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

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

By: Joshua Knabb
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About this listen

 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.2022 The Christian Psychologist Christianity Relationships Science Social Sciences Spirituality
Episodes
  • Episode 79: Spiritual Avoidance

    Episode 79: Spiritual Avoidance
    Nov 23 2025

    References

    Aschenbrenner, G. (2007). Examen. British Province of the Society of Jesus.

    Cashwell, C. S., Bentley, P. B., & Yarborough, J. P. (2007). The only way out is through: The peril of spiritual bypass. Counseling and Values, 51(2), 139-148.

    Colombiere, C. (1980). Trustful surrender to divine providence: The secret of peace and happiness. Tan Books.

    Fox, J., Cashwell, C. S., & Picciotto, G. (2017). The opiate of the masses: Measuring spiritual bypass and its relationship to spirituality, religion, mindfulness, psychological distress, and personality. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 4(4), 274.

    Ignatian Spirituality. (n.d.). Consolations and desolations. https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/consolation-and-desolation-2/

    Ignatian Spirituality. (n.d.). The examen. https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-examen

    Ignatius of Loyola. (n.d.). Suscipe. https://www.loyolapress.com/catholic-resources/prayer/traditional-catholic-prayers/saints-prayers/suscipe-prayer-saint-ignatius-of-loyola/

    Knabb, J. (2021). Christian meditation in clinical practice: A four-step model and workbook for therapists and clients. IVP Academic.

    Knabb, J., Vazquez, V., Pate, R., Garzon, F., & Wang, K. (2019). Christian meditation for trauma-based rumination: A four-week program. Unpublished manual.

    Thibodeaux, M. (2015). Reimagining the Ignatian Examen: Fresh ways to pray from your day. Loyola Press.

    Welwood, J. (1984). Principles of inner work: Psychological and spiritual. Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 16(1), 63-73.

    Welwood, J. (n.d.). On spiritual bypassing and relationship. https://scienceandnonduality.com/article/on-spiritual-bypassing-and-relationship/
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    29 mins
  • Episode 78: Stillness

    Episode 78: Stillness
    Oct 26 2025

    References

    Alvarez-Perez, Y., Rivero-Santana, A., Perestelo-Perez, L., Duarte-Diaz, A., Ramos-Garcia, V., Toledo-Chavarri, A., & Serrano-Aguilar, P. (2022). Effectiveness of mantra-based meditation on mental health: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(6), 3380.

    Knabb, J. (2021). Christian meditation in clinical practice: A four-step model and workbook for therapists and clients. IVP Academic.

    Orme-Johnson, D. W., Barnes, V. A., Rees, B., & Tobin, J. (2025). Systematic review and meta-analysis of transcendental meditation for post-traumatic stress disorder. Medicina, 61(4), 659.

    Nikodimos. (Ed.). (1782). Philokalia. R.P. Pryne.

    Roth, B. (2022). Strength in stillness: The power of transcendental meditation. Simon & Schuster.
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    27 mins
  • Episode 77: Loneliness

    Episode 77: Loneliness
    Sep 28 2025

    References

    APA Dictionary of Psychology. (n.d.). Loneliness. https://dictionary.apa.org/loneliness

    Curtis, A., Luchetti, M., Prendergast, C., Ahern, E., Creaven, A. M., Kirwan, E. M., & O’Súilleabháin, P. S. (2025). Adverse childhood experiences and loneliness: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Social Science & Medicine, 370, 117860.

    Jiang, D., Kwok, J. Y. Y., Yeung, D. Y. L., Tang, V. F. Y., Choi, N. G., Ho, R. T. H., & Chou, K. L. (2025). Six-month outcomes of layperson-delivered, telephone-based behavioural activation and mindfulness interventions on loneliness among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: The HEAL-HOA Dual Randomised Controlled Trial. Age and Ageing, 54(8), afaf209.

    Knabb, J. (2021). Christian meditation in clinical practice: A four-step model and workbook for therapists and clients. IVP Academic.

    Laubach, F. (2007). Letters by a modern mystic [Kindle edition]. Purposeful Design Publications.

    Millstein, D. J., Larson, A. G., & Orsillo, S. M. (2025). A kindness-based meditation study for promoting interpersonal functioning in first-year college students. Journal of Psychiatry and Cognitive Behaviour, 9, 197.

    Riboldi, I., Crocamo, C., Capogrosso, C. A., Bartoli, F., Armes, J., Taylor, C., & Carrà, G. (2025). Understanding the role of loneliness in the relationships between post-traumatic stress symptoms and both anxiety and depressive symptoms among university students: A mediation analysis. Brain Sciences, 15(8), 787.

    Zeas-Sigüenza, A., Voldstad, A., Ruisoto, P., Ganho-Ávila, A., Guiomar, R., Cacho, R., & Benach, J. (2025). Loneliness as a public health challenge: A systematic review and meta-analysis to inform policy and practice. European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education, 15(7), 131.
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    30 mins
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