

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

Nov 27, 2022 • 45min
Episode 14: Compassion
ReferencesGermer, C. (2009). The mindful path to self-compassion: Freeing yourself from destructive thoughts and emotions. The Guilford Press.Gilbert, P. (2010). Compassion focused therapy: Distinctive features. Routledge.Kirby, J. (2016). Compassion interventions: The programmes, the evidence, and implications for research and practice. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice. Advanced online publication.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., & Vazquez, V. (2018). A randomized controlled trial of a two-week Internet-based contemplative prayer program for Christians with daily stress. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 5, 37-53.MacBeth, A., & Gumley, A. (2012). Exploring compassion: A meta-analysis of the association between self-compassion and psychopathology. Clinical Psychology Review, 32, 545-552.Mathewes-Green, F. (2009). The Jesus prayer: The ancient desert prayer that tunes the heart of God. Paraclete Press.Nikodimos. (Ed.). (1782). Philokalia. R.P. Pryne.Stahl, B., & Goldstein, E. (2010). A mindfulness-based stress reduction workbook. New Harbinger Publications, Inc.Stewart, D. (1998). Compassion. In C. Brand, C. Draper, & A. England (Eds.), Holman illustrated Bible dictionary (p. 324). Holman Reference.Strong, J. (2001). The Greek dictionary of the New Testament. Thomas Nelson.Talbot, J. (2013). The Jesus prayer: A cry for mercy, a path of renewal. InterVarsity Press.Zeng, X., Chiu, C., Wang, R., Oei, T., & Leung, F. (2015). The effects of loving-kindness meditation on positive emotions: A meta-analytic review. Frontiers in Psychology, 6.

Nov 20, 2022 • 46min
Episode 13: Attachment
ReferencesBartholomew, K., & Horowitz, L. (1991). Attachment styles among young adults: A test of a four-category model. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61, 226-244.Beeke, J., & Jones, M. (2012). A Puritan theology: Doctrine for life. Reformation Heritage Books.Bretherton, I. (1985). Attachment theory: Retrospect and prospect. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 50, 3-35.Brown, D., & Elliott, D. (2016). Attachment disturbances in adults: Treatment for comprehensive repair. W. W. Norton & Company.Clinton, T., & Sibcy, G. (2002). Attachments: Why you love, feel, and act the way you do. Thomas Nelson Publishers.Clinton, T., & Straub, J. (2010). God attachment: Why you believe, act, and feel the way you do about God. Howard Books.Feeney, B., & Collins, N. (2004). Interpersonal safe haven and secure base caregiving processes in adulthood. In W. Rholes & J. Simpson (Eds.), Adult attachment: Theory, research, and clinical implications (pp. 300-338). The Guilford Press.Hall, T., Fujikawa, A., Halcrow, S., Hill, P., & Delaney, H. (2009). Attachment to God and implicit spirituality: Clarifying correspondence and compensation models. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 37, 227-242.Karen, R. (1994). Becoming attached: First relationships and how they shape our capacity to love. Oxford University PressKnabb, 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., & Wang, K. (2021). The Communion with God Scale: Shifting from an etic to emic perspective to assess fellowshipping with the Triune God. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 13, 67-80.Knabb, J., Johnson, E., Bates, T., & Sisemore, T. (2019). Christian psychotherapy in context: Theoretical and empirical explorations in faith-based mental health. Routledge.Mikulincer, M., & Shaver, P. (2007). Attachment in adulthood: Structure, dynamics, and change. The Guilford Press.Owen, J. (2007). Communion with the Triune God.Crossway Books.Willis, W. (2000). Fellowship. In D. Freedman (Ed.), Eerdmans dictionary of the Bible (p. 460). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

Nov 13, 2022 • 43min
Episode 12: Worldview
ReferencesErickson, M. (2013). Christian theology (3rd ed.). Baker Academic.Gallagher, T. (2008). Meditation and contemplation: An Ignatian guide to praying with Scripture. The Crossroad Publishing Company.Henriques, G. (2019). Toward a metaphysical empirical psychology. In T. Teo (Ed.), Palgrave studies in the theory and history of psychology (pp. 209-238). Switzerland: Springer Nature.Jackson, A., & Meadows, F. (1991). Getting to the bottom to understand the top. Journal of Counseling & Development, 70, 72-76. Johnson, K., Hill, E., & Cohen, A. (2011). Integrating the study of culture and religion: Toward a psychology of worldview. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 5, 137-152.Koltko-Rivera, M. (2004). The psychology of worldviews. Review of General Psychology, 8, 3-58.Knabb, J. (2021). Christian meditation in clinical practice: A four-step model and workbook for therapists and clients. InterVarsity Press.Knabb, J., Wang, K., Lewis Hall, M., & Vazquez, V. (in press). The Christian Worldview Scale: An emic measure for assessing a comprehensive view of life within the Christian tradition. Spirituality in Clinical Practice.Manney, J. (2011). The prayer that changes everything: Discovering the power of St. Loyola’s examen. Loyola Press.Sire, J. (2009). The universe next door: A basic worldview catalog. IVP Academic.Slife, B., O’Grady, K., & Kosits, R. (Eds.). (2017). The hidden worldviews of psychology’s theory, research, and practice. Routledge.

Nov 6, 2022 • 34min
Episode 11: Detachment
ReferencesBangley, B. (Ed.). (2006). The cloud of unknowing: Contemporary English edition. Paraclete Press.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.Knabb, J., Vazquez, V., Bates, M., Garzon, F., Ford, K., & Wang, K. (2018). Christian meditation for repetitive negative thinking: A four-week preventative program. Unpublished manual.Lonsdale, D. (2005). Detachment. In P. Sheldrake (Ed.), The new Westminster dictionary of Christian spirituality (p. 234). Westminster John Knox Press.Sahdra, B. K., Shaver, P. R., and Brown, K. W. (2010). A scale to measure nonattachment: A Buddhist complement to Western research on attachment and adaptive functioning. Journal of Personality Assessment, 92, 116–127. The Upper Room Dictionary of Christian Spiritual Formation. (2003). Detachment. Upper Room Books.

Oct 30, 2022 • 32min
Episode 10: Gratitude
ReferencesBeeke, J., & Jones, M. (2012). A Puritan theology: Doctrine for life. Reformation Heritage BooksCrouch, T. A., Verdi, E. K., & Erickson, T. M. (2020). Gratitude is positively associated with quality of life in multiple sclerosis. Rehabilitation Psychology, 65(3), 231–238. Dickens, L. (2017). Using gratitude to promote positive change: A series of meta-analyses investigating the effectiveness of gratitude interventions. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 39, 193-208.Emmons, R. (2004). The psychology of gratitude: An introduction. In R. Emmons & M. McCullough (Eds.), The psychology of gratitude (pp. 3-18). Oxford University Press.Emmons, R., & McCullough, M. (2003). Counting blessings versus burdens: An experimental investigation of gratitude and subjective well-being in daily life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84, 377-389.Jans-Beken, L., Jacobs, N., Janssens, M., Peeters, S., Reijnders, J., Lechner, L., & Lataster, J. (2020). Gratitude and health: An updated review. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 15(6), 743–782. Knabb, J. (2021). Christian meditation in clinical practice: A four-step model and workbook for therapists and clients. InterVarsity Press.Knabb, J., Vazquez, V., Pate, R., & Wang, K. (2021). The Christian Gratitude Scale: An emic approach to measuring thankfulness in every season of life. Spirituality in Clinical Practice. Advance online publication.Knabb, J., Vazquez, V., Pate, R., & Wang, K. (2021, March). An emic approach to gratitude to God: Toward a Christian understanding of thankfulness in all seasons [Conference presentation]. Christian Association for Psychological Studies (CAPS) Annual Conference (Virtual).Krause, N., Bruce, D., Hayward, R. D., & Woolever, C. A. (2014). Gratitude to God, self-rated health, and depressive symptoms. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 53(2), 341–355.McCullough, M., Emmons, R., & Tsang, J. (2002). The grateful disposition: A conceptual and empirical topography. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82, 112–127.Morgan, B., Gulliford, L., & Kristjansson, K. (2017). A new approach to measuring moral virtues: The Multi-Component Gratitude Measure. Personality and Individual Differences, 107, 179-189.Sansone, R., & Sansone, L. (2010). Gratitude and well being: The benefits of appreciation. Psychiatry, 7, 18-22.Schnitker, S. A., & Richardson, K. L. (2019). Framing gratitude journaling as prayer amplifies its hedonic and eudaimonic well being, but not health, benefits. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 14(4), 427–439.Seligman, M. E. P., Steen, T. A., Park, N., & Peterson, C. (2005). Positive psychology progress: Empirical validation of interventions. American Psychologist, 60(5), 410–421. Sibbes, R. (2016). The disposition of God’s people. Chapel Library.Tsang, J.-A. (2006). Gratitude and prosocial behaviour: An experimental test of gratitude. Cognition and Emotion, 20(1), 138–148.

Oct 23, 2022 • 47min
Episode 9: Perfectionism
ReferencesAnderson, N., Miller, R., & Travis, P. (2003). When trying harder isn’t enough: Breaking the bondage of legalism. Harvest House Publishers.Bieling, P., Israeli, A., & Antony, M. (2004). Is perfectionism good, bad, or both? Examining models of the perfectionism construct. Personality and Individual Differences, 36, 1373-1385.Damian, L., Stoeber, J., Negru, O., & Baban, A. (2013). On the development of perfectionism in adolescence: Perceived parental expectations predict longitudinal increases in socially prescribed perfectionism. Personality and Individual Differences, 55, 688-693.Egan, S., Wade, T., & Shafran, R. (2011). Perfectionism as a transdiagnostic process: A clinical review. Clinical Psychology Review, 31, 203-212.Frost, R., Lahart, C., & Rosenblate, R. (1991). The development of perfectionism: A study of daughters and their parents. Cognitive Therapy Research, 15, 469–489.Hughes, P. (2001). Grace. In W. Elwell (Ed.), Evangelical dictionary of theology (pp. 519-522). Baker Academic.James, K., & Rimes, K. (2018). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy versus pure cognitive behavioural self-help for perfectionism: A pilot randomized study. Mindfulness, 9, 801-814.Kempis, T. (2015). The imitation of Christ: Classic devotions in today’s language. Worthy Inspired.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.Limburg, K., Watson, H., Hagger, M., & Egan, S. (2017). The relationship between perfectionism and psychopathology: A meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 73, 1301-1326.Slaney, R., Rice, K., Mobley, M., Trippi, J., & Ashby, J. (2001). The revised Almost Perfect Scale. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 34, 130–145.

Oct 16, 2022 • 33min
Episode 8: Contentment
ReferencesBurroughs, J. (2013). Contentment, prosperity, and God’s glory. Reformation Heritage Books. Burroughs, J. (2018). The rare jewel of Christian contentment: Abridged and in modern English. Rob Summers. Cordaro, D., Brackett, M., Glass, L., & Anderson, C. (2016). Contentment: Perceived completeness across cultures and traditions. Review of General Psychology, 20, 221-235.Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. (1998). Contentment. Holman Bible Publishers.Kempis, T (1983). The imitation of Christ. The Crown Publishing Group. Knabb, J. (2018). The compassion-based workbook for Christian clients: Finding freedom from shame and negative self judgments. Routledge.Knabb, J., Vazquez, V., & Wang, K. (2021). The Christian Contentment Scale: An emic measure for assessing inner satisfaction within the Christian tradition. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 49, 324-341.Knabb, J. (2021). Christian meditation in clinical practice: A four-step model and workbook for therapists and clients. InterVarsity Press.

4 snips
Oct 9, 2022 • 49min
Episode 7: Values
Explore the powerful impact of values on behavior and meaning in life. Discover how perfectionism can hinder relationships and learn to embrace self-acceptance through acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Understand the internal conflicts that arise when balancing personal values with discomfort. Delve into the importance of Christian values in today’s society and how they can enhance mental health. Finally, uncover the foundational role of love and other virtues in daily life, guided by biblical insights.

Oct 2, 2022 • 57min
Episode 6: Avoidance
This discussion dives into the psychological concept of experiential avoidance and its impact on mental health. It challenges the notion that happiness can be achieved without engaging with pain. Personal narratives illustrate the importance of confronting grief and embracing emotions for healing. The philosophy of early desert Christians encourages listeners to endure struggles rather than avoid them. Lament Psalms are highlighted as a powerful tool for processing suffering and finding divine comfort.

Sep 25, 2022 • 48min
Episode 5: Silence
ReferencesBill, J. (2005). Holy silence: The gift of Quaker spirituality (2nd ed.). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.Chryssavgis, J. (2008). In the heart of the desert: The spirituality of the desert fathers and mothers. World Wisdom, Inc.Kelly, T. (1992). A testament of devotion. HarperCollins.Knabb, J. (2021). Christian meditation in clinical practice: A four-step model and workbook for therapists and clients. InterVarsity Press.Lehrhaupt, L., & Meibert, P. (2017). Mindfulness-based stress reduction: The MBSR program for enhancing health and vitality. New World Library.Novotney, A. (2011). Silence, please: Psychologists are increasingly aware of the harmful effects noise has on cognition and health. Monitor on Psychology, 42, 46.Pfeifer, E., & Wittmann, M. (2020). Waiting, thinking, and feeling: Variations in the perception of time during silence. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 1-11.Valle, R. (2019). Toward a psychology of silence. The Humanistic Psychologist, 47, 219-261.