Dr. Thyberg’s research is heavily informed by his years of clinical experience working as a therapist with children, adolescents, and families. Christopher has spent his entire professional career working with marginalized and vulnerable youth in numerous settings (i.e., pediatric hospital, community-centers, schools, community-based therapy agency). In his years working as a therapist, Christopher’s primary focus was on partnering with children who had experienced traumatic events or adverse childhood experiences. Christopher observed how schools played a pivotal role in helping or harming a student’s recovery process and became passionate about conducting research focused on creating innovate school-based interventions that integrate trauma-informed care, restorative practices, and anti-racism.
Christopher’s current research interests include the intersection of restorative justice, anti-racism, and trauma-informed care within schools, mental health treatment disparities among racial and ethnic minority youth, structural and critical social work, and the experiences of low-wage families. Christopher utilizes a feminist and critical theoretical approach to his research, emphasizing community-driven and strengths-focused scholarship. Christopher is currently a research collaborator with the Pittsburgh Wage Study and Just Discipline Project.
Education
- B.A.S.W. Calvin University
- M.S.W. University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work
- Ph.D. University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work
Peer-Reviewed Publications
- Thyberg, C. (2023). Preparing social workers for anti-oppressive practice: Evaluating the role of critical social work education. Journal of Social Work Education.
- Thyberg, C. & Lombardi, B. (2022). Examining racial differences in internalizing and externalizing diagnoses for children exposed to adverse childhood experiences. Clinical Social Work Journal, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-022-00842-2
- Thyberg, C., & Newhill, C. (2022). Applying critical race theory and risk and resilience theory to the school-to-prison pipeline: Theoretical frameworks for school social workers. The Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare, 49(1).
- Fussell-Ware, D.J., Ballentine, K.L., Flores, A.T., Aschraft, L.E., Mangum, L.C., Omowale, S.S., MacKenzie, K.T., Ballard, A.J., & Thyberg, C. (2022). Using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research to Promote Anti-Racism in Social Work Higher Education. Advances in Social Work.
- Lombardi, B., de Saxe Zerden, L., & Thyberg, C. (2021). Social work answers the (video) call: Tele-behavioral health use during COVID-19. Journal of the Society for Social Work Research.
- Lombardi, B., Bledsoe, S. E., & Thyberg, C. (2021). Concordance of children’s adverse childhood experiences amongst child, caregiver, and caseworker. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma.
- Thyberg, C. (2019). The intersection of trauma, race, and the school-to-prison pipeline. Pitt Policy Journal GSPIA, 10, 139-150.
Research Briefs
- Schleitwiler, T., Tillman, H. Thyberg, C., Goodkind, S., Shook, J., Engel, R., Woo., J., & Kim, S. (2023). I Went Back to the Bedside Because We Need to Save Healthcare: Worker-Generated Solutions for the Challenges Facing Hospital Workers. Pittsburgh Wage Study. pittsburghwagestudy.pitt.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/I-Went-Back-to-the-Bedside-Pittsburgh-Wage-Study-8-31-2023.pdf
- Lombardi, B., de Saxe Zerden, L., & Thyberg, C. (2020). Social work answers the (video) call: Tele-behavioral health use during COVID-19. School of Public Health Behavioral health Workforce Research Center: University of Michigan. https://www.behavioralhealthworkforce.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/FINAL_Social-Work-and-Telehealth-in-COVID-19_Brief_wNASW.pdf
Selected Conference Presentations
- De Bellis, B., Huguley, J., Haynik, R., Thyberg, C., & Henderson, M. (2024, April). Race, Resources, and Restoration: Teacher Perspectives on Adequate Supports for Effective and Equitable Restorative Practices. Accepted at the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting.
- Huguley, J., Thyberg, C., Joseph-McCatty, A., Fussell-Ware, D. (2024, January). Just Discipline in Schools: Using Multiple Methods to Understand the Processes and Outcomes Associated with Equitable School Climate Interventions. Presented at the Society for Social Work and Research 28th Annual Conference.
- Thyberg, C., Huguley, J. (2023, October). The Impact of Teachers’ Color-Blind Attitudes on Racial Disparities in School Discipline. Presented at the Council on Social Work Education’s Annual Program Meeting.
- Thyberg, C. (2022, January). Preparing Social Workers for Anti-Oppressive Practice: Evaluating the Role of Critical Social Work Education. Presented at the Society for Social Work and Research 26th Annual Conference.
- Lombardi, B., Zerden, L., & Thyberg, C. (2022, January). Social Workers’ Use of Tele-Behavioral Health during COVID-19. Presented at the Society for Social Work and Research 26th Annual Conference.
- Omowale, S., Thyberg, C., & Fussell-Ware, D. (2021, November). Using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research to Promote Anti-Racism in Academia. Presented at the Council on Social Work Education’s Annual Program Meeting.
- Thyberg, C., Makoshi, G., & Cohen, C. (2021, February). Police in School: A Social Justice Issue. Presented virtually at the Frederick Douglass Institute Collaborative speaker series “Let me Read You Your Rights” Virtual Community Dialogue.
- Thyberg, C., Fussell-Ware, D., & Davis, C. D. (2021, January). From Restoration to Transformation: Dismantling White Supremacy Within School Discipline Reform. Presented virtually at the Pittsburgh Racial Justice Summit Annual Conference.
- Thyberg, C., & Lombardi, B. (2021, January). For Those Who Experience Childhood Adversity, Who Is Allowed to be Depressed? Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Reports of Behavioral Health Diagnoses for Youth Exposed to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Presented virtually at the Society for Social Work and Research 25th Annual Conference.
- Lombardi, B., Thyberg, C., Washington, L., & Huguley, J. (2021, January). Do Adverse Childhood Experiences Include Racial Discrimination? A Scoping Review. Presented virtually at the Society for Social Work and Research 25th Annual Conference.
- Thyberg, C. (2020, November). The History of Mass Incarceration Through the Lens of Racial Oppression. Presented at the North American Association of Christian Social Workers 70th Convention in Reston, Virginia.
Teaching
2023-present – Augsburg University, Department of Social Work
- Social Work 629: Anti-Oppressive Clinical Practice with Families
- Social Work 631: Anti-Oppressive Clinical Practice with Groups
- Social Work 530 & 535: Integrated Field Seminar 1 & 2
- Social Work 306: Social Work Practice 1: With Individuals
2021-2023 – University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work
- Social Work 2082: Models of Intervention
- Social Work and Welfare 2035: Global Perspectives in Social Work
- Social Work and Welfare 2057: Mental Health and Public Policy
- Social Work 1026: Practicum Seminar and Lab II
Social Media
Twitter: @CT_Thyberg