Chris was the troubled teen that he has dedicated his life to helping.
Chris Taylor is a sought-after youth motivational speaker largely due to his dynamic energy, humor, and passion to help teens and families move past conflict and experience more fulfilling relationships and a happier life.
Chris understands all to well the struggles that many teens face, admitting to experiencing a great deal of pain and struggle as a child and teen himself. He was abandoned by his dad when he was just one year old. At age five, his mother experienced a psychotic break and he had to move into his grandmother’s home. When he was 12, he learned that his brother had cancer.
His emotional pain had him drowning in self-defeat. He spiraled out of control as a teen, abusing drugs, exhibiting rage, defying all authority, quitting school, and attempted suicide several times. When he was 19, his brother died in his arms from the effects of cancer.
This was the moment his life shifted. This was when he started asking himself some deep and honest questions about himself, life, and how he wanted to live out the rest of his.
Armed with a strong intent to heal his trauma and serve others, Chris decided to pursue a master’s degree in clinical psychology and has spent the last 17 years dedicating his life to helping teens and parents heal emotionally and connect at a deeper, more fulfilling level. He has also worked in various counties and the state of California to change how teens are treated by the mental health system.
Today, Chris reaches the hearts of thousands of teens as he travels the country speaking to small and large youth assemblies, reminding them of their exceptional worth and potential. He is a master storyteller who uses humor and engaging stories to connect with the youth. Students find themselves laughing and pondering important life questions as they listen to Chris share his inspirational story and life changing ideas, sparking hope that stays with them long after the event is over.
Chris is the author of Back to Basics: Tayloring Your Teen For Success Program, an online course and workbook. He has contributed to multiple print media publications and has appeared on TV to discuss his views and present the Back to Basics Program.