The Christian Psychologist: Mental Health for 21st Century Christ Followers

ReferencesDworsky, C. K. O., Pargament, K. I., Gibbel, M. R., Faigin, C. A., Haugen, M. R. G., Desai, K. M., & Warner, H. L. (2013). Winding road: Preliminary support for a spiritually integrated intervention addressing college students’ spiritual struggles. In Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion, 24, 309-339.Exline, J. J., Pargament, K. I., Grubbs, J. B., & Yali, A. M. (2014). The Religious and Spiritual Struggles Scale: Development and initial validation. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 6(3), 208.Finley, J. (2004). Christian meditation: Experiencing the presence of God. HarperCollins.Knabb, J. (2021). Christian meditation in clinical practice: A four-step model and workbook for therapists and clients. InterVarsity Press.Knabb, J. J., Frederick, T. V., & Cumming III, G. (2017). Surrendering to god’s providence: A three-part study on providence-focused therapy for recurrent worry (PFT-RW). Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 9(2), 180.May, G. (2004). The dark night of the soul: A psychiatrist explores the connection between darkness and spiritual growth. HarperCollins.McColman, C. (2010). The big book of Christian mysticism: The essential guide to contemplative spirituality. Hampton Roads Publishing Company, Inc.Pargament, K., & Exline, J. (2020). Religious and spiritual struggles: Research is shedding new light on an overlooked but important human experience. https://www.apa.org/topics/belief-systems-religion/spiritual-strugglesReist Gibbel, M., Regueiro, V., & Pargament, K. I. (2019). A spiritually integrated intervention for spiritual struggles among adults with mental illness: Results of an initial evaluation. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 6(4), 240.Scazzero, P. (2006). Emotionally healthy spirituality: Unleash the power of authentic life in Christ. Thomas Nelson. The Upper Room Dictionary of Christian Spiritual Formation. (2003). Dark night. Upper Room Books. Wilt, J. A., Exline, J. J., & Pargament, K. I. (2022). Daily measures of religious/spiritual struggles: Relations to depression, anxiety, satisfaction with life, and meaning. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 14(3), 312.

This discussion highlights the powerful role attentional control plays in mental health. By directing focus towards meaningful aspects of life, individuals can significantly reduce feelings of anxiety and depression. Personal stories illustrate how maintaining focused attention deepens one's connection with spiritual practices like contemplation and centering prayer. The impact of mindfulness techniques is also emphasized, showcasing their potential to enhance both psychological well-being and spiritual growth.

Explore the complex world of cognitive distortions and their impact on mental well-being. Discover how distorted thinking shapes emotions and behaviors from both psychological and Christian perspectives. Learn about cognitive behavioral therapy techniques that effectively address negative thought patterns. Dive into the importance of renewing one's mind with biblical insights, emphasizing balanced thinking over mere positivity. Gain practical strategies for recognizing and correcting these unhelpful thought patterns to foster emotional and spiritual growth.

ReferencesAPA Dictionary of Psychology. (n.d.). Forgiveness. https://dictionary.apa.org/forgivenessBeeke, J., & Jones, M. (2012). A Puritan theology: Doctrine for life. Reformation Heritage Books.Davis, J. C. (2001). Pardoning Puritanism: Community, character, and forgiveness in the work of Richard Baxter. Journal of Religious Ethics, 29(2), 283-306.Gao, F., Li, Y., & Bai, X. (2022). Forgiveness and subjective well-being: A meta-analysis review. Personality and Individual Differences, 186, 111350.Holman Bible Dictionary. (2004). Forgiveness. Holman Bible Publishers.Knabb, J. (2021). Christian meditation in clinical practice: A four-step model and workbook for therapists and clients. InterVarsity Press.Lin, Y., Worthington Jr., E. L., Griffin, B. J., Greer, C. L., Opare‐Henaku, A., Lavelock, C. R., & Muller, H. (2014). Efficacy of REACH forgiveness across cultures. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 70(9), 781-793.Rasmussen, K. R., Stackhouse, M., Boon, S. D., Comstock, K., & Ross, R. (2019). Meta-analytic connections between forgiveness and health: The moderating effects of forgiveness-related distinctions. Psychology & Health, 34(5), 515-534.Upper Room Dictionary of Christian Spiritual Formation. (2003). Forgiveness. Upper Room Books. Wade, N. G., Worthington Jr, E. L., & Meyer, J. E. (2005). But do they work? A meta-analysis of group interventions to promote forgiveness. Handbook of Forgiveness, 423-440.Wade, N. G., Hoyt, W. T., Kidwell, J. E., & Worthington Jr., E. L. (2014). Efficacy of psychotherapeutic interventions to promote forgiveness: a meta-analysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 82(1), 154.Worthington, E. (2003). Forgiving and reconciling: Bridges to wholeness and hope. InterVarsity Press.Worthington, E. (n.d.). REACH forgiveness of others. http://www.evworthington-forgiveness.com/reach-forgiveness-of-others

ReferencesFeldman, G., Hayes, A., Kumar, S., Greeson, J., & Laurenceau, J. P. (2007). Mindfulness and emotion regulation: The development and initial validation of the Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised (CAMS-R). Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 29, 177-190.Horton, M. (2014). Ordinary: Sustainable faith in a radical, restless world. Zondervan.Knabb, J. (2021). Christian meditation in clinical practice: A four-step model and workbook for therapists and clients. InterVarsity Press.Lawrence, B. (2015). The practice of the presence of God. ICS Publications.Rendall Risner, V. (2016). What does it really mean to be #blessed? https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/what-does-it-really-mean-to-be-blessedSiegel, R. (2022). The extraordinary gift of being ordinary: Finding happiness right where you are. The Guilford Press.

ReferencesAPA Dictionary of Psychology. (n.d.). Shame. https://dictionary.apa.org/shameBonhoeffer, D. (1955). Ethics. Touchstone.Bonhoeffer, D. (1959). Creation and fall. Touchstone.Ceclan, A. A., & Nechita, D. M. (2021). The effects of self‐compassion components on shame‐proneness in individuals with depression: An exploratory study. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 28(5), 1103-1110.Cohen, T., Wolf, S., Panter, A., & Insko, C. (2011). Introducing the GASP scale: A new measure of guilt and shame proneness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 100, 947-966.Gilbert, P. (1998). What is shame? Some core issues and controversies. In P. Gilbert & B. Andrews (Eds.), Shame: Interpersonal behavior, psychopathology, and culture (pp. 3-38). Oxford University Press.Gilbert, P., & Irons, C. (2009). Shame, self-criticism, and self-compassion in adolescence. In N. Allen & L. Sheeber (Eds.), Adolescent emotional development and the emergence of depressive disorders (pp. 195-214). Cambridge University Press.Knabb, J. (2018). The compassion-based workbook for Christian clients: Finding freedom from shame and negative self-judgments. Routledge.Knabb, J. (2021). Christian meditation in clinical practice: A four-step model and workbook for therapists and clients. InterVarsity Press.MacBeth, A., & Gumley, A. (2012). Exploring compassion: A meta-analysis of the association between self-compassion and psychopathology. Clinical Psychology Review, 32(6), 545-552.Neff, K. D. (2016). The self-compassion scale is a valid and theoretically coherent measure of self-compassion. Mindfulness, 7, 264-274.Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary. (2014). Shame. Thomas Nelson.Reilly, E. B., & Stuyvenberg, C. L. (2022). A meta-analysis of loving-kindness meditations on self-compassion. Mindfulness, 1-12.Scheel, C. N., Eisenbarth, H., & Rentzsch, K. (2020). Assessment of different dimensions of shame proneness: Validation of the SHAME. Assessment, 27(8), 1699-1717.Tangney, J., Wagner, P., & Gramzow, R. (1992). Proneness to shame, proneness to guilt, and psychopathology. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 101, 469-478.Vazquez, V., Knabb, J., Lee-Johnson, C., & Hays, K. (2023). Healing conversations on race: Four key practices from Scripture and psychology. IVP Academic.

ReferencesAPA Dictionary of Psychology. (n.d.). Contempt. https://dictionary.apa.org/contemptBarclay, W. (1974). New Testament words. SCM Press.King James Dictionary. (n.d.). Contempt. https://av1611.com/kjbp/kjv-dictionary/contempt.htmlKnabb, J. (2021). Christian meditation in clinical practice: A four-step model and workbook for therapists and clients. InterVarsity Press.Salsberg, S. (1995). Lovingkindness: The revolutionary art of happiness. Shambhala Publications, Inc.Schriber, R. A., Chung, J. M., Sorensen, K. S., & Robins, R. W. (2017). Dispositional contempt: A first look at the contemptuous person. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 113(2), 280.Shonin, E., Van Gordon, W., Compare, A., Zangeneh, M., & Griffiths, M. D. (2015). Buddhist-derived loving-kindness and compassion meditation for the treatment of psychopathology: A systematic review. Mindfulness, 6, 1161-1180.Strong’s Concordance. (n.d.). Eleos. https://biblehub.com/greek/1656.htmStrong’s Concordance. (n.d.). Exoutheneo. https://biblehub.com/greek/1848.htmThe Gottman Institute. (n.d.). The four horsemen: Contempt. https://www.gottman.com/blog/the-four-horsemen-contempt/

ReferencesAPA Dictionary of Psychology. (n.d.). Hope. https://dictionary.apa.org/hopeBarclay, W. (1974). New Testament words. SCM Press.Beeke, J., & Jones, M. (2012). A Puritan theology: Doctrine for life. Reformation Heritage Books.Corn, B. W., Feldman, D. B., & Wexler, I. (2020). The science of hope. The Lancet Oncology, 21(9), e452-e459.Favale, D., Nacci, M., Bellomo, A., Torales, J., Castaldelli-Maia, J. M., & Ventriglio, A. (2023). Hope and resilience among patients affected by unipolar and bipolar depression. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 00207640221147166.Knabb, J. (2021). Christian meditation in clinical practice: A four-step model and workbook for therapists and clients. InterVarsity Press.Rustøen, T., Cooper, B. A., & Miaskowski, C. (2011). A longitudinal study of the effects of a hope intervention on levels of hope and psychological distress in a community-based sample of oncology patients. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 15(4), 351-357.Snyder, C. R., Sympson, S. C., Ybasco, F. C., Borders, T. F., Babyak, M. A., & Higgins, R. L. (1996). Development and validation of the State Hope Scale. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 70(2), 321.

ReferencesConiaris, A. (1998). Philokalia. The Bible of orthodox spirituality. Light & Life Publishing Company.Goodwin, R. (1999). Give us this day: The story of prayer. Lindisfarne Books.Harmless, W. (2004). Desert Christians: An introduction to the literature of early monasticism. Oxford University Press.Harris, R. (2019). ACT made simple: An easy-to-read primer on acceptance and commitment therapy (2nd ed.). New Harbinger Publications, Inc.Hayes, S. (2005). Get out of your mind and into your life: The new acceptance & commitment therapy. New Harbinger Publications, Inc.Hayes, S. (2019). A liberated mind: How to pivot toward what matters. Avery.Hayes, S., Strosahl, K., & Wilson, K. (2012). Acceptance and commitment therapy: The process and practice of mindful change (2nd ed.). The Guilford Press.Knabb, J. (2021). Christian meditation in clinical practice: A four-step model and workbook for therapists and clients. InterVarsity Press.Knabb, J. (2022). Faith-based ACT for Christian clients: An integrative treatment approach (2nd ed.). Routledge.Laird, M. (2006). Into the silent land: A guide to the Christian practice of contemplation. Oxford University Press.Mathewes-Green, F. (2009). The Jesus prayer: The ancient desert prayer that tunes the heart to God. Paraclete Press.Nassif, B. (2012). Bringing Jesus to the desert. Zondervan.Nesteruk, A. (2003). Light from the East: Theology, science, and the Eastern Orthodox tradition. Fortress Press.Ridderbos, H. (1975). Paul: An outline of his theology. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.Smith, A. (2013). Philokalia: The Eastern Christian spiritual texts. Skylight Paths.Talbot, J. (2013). The Jesus prayer: A cry for mercy, a path of renewal. InterVarsity Press.

ReferencesAPA Dictionary of Psychology. (n.d.). Resilience. https://dictionary.apa.org/resilienceBarclay, W. (1974). New Testament words. Westminster John Knox Press.Galante, J., Dufour, G., Vainre, M., Wagner, A. P., Stochl, J., Benton, A., & Jones, P. B. (2018). A mindfulness-based intervention to increase resilience to stress in university students (the Mindful Student Study): A pragmatic randomised controlled trial. The Lancet Public Health, 3(2), e72-e81.Herrman, H., Stewart, D. E., Diaz-Granados, N., Berger, E. L., Jackson, B., & Yuen, T. (2011). What is resilience? The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 56(5), 258-265.Joyce, S., Shand, F., Tighe, J., Laurent, S. J., Bryant, R. A., & Harvey, S. B. (2018). Road to resilience: A systematic review and meta-analysis of resilience training programmes and interventions. BMJ Open, 8(6), e017858.Knabb, J. (2021). Christian meditation in clinical practice: A four-step model and workbook for therapists and clients. InterVarsity Press.Liu, J. J., Ein, N., Gervasio, J., Battaion, M., Reed, M., & Vickers, K. (2020). Comprehensive meta-analysis of resilience interventions. Clinical Psychology Review, 82, 101919.Reformed Church in America. (n.d.). Belgic confession, article 13: The doctrine of God’s providence. https://www.rca.org/resources/belgic-confession-article-13-doctrine-gods-providenceSmith, B. W., Dalen, J., Wiggins, K., Tooley, E., Christopher, P., & Bernard, J. (2008). The brief resilience scale: Assessing the ability to bounce back. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 15, 194-200.Wilhoit, J., & Howard, E. (2012). Discovering lectio divina: Bringing Scripture into ordinary life. InterVarsity Press.