Greg Czyszczon

Gregory Czyszczon, Ph.D., LPC is a Licensed Professional Counselor, clinical supervisor, educator, and musician. He has been working with children, adolescents, individuals, couples, and families in the fields of education, social work, and counseling for over 30 years. In addition to his Ph.D., he holds Master’s degrees in Special Education and Community Counseling, and an Ed.S. degree in Community Counseling. Since 1995, he has held a postgraduate professional teaching license in Virginia with endorsements in History, Special Education (ED), and School Counseling.

Having worked in higher education since 2000, Dr. Czyszczon is an Assistant Professor of Counseling at Eastern Mennonite University. His main focus is both the technique and process of clinical mental health counseling. He also teaches Human Growth and Development, Internship, and Addictions. Through his courses, he blends experiential learning with here-and-now felt sense encounter to illuminate a lived and embodied experience of healing and change.

Dr. Czyszczon’s scholarly interests and pursuits are many. Specifically, he is interested in the many ways that parent/child attachment inform human experience throughout the lifespan. He is a phenomenologist at heart and values ways of knowing that privilege lived experience.  He is the founder and director of the Restoring Connections Research and Practice Lab at Eastern Mennonite University, an initiative whose mission is to investigate, through a critical participatory action paradigm, how human beings form, maintain, and repair intimate human relationships using the framework of attachment theory in the Bowlby/Ainsworth tradition. At present, two projects are in motion including an investigation of the effectiveness of Transformative Couples Therapy® (TCT) and a grant-funded project called Conectere in partnership with the Seminary at Eastern Mennonite University and the Divinity School at Yale. Future directions include an initiative called Fostering Forever Families that will introduce the practice of alloparenting to meet the extraordinary needs of children in the child welfare system. Dr. Czyszczon is an active Executive Board member of the Global Association for Interpersonal Neurobiology Studies (GAINS) and is frequently in dialogue with leaders in the field of IPNB including Bonnie Badenoch, Dan Siegel, Iain McGilchrist, James Finley, and Rhonda V. Magee.  

Clinically, Dr. Czyszczon specializes in working with people who have experienced trauma. For working with children, he is certified in the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics metric from the Child Trauma Academy and has training in the SITCAP® model from the National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children. Dr. Czyszczon is an experienced play therapist and has published in Guilford’s Play Therapy: A Comprehensive Guide to Theory and Practice. He has presented at the Mid-Atlantic Play Therapy Training Institute. He uses multiple modalities to engage children and adolescents in therapy including sandtray, art, music, and movement. With adults and couples at his private practice called Innerwork Counseling, Dr. Czyszczon specializes in Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) and is currently a Lead Experiential Assistant for the AEDP Institute and serves on the TeachAEDP committee. Dr. Czyszczon is also a co-principal investigator, with Dr. Anne Stewart, for the TCT research project as well as a seasoned practitioner of the TCT model.

In terms of supervision, Dr. Czyszczon is a lead clinical supervisor for the Secure Child Program which provides attachment-based, trauma-informed intervention for children and parents involved in the child welfare system. Dr. Czyszczon is the founder and Executive Director of the Harrisonburg Center for Relational Health, a counseling agency working from an interpersonal neurobiological and holistic perspective to offer low-cost counseling services in the local community. His agency has had partnerships with various local organizations to provide services in the local area that were either not present or in great demand. These have included partnering with Shenandoah Women’s Health to provide the only clinical mental health service specializing in Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADS) in the region and partnering with Strength in Peers to provide clinical oversight and clinical mental health services for two grant-funded programs addressing the needs of individuals struggling with substance use, homelessness, and a host of other risk factors.

Prior to the pandemic, Dr. Czyszczon had been part of an effort, in collaboration with representatives from the child welfare, mental health, education, and juvenile justice systems, to establish a local Trauma-Informed Community Network in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, Virginia. Dr. Czyszczon has published and presented in the areas of families in crisis, family play therapy, and the professionalization of in-home counseling. He is particularly interested in the integration of attachment, family therapy, and play therapy to build individual, family, and community resilience.

In his free time, Dr. Czyszczon plays the piano, guitar, and sings. Many years ago, he was part of a musical group called Sons of Icarus. He is in the process of recording a series of new songs having taken piano instruction from Dr. David Berry, Elmo Peeler, and Matt Rollings. He makes active use of music in his clinical work and finds the themes of musicality and the themes of healing to be powerfully integrated.

I don’t know that I have a mission statement, but I do have any number of important experiences, ideas, and joys that inform how I live and move and have my being in this life. Many years ago at a retreat, my friend Burr Datz asked me, "Greg, what is leadership?" Knowing Burr's penchant for wise ways of relating, I attempted to rise to his occasion: "I don’t know – maybe gentleness and virtue?” Burr gently responded, “leadership is to heal and transform.” I later came to understand that this is the meaning of tikkun olam, an idea that comes from the Hebrew language and tradition. Other relationships offer additional wisdom, one of which is the collegial relationship of my dear friend Dr. Jennifer Cline. Jenny talks about (and embodies) a “non-anxious presence,” offering an invitation in how to move through the world; another is a relationship with James Taylor, a man I’ve never met but feel like I know through his music. In his song, Secret of Life, Taylor writes: “try not to try too hard; it’s just a lovely ride.” That line has come to have great import for me. Additionally, I take solace in the wisdom of the father figure in the movie adaptation of Carl Sagan’s Contact in which Jodie Foster plays a scientist whose younger self is encouraged to make “small moves” in pursuit of her goals. From there, I am then reminded of Mother Teresa’s quote that, “we cannot do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Finally, I take great inspiration from Fr. Greg Boyle who writes of a compassion that “stands in awe of what people have to carry, not in judgment of how they carry it.”

Perhaps some wise version of myself is able to offer a ‘mission statement’ that elegantly captures all of the above; nay, I will offer a ‘mission poem’ instead:

move — slowly and gently —

rooted

with kindness

(when possible) ¡all/ways!?

offer a joyful heart

(in the face of suffering)

invite small moments [not too big now]

(of care and compassion)

stay with

be with

(pain)

stand in awe

(of moments of)

not-dis-but re-member-ing

love

all that is

always

already

is

love becoming love

Czyszczon, G. (July 2023). “The Healing Path with James Finley & Bonnie Badenoch.” Global Association for Interpersonal Neurobiology Studies Living Journal Webinar.

Czyszczon, G. (December 2022). “Introduction to Neurobiology in Play Therapy.” Virginia Association for Play Therapy, Harrisonburg Chapter.

Czyszczon, G., Meador, M., Culp, L. (October 2022). “The Divided Brain Discussion with Iain McGilchrist and Dan Siegel.” Global Association for Interpersonal Neurobiology Studies Living Journal Webinar.

Czyszczon, G. (September 2022). “IntraConnected: Integrating Identity and Broadening Belonging as MWe with Dan Siegel.” Global Association for Interpersonal Neurobiology Studies Living Journal Webinar.

Czyszczon, G. & Olson, K. (July 2022). “Navigating in Turbulent Times with Deb Dana.” Global Association for Interpersonal Neurobiology Studies Living Journal Webinar.

Czyszczon, G. (November 2021). “The Inner Work of Racial Justice with Rhonda V. Magee.” Global Association for Interpersonal Neurobiology Studies Living Journal Webinar.

Czyszczon, G. & Lowell, M. (September 2021). “Game Changer: Attachment as a Survival System from a DMM Perspective with Marc Baumann.” Global Association for Interpersonal Neurobiology Studies Living Journal Webinar.

Czyszczon, G., George, S., & Singh, T. (July 2021). “The Secure Child Program: Applying the Interpersonal Neurobiology of Attachment in the Child Welfare System.” Global Association for Interpersonal Neurobiology Studies Living Journal Webinar.

Czyszczon, G., Meador, M., & Olson, K. (December 2020). “Strange Situation: A Mother’s Journey into the Science of Attachment with Bethany Saltman.” Global Association for Interpersonal Neurobiology Studies Living Journal Webinar.

Czyszczon, G. (May 2020). “Nervous Systems in an Anxious Time.” National Alliance on Mental Illness, Virginia Chapter; Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint; Eastern Mennonite University, Trauma and Resilience in Healthcare Certificate Program.

Stewart, A., Echterling, L., and Czyszczon, G. (June 2016). “The Magic and Neuroscience of Play Therapy.” Mid-Atlantic Play Therapy Training Institute, Arlington, VA.

Czyszczon, G. (June 2015). “Diversity and Empathy in Lifespan Human Development.” Eastern Conference on the Teaching of Psychology, Staunton, VA.

Czyszczon, G. (April 2015). “The Marschak Interaction Method.” COUN 557, Assessment and Evaluation Procedures, Eastern Mennonite University.

Heselmeyer, R. & Czyszczon, G. (June 2013). “A Mindful Approach to Intercultural Development.” Association for Humanistic Counseling National Conference, New York, NY.

Heselmeyer, R. & Czyszczon, G. (September 2012). “Mindful Multiculturalism: Exploring Intercultural Attitudes through Reflective Awareness.” Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Conference, Savannah, GA.

Dupre, M. & Czyszczon, G. (October 2011). “Supervising in Non-traditional Settings: Challenges and Opportunities.” Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Conference, Nashville, TN.
 
Czyszczon, G., & Hammond, C. (March 2011). “The Marschak Interaction Method: Using Play-Based Assessment to Measure Attachment in Home-Based Family Counseling.” Conversations on Attachment, Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, VA.

Czyszczon, G., & Hammond, C. (March 2011). “Home-Based Family Counseling: An Emerging Field in Need of Professionalization.” American Counseling Association Conference, New Orleans, LA.

Echterling, L., Stewart, A., Heselmeyer, R., Czyszczon, G., Dupre, M., & Lynch, M. (October 2010). “Applying Improvisation Principles to Counselor Education.” Southern Association for Counselor Education  and Supervision Conference, Williamsburg, VA

Heselmeyer, R. & Czyszczon, G. (October 2010). “Encouraging Worldview Development: A Framework for Moving Toward Ethnorelativism.” Diversity Challenge sponsored by the Institute for the Study and Promotion of Race and Culture, Boston College, Boston, MA.

Czyszczon, G. and Lynch M. (February 2010).  “Families in Crisis: In-Home Techniques that Promote Resilience.”  6th Annual Traumatology Symposium, Argosy University, Sarasota, FL.

Czyszczon, G. (April 2008). “Illusions of Intimacy: Human Encounter in an Electronic Age.”  Graduate Research Symposium, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

Czyszczon, G. (April 2008).  “Deepening Diversity: the Intercultural Development Inventory.”  Invited presentation, President’s Navigating Diversity Conference, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

Todd, M. & Czyszczon, G. (March 2008).  “Comparison of Health and Academic Performance Between University Recreation Users and Non-Users.”  National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association Conference, Austin, TX.

Todd, M., Czyszczon,  G., Sidman,  C., and Pratt, C.  (September 2007).   “Comparison of Health and Academic Indices Between University Recreation Facility Users and Non-Users.” Poster presentation, CISAT Research Day, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

Czyszczon, G. & Todd, M. (November 2006).  “Generation M Goes to College: Electronic Media Use and Correlates to Health and Academic Performance.” Virginia Student Services Conference, Wintergreen, VA.

Czyszczon, G., Todd, M., Krikau, P., and Bacon, J. (September 2006). “Generation M Goes to College: Electronic Media Use and Correlates to Health and Academic Performance.”  Invited presentation, James Madison University Student Affairs and University Planning Division Leadership Team, Harrisonburg, VA.   

Czyszczon, G. & Krikau, P.   (November 2006).   “The Matrix: Understanding White Privilege.” Virginia Student Services Conference, Wintergreen, VA.

Czyszczon, G.J., Gatesman, C. and Meyer, G. (November 2006).  “Spirituality Dialogues.” Virginia Student Services Conference, Wintergreen, VA.

Czyszczon, G. (June 2004).  “Instant Messaging and Community in Residence Halls.”  Association of College and University Housing Officers International Conference, Montreal, QC, Canada.

Czyszczon, G. (June 2004).  “Instant Messaging and Community in Residence Halls.” ResNet Conference, Princeton, NJ.

Czyszczon, G. (February 2004).  “Instant Messaging:  :) or :(  ?” Southeast Association of Housing Officers Conference, Hilton Head, SC. 

Czyszczon, G. (November 2003).  “A Revolution and Its Malcontents:  Beginning to Address the Impact of the Internet on Students’ Social Relationships.” Virginia Association for Student Personnel Administration/Virginia Association of College and University Housing Officers Conference, Wintergreen, VA.

Czyszczon, G. & Young, W. (November 2003).  “Good Grief!  Mentoring Students Through the Grief Process.” Virginia Association for Student Personnel Administration/Virginia Association of College and University Housing Officers Conference, Wintergreen, VA.

Czyszczon, G., et. al. (May 1995).  “Outdoor education and special students: Camp KAT and Camp DJ.” Council for Exceptional Children Conference, Roanoke, VA.

Czyszczon, G.  (March 1993).  “Progressive Education in the Civilian Conservation Corps, 1933-1942.” Seventh National Conference on Undergraduate Research in Salt Lake City, UT.

January 2020                Czyszczon, G. Exploring Implicit Bias Using the Intercultural Development Inventory. A workshop for school counselors, school                                                                psychologists, and school social workers. Harrisonburg City Schools, Harrisonburg VA.

November 2017             Czyszczon, G. Building Trauma-Informed Schools. A how-to workshop for school counselors. Rockingham County Schools, Harrisonburg,                                            VA. 

June 2017                      Czyszczon, G., Howard, A., & Richardson-Lauve, J. Building Trauma-Informed Schools. A how-to workshop for teachers, school                                                              counselors, and administrators. Summer Institute in Counseling, James Madison University.

June 2017                      Czyszczon, G. Building Trauma-Informed Schools. A how-to workshop for school Central Office administration and Principals. Rockingham                                          County Schools, Harrisonburg, VA. 

February 2015               Czyszczon, G. Looking Through Each Other’s Eyes: Power, Privilege, and Difference from Ferguson to Blue Ridge. Blue Ridge Community                                            College. Facilitated dialogue on diversity in light of current events. Sponsored by the Regional Center for Teaching Excellence, Virginia                                                  Community College System.

June 2011                       Czyszczon, G. & Heselmeyer, R. Mindful Multiculturalism: Reflective Exploration of Intercultural Development. Explored intercultural                                                       themes using mindfulness meditation. Summer Institute in Counseling, James Madison University.

September 2010           Czyszczon, G. Living, Learning and Teambuilding. Brought together five living-learning communities at a local community college for an                                                afternoon of teambuilding.  Blue Ridge Community College, repeated in September 2011 and 2012. 

October 2008                Czyszczon, G. & Krikau, P.  The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Provided Alternative Spring Break Trip Leaders with tools to deepen                                                           leadership capacities through an understanding of psychological type.  James Madison University.   

August 2008                 Czyszczon, G.  Developing Intercultural Sensitivity. Provided an interactive workshop using the Intercultural Development Inventory for                                                  multicultural attachés training with the Center for Multicultural Student Services.  James Madison University. 

September 2007           Czyszczon, G. & Krikau, P.  The Matrix:  Understanding White Privilege. Provided an interactive workshop which utilized a privilege walk                                                 and group discussion to engage a large group of freshman, sophomore and junior students participating in a leadership training program.                                            Washington & Lee University, Lexington, Virginia. 

March 2007                   Czyszczon, G. & Krikau, P.  The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.  Provided organizational development using psychological type for the staff                                            of the local Big Brothers Big Sisters. Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Community

2019-2021                    Harrisonburg Rockingham Free Clinic, Board Member

2014-2021                    Social Services Advisory Board, City of Harrisonburg, Chairperson

2014-2016                    Local Human Rights Committee, Commonwealth Center for Children, Chairperson

2007-2009                   Local Human Rights Committee, Commonwealth Center for Children, Member

2008-2009                   Office of Judicial Affairs, James Madison University, Civic Learning Mentor

1998-2004                   Local Human Rights Committee, Commonwealth Center for Children, Member & Chair

Academic

January 2023                Evolved Nest Curriculum, Darcia Narvaez, Ph.D., Reviewer

January 2015                 Lifespan Development, Sage Publications, Reviewer

Fall 2008                        A Casebook for Exploring Diversity, Pearson, Allyn & Bacon, Reviewer

Spring 2008                  Introduction to Leadership: Concepts and Practice, Sage Publications, Reviewer

2023                             Bixler, S., Czyszczon, G., & Wright, A. (2023). Conectere: Restoring Connections with Caregivers and Faith: Lilly Endowment, $1.25 million.

2023                             Peer Support Ally of the Year, Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services Region 1 Year of the Peer.

2018                             Clinical Counselor of the Year, Central Virginia Counselors Association

2010                             President’s Award for Outstanding Writing in 2009, National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association.

2006                             Outstanding Professional in Virginia, Virginia Association of College and University Housing Officers.

Commonwealth of Virginia, Board of Counseling, Licensed Professional Counselor (0701004850)

Commonwealth of Virginia, Postgraduate Professional Teaching License (PGP-371550)

Teacher, History & Emotional Disturbance (K-12); School Counselor (PreK-12)

Mary D. Ainsworth Child-Parent Attachment Clinic/Ainsworth Attachment Clinic, The Circle of Security® Individual and Family Protocol, Certified by Robert Marvin, Ph.D.

Clinical Supervision Training presented by Thomas G. Durham, Ph.D., LADC, Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (VASIP/COSIG), Certificate of Completion.

Murphy-Meisgeier Type Indicator for Children® (MMTIC®), Center for Application of Psychological Type (CAPT), Certified.

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®), Otto Kroeger Associates (OKA), Qualified Administrator.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Level I Provider

Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT™) from the Child Trauma Academy, Houston, TX. Certified

Intercultural Development Inventory® (IDI®), IDI, LLC, Qualified Administrator.

Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP), Level III Provider

National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) Acudetox Specialist. 

National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA), Member

Global Association for Interpersonal Neurobiology Studies (GAINS), Board Member & Vice-President

Virginia Association for Play Therapy (VAPT), Member

Society for Emotional and Attachment Studies (SEAS), Member

Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD), Member

AEDP Institute, Member

American Counseling Association (ACA), Member

Association for Humanistic Counseling (AHC), Member

Virginia Counseling Association (VCA), Member