The Christian Psychologist: Mental Health for 21st Century Christ Followers
Joshua Knabb
78 episodes
1 week ago
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.
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Show art by Justin Kowalski.
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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.
In the 78th episode, Dr. Knabb explores the psychological and spiritual benefits of inner stillness. He first discusses stillness from a secular psychological perspective, reviewing definitions and research on transcendental meditation (TM). Then, Dr. Knabb discusses a Christian version of inner stillness, hesychia, pursued with the Jesus Prayer. To conclude, Dr. Knabb offers a short prayer practice, the Jesus Prayer, for pursuing inner stillness, silence, and concentration within the Christian tradition.
In this 77th episode, Dr. Knabb explores loneliness from both a secular psychological and Christian perspective. First, he offers a psychological perspective on loneliness to better understand its causes and effects from a mental health viewpoint. Then, Dr. Knabb discusses a biblical view of the topic, drawing from Scripture and the 20th century Christian missionary Frank Laubach's "game with minutes." To conclude, he presents a short practice to recognize God's loving presence throughout the day to love like Jesus loves.
In the 76th episode, Dr. Knabb explores the topic of self-transcendence. First, he offers a secular psychological understanding of the mental health benefits of self-transcendence, including interventions to help us move beyond the self. Then, Dr. Knabb provides a Christian perspective on the topic, turning to contemplative Christianity and the writings of Thomas Merton. To end, he offers a short contemplative practice to help 21st century Christ followers shift from self-preoccupations, which can make us miserable in life, to the God of love.
In the 75th episode, Dr. Knabb explores the topic of envy from both secular and Christian perspectives. Specifically, he first discusses envy from a secular psychological perspective, including envy research, interventions, its relationship with mental health, and a possible source (social media overconsumption). Then, Dr. Knabb explores a Christian understanding of the topic, viewed through the lens of the seven deadly sins. To conclude, he offers a short practice, drawing from the Christian monastic practice of lectio divina, to cultivate gratitude as the antidote to envy.
In this 74th episode, Dr. Knabb discusses depressive rumination, including its role in depressive episodes, drawing upon insights from meta-cognitive therapy. In this exploration, he offers several meta-cognitive strategies, including attentional training and detachment, for shifting from depressive rumination to another area of focus. To conclude the episode, Dr. Knabb provides a Christian view of depressive rumination, including biblical meditation as an attentional strategy to detach from unhelpful forms of rumination and pivot toward God.
In this 73rd episode, Dr. Knabb discusses the use of mantras, which have become increasingly popular in secular psychology. He first highlights a review article on mantras that was recently published in a popular psychology journal, then shifts toward a Christian understanding of mantras. Along the way, Dr. Knabb explores the mental and spiritual benefits of Christian mantras, before concluding with a short practice to call on the name of Jesus for psychological and spiritual health.
In this 72nd episode, Dr. Knabb explores the impact that traumatic events can have on our worldview. Referred to in secular psychology as "shattered assumptions" or "shattered worldviews," an exploration of the role that traumatic events can have on our view that the world and other people are safe, predictable, and controllable is offered. Then, a biblical perspective is provided to help Christians shift from unhelpful to helpful worldview assumptions, with the God of love at the center. To conclude the podcast, a short meditative exercise is included to focus on God's promises from the Bible.
In the 71st episode, Dr. Knabb discusses thinking about thinking, or meta-cognition in psychology. First, he explores a secular psychological understanding of meta-cognition and its relationship to mental and spiritual health. Then, Dr. Knabb offers a Christian understanding of watchfulness of the inner world, drawing on the Bible and Christian spiritual writings. To conclude, a short meditative practice is offered to learn to think about our thinking in the Christian life.
In the 70th episode, Dr. Knabb explores assumptions, including the negative "If...then..." thoughts that can lead to psychological struggles. First, he explores a cognitive behavioral understanding of assumptions, including the role they play in mental suffering. Then, Dr. Knabb covers a Christian perspective, discussing the role that God's promises, found in the Bible, can play in responding to negative assumptions. To conclude, Dr. Knabb offers a short meditative practice to shift from unhelpful assumptions that keep us stuck to the promises of God.
In the 69th episode, Dr. Knabb explores the topic of unwanted intrusive thoughts, doing so by discussing both a secular psychological understanding, via theory and research, and Christian perspective. Dr. Knabb concludes by offering a short exercise, the Jesus Prayer, for 21st century Christ followers to respond to unwanted intrusive thoughts from within the millennia-old Christian tradition.
In the 68th episode, Dr. Knabb explores the psychology and spirituality of the fruit of the Spirit in Christianity. He begins by discussing the four immeasurables (loving-kindness, compassion, appreciative joy, and equanimity) in secular clinical psychology, which are attitudes and behaviors that have been theorized about and researched to cultivate mental health. Although these four immeasurables have been packaged and offered as an empirically supported meditative intervention for psychological health, they originate from the Buddhist religious tradition. Therefore, Dr. Knabb explores a Christian alternative for 21st century Christ followers, the nine fruit of the Spirit, and offers a fruit of the Spirit meditative practice to conclude the episode. Ultimately, for Christians, the aim of such a meditative practice is nothing short of Christlikeness, based on the indwelling Holy Spirit, with mental and spiritual health as a possible byproduct.
In this 67th episode, Dr. Knabb explores the role that positive thinking can have in mental and spiritual health, discussing views on positive thinking from secular psychology and Christianity. For Christians, the gospel message, or good news, means that we can think positively about ourselves, the world, and the future, knowing that we've been reconciled to God, who has a plan for us. To conclude, a short meditative exercise is offered to help Christians shift from negative to positive thinking.
In the 66th episode, Dr. Knabb covers the salient topic of purpose in life, exploring theory, research, and applications across secular psychology and Christianity in the context of mental and spiritual health. For Christians, purpose in life involves a relationship with God, or communion with God to use theological language, which is discussed in depth. To conclude, a simple practice is offered to help 21st century Christ followers commune with God in daily life for mental and spiritual health.
In the 65th episode, Dr. Knabb explores collaborative problem solving as a strategy for being a peacemaker in contemporary society. First, he discusses the collaborative problem solving (CPS) approach for resolving conflict and teaching executive functioning skills. Then, Dr. Knabb offers a Christian understanding of the salience of being a peacemaker across home life, work life, community life, and congregational life. To conclude, a meditative exercise is provided to cultivate peaceable-mindedness in conflict-ridden Western societies.
In this 64th episode, Dr. Knabb explores the topic of empathy, covering both theory and research in secular psychology and a biblical view of the topic. In turn, he offers a short prayer practice, the Jesus Prayer, to help Christians pray for Jesus' mercy, or compassion and empathy, to be directed toward others. Overall, the hope is that 21st century Christ followers can grow in empathy to model Jesus' mercy, directed to those who are suffering.
In this 63rd episode, Dr. Knabb explores the often-neglected topic of gentleness from both secular and Christian perspectives. First, he reviews the newest research on gentleness in secular psychology (including its relationship with mental health and potential interventions to cultivate it in daily life). Then, Dr. Knabb offers a Christian viewpoint, before concluding with a short contemplative practice to recognize God's gentle, loving presence within for mental and spiritual health.
In this 62nd podcast, Dr. Knabb explores emptiness, including its definition, psychological and spiritual implications, and interventions. He also discusses a Christian understanding of the antidote to the inevitable emptiness we may feel in life in a fallen, broken world, before concluding with a short meditative practice to help Christians acknowledge and practice God's presence within.
In this 61st episode, Dr. Knabb explores the difference between conditional self-esteem, which is temporary, and unconditional self-acceptance, which may bring with it more lasting joy, contentment, and fulfillment in life, anchored to rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). Drawing upon insights from both the secular clinical psychology literature and Christian writings, including Scripture, Dr. Knabb helps listeners to begin to pivot from conditional worth to God's grace, concluding with a short meditative practice.
In this 60th episode, Dr. Knabb discusses a recent psychology article, which advocates for "everyday life" interventions, given the worldwide prevalence of mental disorders and barriers to professional mental health services. After reviewing the reasons for these interventions and interventions themselves, Dr. Knabb explores a Christian strategy for pairing them with an awareness of God's presence for mental and spiritual health.
In the 59th episode, Dr. Knabb explores the topic of patience, covering both secular psychological and Christian perspectives. In particular, he discusses the burgeoning patience literature in psychology, before discussing Christian views on the topic, anchored to Scripture and the writings of the early desert Christians. To conclude, he offers a short exercise to help Christians reflect on patience as 21st century Christ followers.
The Christian Psychologist: Mental Health for 21st Century Christ Followers
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.
