Christian Jordal, PhD, is the chair and an associate clinical professor of the Counseling & Family Therapy Department at Drexel University. He has been at Drexel since 2012. He formerly taught foundational, contextual and supervisory graduate and undergraduate courses in couple and family therapy, counseling psychology, and human development at the Northcentral University, University of Oregon and Virginia Tech.

Jordal is a licensed marriage and family therapist in the states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey and been clinically active for 15 years across a variety of university, agency and hospital-based settings, including the Drexel University Individual, Couple, and Family Therapy Services Clinic, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine at the University of California at San Diego, the Family Therapy Center at the University of Oregon and the Marriage and Family Counseling Service in Rock Island, Illinois. He is trained in Emotionally focused Therapy and has a private practice in Center City Philadelphia, where he works with adult individuals, couples, and families.

Jordal is a Clinical Fellow and Approved Supervisor in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Jordal earned a post-graduate certificate in sex therapy from the Philadelphia Council for Relationships in 2014, and he completed a post-graduate certificate in transgender healthcare from Widener University in 2018. He is a Certified Sex Therapist Supervisor by the American Society for Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists.

Jordal formerly served on the Commission for Accreditation on Marriage and Family Therapy Education from 2018-2021. He currently serves on the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors.

Jordal's research agenda and scholarship includes the use of mixed methodology and encompasses sexual and gender identity and relationships, marital commitment, and behavioral health outcomes. Jordal is the former editor of the Journal of Family Psychotherapy, affiliated with the International Family Therapy Association. He has co-authored several articles published in peer-reviewed academic journals and presented his work at national conferences including the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy; American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists; the International Family Therapy Association; National Council for Family Relations; and the Society of Behavioral Medicine.

Professional Society

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Pennsylvania – License MF000699
Approved Supervisor, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
Certified Sex Therapist, American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists
Certified Sex Therapist Supervisor, American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists

Selected Publications

Ashton, D., & Jordal, C. (2019). Revisioning Gender. In M. McGoldrick and K. V. Hardy (Eds.), Re-visioning Family Therapy: Race, Culture, and Culture in Clinical Practice. New York: The Guilford Press.

Editorial review board membership:

Editor, Journal of Family Psychotherapy, International Family Therapy Association

Reviewer, Journal of Marital & Family Therapy, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy

Research Interests

• Human sexuality
• Sex and relationships
• LGBTQ issues, transitions and relationships
• Marriage and infidelity
• Mental wellness
• Marriage & family therapy training/education

Widener University – Chester, PA
Post-graduate Certificate: Advanced Training in Transgender Mental Health (2018)

Council for Relationships – Philadelphia, PA
Certificate Program in Sex Therapy (2014)

Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University – Blacksburg, VA
PhD in Human Development, Concentration: Marriage & Family Therapy (2011)

The University of San Diego – San Diego, CA
MA in Marital and Family Therapy (2006)

Pennsylvania State University – University Park, PA
BS in Psychology (1994)