

The Christian Psychologist: Mental Health for 21st Century Christ Followers
Joshua Knabb
My name is Dr. Joshua Knabb. I’m a board-certified clinical psychologist and 21st century Christ follower. Early in life, I experienced overwhelming psychological suffering, which led me down a path of wandering away from the Christian faith in my adolescent years, reminiscent of the Lost Son in Luke’s Gospel, returning to my Christian heritage in my early 20s, my own psychotherapy in my mid-20s, and, ultimately, a life committed to understanding and pursuing psychological and spiritual health as I now head into the middle years of my life. Please join me as we devote each week to better understanding secular and Christian perspectives on mental health and the intersection between psychology and Christianity, then engage in a 10-minute practice to conclude each episode, drawing upon Christian meditation, prayer, and contemplation. Above all else, my aim in this podcast is to journey with fellow Christ followers, as well as those who are curious about the rich heritage of Christian psychological and spiritual insights into the human condition, doing so with humility and curiosity as we strive to cultivate Christlikeness in all we do.
For more information, please visit me at my website: joshuaknabb.com.
The information in this podcast is intended to be educational and in no way a form of, or substitute for, professional counseling or psychotherapy. If you are in crisis or suicidal, please call 9-1-1, go to the local emergency room, or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. If you need a Christian mental health professional, referral networks can be found at the American Association of Christian Counselors (connect.aacc.net) or Christian Association for Psychological Studies (caps.net/online-directory) websites.
Introduction beat provided by freebeats.io.
Show art by Justin Kowalski.
For more information, please visit me at my website: joshuaknabb.com.
The information in this podcast is intended to be educational and in no way a form of, or substitute for, professional counseling or psychotherapy. If you are in crisis or suicidal, please call 9-1-1, go to the local emergency room, or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. If you need a Christian mental health professional, referral networks can be found at the American Association of Christian Counselors (connect.aacc.net) or Christian Association for Psychological Studies (caps.net/online-directory) websites.
Introduction beat provided by freebeats.io.
Show art by Justin Kowalski.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 30, 2023 • 35min
Episode 36: Well-Being
ReferencesAPA Dictionary of Psychology. (n.d.). Well-being. https://dictionary.apa.org/well-beingBible Hub. (n.d.). Eirene. https://biblehub.com/greek/strongs_1515.htmBormann, J. E., Thorp, S. R., Wetherell, J. L., Golshan, S., & Lang, A. J. (2013). Meditation-based mantram intervention for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder: A randomized trial. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 5(3), 259.Contemplative Outreach. (n.d.). Centering prayer. https://www.contemplativeoutreach.org/centering-prayer-method/Galante, J., Bekkers, M. J., Mitchell, C., & Gallacher, J. (2016). Loving‐kindness meditation effects on well‐being and altruism: A mixed‐methods online RCT. Applied Psychology: Health and Well‐Being, 8(3), 322-350.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.Gomez, R., & Fisher, J. W. (2003). Domains of spiritual well-being and development and validation of the Spiritual Well-Being Questionnaire. Personality and Individual Differences, 35(8), 1975-1991.Holman Bible Dictionary. (2004). Peace. Holman Bible Publishers.Joshanloo, M., Jovanović, V., & Park, J. (2021). Differential relationships of hedonic and eudaimonic well‐being with self‐control and long‐term orientation. Japanese Psychological Research, 63(1), 47-57.Knabb, J. (2021). Christian meditation in clinical practice: A four-step model and workbook for therapists and clients. InterVarsity Press.Tennant, R., Hiller, L., Fishwick, R., Platt, S., Joseph, S., Weich, S., & Stewart-Brown, S. (2007). The Warwick-Edinburgh mental well-being scale (WEMWBS): Development and UK validation. Health and Quality of life Outcomes, 5(1), 1-13.Upper Room Dictionary of Christian Spiritual Formation. (2003). Peace. Upper Room Books.

Apr 23, 2023 • 46min
Episode 35: God Representations
ReferencesAPA Dictionary of Psychology. (n.d.). Image. https://dictionary.apa.org/imageBeck, J. (2011). Cognitive therapy for challenging problems: What to do when the basics don’t work. The Guilford Press.Benner, D. (2010). Opening to God: Lectio divina and life as prayer. InterVarsity Press.Davis, E., Moriarty, G., & Mauch, J. (2013). God images and God concepts: Definitions, development, and dynamics. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 5, 51-60.Gorsuch, R. (1968). The conceptualization of God as seen in adjective ratings. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 7, 56-64.Guigo II. (2012). The ladder of monks (P. Nau, Trans.) [Kindle version]. Amazon.com Hoffman, L. (2005). A developmental perspective on the God image. In R. Cox, B. Ervin-Cox, & L. Hoffman (Eds.), Spirituality and psychological health (pp. 129-150). Colorado School of Professional Psychology 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.Knabb, J., Frederick, T., & Cumming, 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, 180-196.Knabb, J. J., Vazquez, V. E., Wang, K. T., & Bates, M. T. (2018). “Unknowing” in the 21st century: Humble detachment for Christians with repetitive negative thinking. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 5(3), 170–187.Lawrence, R. T. (1997). Measuring the image of God: The God Image Inventory and the God Image Scales. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 25, 214–226.Moriarty, G. (2012). Pastoral care of depression: Helping clients heal their relationship with God. Routledge.Olson, T., Tisdale, T., Davis, E., Park, E., Nam, J., Moriarty, G., & Davis, D. (2016). God image narrative therapy: A mixed-methods investigation of a controlled group-based spiritual intervention. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 3, 77-91.Rizzuto, A. (1979). The birth of the living God: A psychoanalytic study. The University of Chicago Press.Silton, N. R., Flannelly, K. J., Galek, K., & Ellison, C. G. (2014). Beliefs about God and mental health among American adults. Journal of Religion and Health, 53, 1285-1296.Thomas, M., Moriarty, G., Davis, E., & Anderson, E. (2011). The effects of a manualized group psychotherapy intervention on client God images and attachment to God: A pilot study. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 39, 44-58.Tung, E., Ruffing, E., Paine, D., Jankowski, P., & Sandage, S. (2018). Attachment to God as mediator of the relationship between God representations and mental health. Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health, 20, 95-113.

Apr 16, 2023 • 46min
Episode 34: Boredom
ReferencesAPA Dictionary of Psychology. (n.d.). Boredom. https://dictionary.apa.org/boredomCassian, J. (1997). The conferences. Paulist Press.Knabb, J. (2021). Christian meditation in clinical practice: A four-step model and workbook for therapists and clients. InterVarsity Press.Koball, A. M., Meers, M. R., Storfer-Isser, A., Domoff, S. E., & Musher-Eizenman, D. R. (2012). Eating when bored: Revision of the Emotional Eating Scale with a focus on boredom. Health Psychology, 31(4), 521–524.Lawrence, B. (2015). The practice of the presence of God. (S. Sciurba, Trans.). ICS Publications.LePera, N. (2011). Relationships between boredom proneness, mindfulness, anxiety, depression, and substance use. The New School Psychology Bulletin, 8(2), 15-25.Martin, M., Sadlo, G., & Stew, G.(2006) The phenomenon of boredom. Qualitative Research in Psychology,3, 193-211.Mikulas, W. L., & Vodanovich, S. J. (1993). The essence of boredom. The Psychological Record, 43(1), 3.Poels, K., Rudnicki, K., & Vandebosch, H. (2022). The media psychology of boredom and mobile media use: Theoretical and methodological innovations. Journal of Media Psychology: Theories, Methods, and Applications, 34(2), 113–125.Tam, K. Y., Van Tilburg, W. A., & Chan, C. S. (2021). What is boredom proneness? A comparison of three characterizations. Journal of Personality, 89(4), 831-846.Upper Room Dictionary of Christian Spiritual Formation. (2013). Acedia. Upper Room Books.Vodanovich, S. (2003). Psychometric measures of boredom: A review of the literature. The Journal of Psychology, 137, 569-595.Westgate, E. C., & Steidle, B. (2020). Lost by definition: Why boredom matters for psychology and society. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 14(11), e12562.

Apr 9, 2023 • 56min
Episode 33: Grace
ReferencesBarclay, W. (1974). New testament words. Presbyterian Publishing Corporation.Bufford, R., Sisemore, T., & Blackburn, A. (2017). Dimensions of grace: Factor analysis of three grace scales. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 9, 56-69.Bufford, R., McMinn, M., Moody, J., & Geczy-Haskins, L. (2018) The effects of grace interventions in church communities.The Journal of Positive Psychology, 13, 512-521.Hodge, A., Hook, J., Davis, D., Van Tongeren, D., Bufford, R., & Bassett, R. (2022). Experiencing grace: A review of the empirical literature. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 17, 375-388.Holman Bible Dictionary. (2004). Grace. Holman Bible Publishers.Knabb, J. (2021). Christian meditation in clinical practice: A four-step model and workbook for therapists and clients. InterVarsity Press.Merton, T. (1961). New seeds of contemplation. Abbey of Gethsemani, Inc.Smith, J. (2009). The good and beautiful God: Falling in love with the God Jesus knows. InterVarsity Press.Upper Room Dictionary of Christian Spiritual Formation. (2003). Grace. Upper Room Books.

Apr 2, 2023 • 40min
Episode 32: Decentering
ReferencesAPA Dictionary of Psychology. (n.d.). Decentering. https://dictionary.apa.org/decenteringBarclay, W. (1974). New testament words. Presbyterian Publishing Corporation.Bernstein, A., Hadash, Y., Lichtash, Y., Tanay, G., Shepherd, K., & Fresco, D. (2015). Decentering and related constructs: A critical review and metacognitive processes model. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 10, 599-617.Fresco, D., Moore, M., van Dulmen, M., Segal, Z., Ma, S., Teasdale, J., & Williams, J. (2007). Initial psychometric properties of the Experiences Questionnaire: Validation of a self-report measure of decentering. Behavior Therapy, 38, 234-246.Knabb, J. (2021). Christian meditation in clinical practice: A four-step model and workbook for therapists and clients. InterVarsity Press.Segal, Z., Williams, M., & Teasdale, J. (2012). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.St. Nikodimos. (Ed.). (1979). The philokalia: The complete text. Faber and Faber.Upper Room Dictionary of Christian Spiritual Formation. (2003). Vigilance. Upper Room Books.Ward, B. (1975). The sayings of the desert fathers. Liturgical Press.Ware, K. (2017). The Jesus prayer. Catholic Truth Society.

Mar 26, 2023 • 44min
Episode 31: Meaning Making
ReferencesBarclay, W. (1974). New testament words. Presbyterian Publishing Corporation.Hall, M., & Hill, P. (2019). Meaning-making, suffering, and religion: A worldview conception. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 22, 467-479.Hall, M., Shannonhouse, L., Aten, J., McMartin, J., & Silverman, E. (2017). Religion-specific resources for meaning-making from suffering: Defining the territory. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 21, 77-92.Kempis, T. (2012). The imitation of Christ. Doubleday.Knabb, J. (2021). Christian meditation in clinical practice: A four-step model and workbook for therapists and clients. InterVarsity Press.Knabb, J., Brokaw, D., Reimer, K., & Welsh, R. (2009). Retrospective meaning-making in adulthood: A qualitative study of conservative Protestant adults who experienced parental divorce as adolescents. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 28, 44-56.Knabb, J., Johnson, E., Bates, T., & Sisemore, T. (2019). Christian psychotherapy in context: Theoretical and empirical explorations in faith-based mental health. Routledge.Knabb, J., Wang, K., Lewis Hall, M., & Vazquez, V. (2022). The Christian Worldview Scale: An emic measure for assessing a comprehensive view of life within the Christian tradition. Spirituality in Clinical Practice. Advance online publication.Manco, N., & Hamby, S. (2021). A meta-analytic review of interventions that promote meaning in life. American Journal of Health Promotion, 35, 866-873.McMartin, J., Silverman, E., Hall, M., Aten, J., & Shannonhouse, L. (2020). Christian meaning-making through suffering in theology and psychology of religion. Journal of Moral Theology, 9, 120-135.Park, C. (2010). Making sense of the meaning literature: An integrative review of meaning making and its effects on adjustment to stressful life events. Psychological Bulletin, 136, 257-301.Sisemore, T., & Knabb, J. (Eds.). (2020). The psychology of world religions and spiritualities: An indigenous perspective. Templeton Press.

Mar 19, 2023 • 42min
Episode 30: Narcissism
ReferencesAmerican Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). American Psychiatric Publishing.APA Dictionary of Psychology. (n.d.). Narcissism. https://dictionary.apa.org/narcissismBangley, B. (Ed.). (2006). The cloud of unknowing: Contemporary English edition. Paraclete Press.Casale, S. (2022). Psychological distress profiles of young adults with vulnerable narcissism traits. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 201, 426-431.Hewitt, J., & Kealy, D. (2022). Pathological narcissism and psychological distress: The mediating effects of vitality, initiative, and mindfulness. Personality and Individual Differences, 184, 111185.Holman Bible Dictionary. (2004). Pride. Holman Publishing Group.Holman Bible Dictionary. (2004). Love. Holman Publishing Group.Knabb, J. (2021). Christian meditation in clinical practice: A four-step model and workbook for therapists and clients. InterVarsity Press.Knabb, J., Vazquez, V., Wang, K., & Bates, T. (2018). ‘Unknowing’ in the 21st century: Humble detachment for Christians with repetitive negative thinking. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 5, 170-187.Twenge, J. (2010). The narcissism epidemic: Living in the age of entitlement. Atria.Twenge, J. M., & Foster, J. D. (2010). Birth cohort increases in narcissistic personality traits among American college students, 1982–2009. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 1(1), 99–106.Upper Room Dictionary of Christian Spiritual Formation. (2003). Love. Upper Room Books.

Mar 12, 2023 • 49min
Episode 29: Worship and Awe
ReferencesAPA Dictionary of Psychology. (n.d.). Awe. https://dictionary.apa.org/aweAPA Dictionary of Psychology. (n.d.). Worship. https://dictionary.apa.org/worshipBangley, B. (Ed.). (2006). The cloud of unknowing: Contemporary English edition. Paraclete Press.Block, D. (2014). For the glory of God: Recovering a biblical theology of worship. Baker Academic.Chirico, A., & Gaggioli, A. (2021). The potential role of awe in depression: Reassembling the puzzle. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. Holman Bible Dictionary. (2004). Worship. Holman Publishing Group.Knabb, J. (2021). Christian meditation in clinical practice: A four-step model and workbook for therapists and clients. InterVarsity Press.Knabb, J., Vazquez, V., Wang, K., & Bates, T. (2018). ‘Unknowing’ in the 21st century: Humble detachment for Christians with repetitive negative thinking. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 5, 170-187.Merton, T. (2014). Contemplative prayer. Image Books.Monroy, M., & Keltner, D. (2022). Awe as a pathway to mental and physical health. Perspectives on Psychological Science. Advance online publication.Peterson, D. (1992). Engaging with God: A biblical theology of worship. InterVarsity Press. Sun, Z., Hou, Y., Song, L., Wang, K., & Yuan, M. (2023). The buffering effect of awe on negative emotions in self-threatening situations. Behavioral Sciences, 13, 44.Upper Room Dictionary of Christian Spiritual Formation. (2003). Negative way. Upper Room Books.Upper Room Dictionary of Christian Spiritual Formation. (2003). Worship. Upper Room Books.Yaden, D., Kaufman, S., Hyde, E., Chirico, A., Gaggioli, A. Zhang, J., & Keltner, D. (2018). The development of the Awe Experience Scale (AWE-S): A multifactorial measure for a complex emotion. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 14, 474-488.

Mar 5, 2023 • 44min
Episode 28: Joy
ReferencesAPA Dictionary of Psychology. (n.d.). Joy. https://dictionary.apa.org/joyCasioppo, D. (2020). The cultivation of joy: Practices from the Buddhist tradition, positive psychology, and yogic philosophy. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 15, 67-73.Evangelical Dictionary of Theology. (2001). Delight. Baker Academic.Holman Bible Dictionary. (2004). Joy. Holman Bible Publishing.Howe, J. (2012). A treatise of delighting in God. Puritan Publications.Johnson, M. (2020). Joy: A review of the literature and suggestions for future directions. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 15, 5-24,Knabb, J. (2021). Christian meditation in clinical practice: A four-step model and workbook for therapists and clients. InterVarsity Press.Kraus, S., & Sears, S. (2009). Measuring the immeasurables: Development and initial validation of the Self-Other Four immeasurables (SOFI) Scale based on Buddhist teachings on loving kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity. Social Indicators Research, 92, 169–181.Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (n.d.). Delight. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/delightSalzberg, S. (2020). Lovingkindness: The revolutionary art of happiness. Shambhala.Shonin, E., Van Gordon, W., & Compare, (2015). Buddhist-derived loving-kindness and compassion meditation for the treatment of psychopathology: A systematic review. Mindfulness, 6, 1161–1180.Zeng, X., Liao, R., & Zhang, R. (2017). Development of the Appreciative Joy Scale. Mindfulness, 8, 286–299.Zeng, X., Wang, R., & Oei, T. (2019). Heart of joy: A randomized controlled trail evaluating the effect of an appreciative joy meditation training on subjective well-being and attitudes. Mindfulness, 10, 506–515.

Feb 26, 2023 • 44min
Episode 27: Surrender
Discover the profound implications of surrender in Christianity, contrasting it with societal control. Explore how relinquishing control can lead to emotional liberation and enhanced mental health through faith. The discussion dives into mindfulness and loving-kindness meditations, highlighting their role in the surrender process. Delve into transformative insights from both Christian and Buddhist perspectives, illuminating how trusting in a higher power fosters peace and diminishes suffering. Gain practical tools to deepen your connection with the divine.