Patti Christensen

Patti is a professional storyteller with a rich, diverse background. She works in many different venues. She believes in the power of storytelling for all ages - preschoolers through Seniors - both in listening and telling stories.  She has been a teaching artist and drama specialist for the Literacy Services at the Escondido Public Library. She has also worked as an artist in residence with the SUAVE Program and Center ARTES through California State University at San Marcos, a cultural and professional development program using the arts to work with classroom teachers and students. Patti was a Fullbright Scholar in Veracruz, Mexico and taught English through the arts in China.         

She developed her storytelling and dramatic art skills beginning as a drama student in high school and have been involved in many theatre productions throughout the years. Her BA in History taught me the magic of making history come alive which she continue in her storytelling . Her drama work continues in my performances with The Patchwork Players Story Theatre.

Patti's Masters of Theology and Masters of Social Work degrees make her uniquely qualified for work in different settings using story to speak to important spiritual and value issues.

Patti's work in social service agencies has given her opportunity to use theatre arts as a powerful modality for teaching, healing and self-expression. She worked in a school violence prevention project which used drama, storytelling and video making in a school setting. She was a counselor in a domestic violence program. She have also worked in child abuse prevention, AIDS, family counseling, mentoring and sexual assault. She is a storyteller who is also a social worker. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of California who counsels children, adults, groups and families through a family counseling agency.

She is also on staff as a storyteller through the Healing Arts Department at Radys Children’s Hospital in San Diego.  This program brings professional storytellers, musicians, and visual artists to the hospital on a weekly basis to assist the healing for the children and families at the hospital.

She is an active teacher and workshop leader, including teaching storytelling and drama skills for teachers, students, parents and grandparents, ministers, literacy staff and volunteers, as well as to other storytellers.

She lives in Oceanside, California (in North San Diego County), a very happy transplant from Minnesota. Her storytelling takes her throughout the Southern California Region, and beyond - including Mexico, Canada, and China ... wherever the muse leads her.

Patti is a member of The National Storytellers Network and the Storytellers of San Diego.