ABOUT CRAIG A. KNIPPENBERG, LCSW, M.Div.
Clinical Social Worker • Child & Adolescent Specialist • Author • Speaker

Craig A. Knippenberg, LCSW, M. Divinity is a nationally recognized family therapist, author, and speaker with more than 40 years of experience helping children, teens, and parents thrive. He founded one of Colorado's largest private practices specializing in child, adolescent, and family development and created the renowned CONNECT Social Skills Group Program, which has guided thousands of children toward emotional growth and resilience over the past 45 years.
For nearly three decades, Craig served as the senior mental health consultant for St. Anne's Episcopal School in Denver. He is the author of Shame Free Parenting: Building Resiliency in Times of Hardship, Guns, and Social Media and Wired and Connected: Brain-Based Solutions to Ensure Your Child's Social and Emotional Success (Illumify Media Global). He also hosts two acclaimed podcasts: Legit Parenting: Strategies for Actual (Imperfect) Parents and The Best Things of Beauty Make Me Cry, where he blends humor, heart, and science to explore emotional well-being and family life.
Craig's earlier works include I Was a Turtle, a moving account of growing up with dyslexia, and Crying for Columbine, his firsthand reflection as a mental health first responder to the school shooting in 1999. A sought-after international speaker, he continues to educate parents, educators, and professionals on how technology, social media, and societal stressors shape developing brains and family dynamics.
A recipient of the Minoru Yasui Volunteer Award and NAMI's Heroes in the Fight Award, Craig has served on numerous nonprofit boards supporting neurodiverse populations, education, and adoption. Alongside his son, he co-founded AdventureDad.org, inspiring fathers to deepen their connection with their children through shared experiences and adventure.

