, 2004, 2001, 1997, 1988 (initial selectee).
Award for Excellent Service by a County Employee (San Bernardino County, 1999)
Award for Outstanding Contributions to Public Service Psychology, from the Division of Public Service Psychology of the California Psychological Association, 1998.
Fellow status in American Academy of Clinical Psychologists, 1995
Award for Distinguished Contributions to the American Board of Professional
Psychology, 1993
“Silver Psi” awarded by California Psychological Association 3-92 for contributions at all levels of organized psychology, particularly in the local CPA chapter
Award for Distinguished Contributions to the Profession of Psychology–Inland Southern California Psychological Association, 1987
Psi Chi (National Honorary Fraternity in Psychology)–
University of Missouri at Columbia, 1970
Tau Beta Pi (National Honorary Fraternity in Engineering)–
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1964
Eta Kappa Nu (National Honorary Fraternity in Electrical Engineering)–
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1964
RESEARCH, PRESENTATIONS, AND PUBLICATIONS
Ebbe, Christopher (2023). Live Wisely, Deeply, and Compassionately.
Ebbe, Christopher (2023). A Compassionate, Moderate Political Platform for 2024.
Ebbe, Christopher (2014). A Communitarian Approach to Maintenance of Professional Competence. The California Psychologist, May 2014.
Ebbe, Christopher (2013). Positive Psychology. San Bernardino County Dept. of Behavioral Health.
Ebbe, Christopher (2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014). Efficient Psychotherapy. San Bernardino County Dept. of Behavioral Health.
Grossman, Lisa, Yufit, Robert, & Christopher Ebbe (2011). Board Certification in
Clinical Psychology. New Jersey Psychologist, v.61 (2), 34-35.
Ebbe, Christopher (2008,2009,2010,2011,2012). Countertransference. San
Bernardino County Dept. of Behavioral Health.
Ebbe, Christopher (2008,2009,2010). Self-Esteem. San Bernardino County Dept. of Behavioral Health.
Ebbe, Christopher (2010). Changing Focus: From Diversity to Difference. The California Psychologist, v.43 (2), 31.
Ebbe, Christopher. The Use of Countertransference Awareness to Improve Forensic Assessment, Treatment, and Supervision. Presentation for convention of the Forensic Mental Health Association of California, 4-19-09.
Ebbe, Christopher. The Future of ABPP Board Certification (2009). The Specialist, 28-1, winter, 2009.
Ebbe, Christopher. Training Implications of Psychologist Eligibility for Licensure
Upon Graduation (2008). The California Psychologist, 41-5, Sept.-Oct. 2008.
Ebbe, Christopher. Licensed to Practice Psychology at the Point of Graduation:
Implications from Four Psychology Training Perspectives (with Sheryn Scott, Ph.D.,
Karen Enyedy, Ph.D., Annette Brodsky, Ph.D., Ilene Bell, Ph.D., & Jacqueline Horn, Ph.D.) California Psychological Assoc. Convention, 4-12-07.
Ebbe, Christopher. Positive Psychology. Psychology Staff Meeting, San Bernardino County Dept. of Behavioral Health, 1-22-07.
Ebbe, Christopher. Planning and Execution of Efficient Psychotherapy. Workshop presented at Dept. of Behavioral Health, 11-05.
Ebbe, Christopher. Planning and Execution of Efficient Psychotherapy. Workshop presented at Dept. of Behavioral Health, 6-05.
Ebbe, Christopher. A Review of DSM-III, DSM-III-R, and DSM-4. Workshop presented quarterly at Dept. of Behavioral Health, 1980 to 1991.
Ebbe, Christopher. Appropriate and Effective Charting. Workshop presented quarterly at Dept. of Behavioral Health, 1989-2006.
Ebbe, Christopher (with David Tansey, Ph.D.). Psychotherapy of Schizophrenia.
Workshop presented at Dept. of Behavioral Health, 4-05.
Ebbe, Christopher. Clinical Supervision. Workshop presented at Dept. of Behavioral Health, 12-04.
Ebbe, Christopher. Self-Esteem Training as a Recovery Tool. Workshop presented at Dept. of Behavioral Health, 2-04.
Ebbe, Christopher. How to Feel Good About Yourself: the 12 Steps to Positive Self-Esteem. Gretna, LA: Wellness Institute, 2003.
Ebbe, Christopher. Preparing for Board Certification (ABPP) in Clinical Psychology. Workshop presented at California Psychological Association convention, 4-02.
Ebbe, Christopher. Principles of Determining Length and Type of Treatment–Deciding When To Stop. Workshop presented at Dept. of Behavioral Health, 3-02
Ebbe, Christopher. Preparing for Board Certification in Clinical Psychology.
Workshop presented at ABPP Summer Institute, Portland OR, 6-00
Ebbe, Christopher. Rational Assessment for Length and Type of Treatment. Workshop presented at Dept. of Behavioral Health, 2-29-00.
Ebbe, Christopher. Clinical Supervision In-Depth. Workshop presented at Dept. of Behavioral Health, 12-15-99.
Ebbe, Christopher, & Robb, Hank. Preparing for Board Certification in Clinical and Counseling Psychology. Workshop presented at ABPP Summer Institute, Portland OR, 6-98 and 6-99
Ebbe, Christopher. Rational Assignment of Treatment Type and Length. Lecture presented at California Psychological Association convention, 3-99.
Ebbe, Christopher. Brief Psychotherapy. Workshop presented at Dept. of Behavioral Health, 2-11-99.
Ebbe, Christopher. Planning and Execution of Efficient Psychotherapy. Workshop presented at Dept. of Behavioral Health, 11-05.
Ebbe, Christopher, How To Feel Good About Yourself: The 12 Steps to Positive
Self-Esteem. Gretna LA: Wellness Institute, 2003.
Ebbe, Christopher. Self-Esteem Enhancement for Individuals and Groups. Workshop presented at Dept. of Behavioral Health, 12-10-98.
Ebbe, Christopher. Using Countertransference to Prevent Harm and Enhance
Treatment. Workshop presented at Dept. of Behavioral Health, 9-11-98.
Ebbe, Christopher & Alumbaugh, Mary Jane. Humane Approaches
to Assessment and Authorization in Public Managed Care. Lecture presented at California Psychological Association convention, 3-98.
Ebbe, Christopher. A Functional Assessment System for Diagnosis and Treatment Planning. Workshop presented at Dept. of Behavioral Health, 2-22-98.
Ebbe, Christopher. Positive Individual Mental Health. Lecture presented at the Midwinter Convention of American Psychological Association Divisions 29, 42, and 43, 2-98.
Ebbe, Christopher. Self-Esteem as an Essential Support for the Resiliency of Young People. Lecture presented at 11th Annual Children’s Network Conference, 9-97.
Ebbe, Christopher. An Alternative Diagnostic System Based on Functioning. Lecture presented at Metropolitan State Hospital, 1997.
Ebbe, Christopher. Clinical and Administrative Supervision: How To Do Them Both Effectively in Combination. Workshop presented at Dept. of Behavioral Health, 4-14-97.
Ebbe, Christopher. Principles of Brief Psychotherapy. Workshop presented at Dept. of Behavioral Health, 5-31-96.
Ebbe, Christopher. An Alternative Diagnostic System Based on Functioning.
Lecture presented at California Psychological Association convention, 1996
Ebbe, Christopher. Learn to Design Your Own Treatment Outcome Research.
Lecture presented at California Psychological Association convention, 1995
Ebbe, Christopher. DSM-4–An Outline, 1994
Ebbe, Christopher. Self-Esteem–A Rallying Point for Societal Change.
The California Psychologist, 1994, vol. 27, 10-11.
Ebbe, Christopher: Self-Esteem–A Rallying Point for Societal Change. Lecture
presented at California Psychological Association convention, 1994
Ebbe, Christopher: The Torrejon Concerned Community–An Experiment in
Community Organization in an Overseas U.S. Air Force Setting. Paper presented at U.S. Air Force Medical Service Training Conference–Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, 1973
Grossman, L., Yufit, R., & Ebbe, Christopher (2012). ABPP Board Certification in
Psychology—Its Contribution to Lifelong Learning and Quality Care. “The California Psychologist”, 45(4), 27-28.
Grossman, L., Yufit, R., & Ebbe, Christopher (2011). Why Have Board Certification? “The Specialist”, 30(1), 15-16
Ph.D. Dissertation: Modeling and Persistence in Children–
University of Missouri at Columbia, 1971
M.A. Thesis: A Perceptual Study of Friendship and Friend Functions–
University of Missouri at Columbia, 1967
Peterson, David E.; Saltzstein, Herbert D.; and Ebbe, Christopher. Sequential Effects in Social Influence, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1967, vol. 6, 169-174.
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