Today we’d like to introduce you to Christopher DeFranco.
Hi Christopher, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My passion for helping others started early through mission trips in high school, where I saw the impact that service, connection, and community can have on people’s lives. That experience led me to pursue a career in mental health, and over the years I’ve had the opportunity to work across a wide range of settings including community mental health, inpatient and residential treatment, research, higher education, and clinical leadership. Each role gave me a different perspective on wellness and reinforced my belief that growth happens most significantly when the mind and body are in sync.
Along the way, I completed my yoga teacher training and began integrating mindfulness, movement, and holistic wellness into my work. Today, I combine my background in mental health and wellness through counseling, yoga instruction, consulting, and wellness retreats. My mission is to help people reconnect with themselves, gain clarity on what matters most, and create lives that feel aligned with their values and goals.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Like many entrepreneurs, I’ve had to balance building new ventures while maintaining full-time professional responsibilities. There have been setbacks and times when opportunities didn’t unfold the way I expected, but I’ve learned to adapt and be more resilient as a result.
The biggest lesson has been to trust the process and stay present in my purpose. Every role I’ve held has taught me something valuable and shaped the work I do today.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My work sits at the intersection of mental health, wellness, and personal growth. I provide counseling, teach yoga, consult with organizations, and create wellness experiences through workshops and retreats. What ties everything together is a focus on helping people gain clarity, build resilience, and create lives that feel more aligned with their values and goals.
What sets me apart is the breadth of my experience. I’ve worked across so many spaces in the field of mental health, while also training as a yoga instructor and embracing more holistic approaches in my own life. This allows me to draw from both clinical experience and mind-body practices, rather than approaching wellness from a single lens.
With regard to specialties, I work primarily with queer, neurodiverse individuals who may also be struggling with trauma, eating disorders, or general life transitions. I’m particularly interested in how we can learn from other cultures and philosophies to expand our treatments, increase self-awareness, and live healthier lifestyles overall.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I would encourage readers to remember that wellbeing isn’t about perfection—it’s about creating small, consistent practices that help you stay connected to yourself and what matters most. In a world that often pushes us to do more and move faster, there is real value in slowing down, spending time in nature, building meaningful relationships, and making space for reflection.
I’m also excited about some of my upcoming travels, as well several wellness retreats and community experiences designed to help people step away from their daily routines, recharge, and gain greater clarity and focus. You can follow my instagram for the most up to date information on retreats, classes, and workshops – @christophertheeyogi
My hope is to continue creating spaces where people feel inspired, supported, and empowered to live with greater connection to themselves and the world around them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.christopherdefranco.com
- Instagram: @christophertheeyogi
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/defrancolpc
