Clayton Lessor

Clayton Lessor, PhD, LPC, is the author of Generation of Men and the Founder of The Quest Project, founded in 1996. He has authored a number of books on saving this generation of men including Saving Our Sons: A Parent's Guide to Preparing Boys for Success, The Effect of Modern Day Initiation and Mentoring on Adolescent Boy, Difference of a Counselor Facilitated Adolescent Boys Group on Behavior, and he co-authored The Role of Deceased Mentors in the Ongoing Lives of Protgs. After serving as a...See more

Clayton Lessor, PhD, LPC, is the author of Generation of Men and the Founder of The Quest Project, founded in 1996. He has authored a number of books on saving this generation of men including Saving Our Sons: A Parent's Guide to Preparing Boys for Success, The Effect of Modern Day Initiation and Mentoring on Adolescent Boy, Difference of a Counselor Facilitated Adolescent Boys Group on Behavior, and he co-authored The Role of Deceased Mentors in the Ongoing Lives of Protgs. After serving as a commissioned officer in the Air National Guard, Dr. Clay devoted his life's work to studying childhood trauma and adolescent development. Driven by his own childhood history, Dr. Clay's personal mission is to steward healthy lifestyles by teaching, facilitating, writing, researching, and serving as an example for boys and men everywhere. Dr. Clay's work and doctoral focus was built upon the foundational works of psychologists Erik Erikson and Urie Bronfenbrenner. After more than two decades of study, he has crafted a Modern-Day Rite-of-Passage program that contextualizes psychosocial and bioecological theory into a practical format for modern boys. With 18 years and well over 2,000 participants, The Quest Project has shown proven results, both quantitatively and in the personal testimonials of the families directly impacted. Dr. Clay hopes that one day The Quest Project will be available to all boys across the country. For that reason, he splits his time between training other LPCs and LCSWs as facilitators of The Quest Project while continuing to steward growth for boys in his own practice, located in St. Louis, Missouri, as well as facilitating an intensive weekend version of the project at treatment centers, youth organizations, and churches upon request. When he isn't working, Dr. Clay spends his free time at home, with his wife and two dogs. Dr. Clay is also the founder of Charity Patch, a not-for-profit urban garden founded in 2013, which provides fresh produce to local food pantries. He can often be found in the garden along with a dozen or more The Quest Project graduates, covered in dirt, with an armful of veggies. See less