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

Author: Joshua Knabb

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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.


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ReferencesDörnyei, Z. (2022). The psychology of the fruit of the Spirit: The biblical portrayal of the Christlike character and its development. Zondervan Academic.Knabb, J. J., & Wang, K. T. (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(1), 67-80.Knabb, J., Purrington, S., Anguiano, J., Ballesteros, A., Bevente, G., Moslenko, T., Quinones, J., Wang, K., Chang, G., Tice, W., Kaldas, P., & Rutledge, C. (2026). The Fruit of the Spirit Measure (FSM): An emic strategy for assessing Christians’ psychological and spiritual functioning. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 45, 92-114.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(1), 169-181.Lowell, J., Castro, J., Edmonds, D., Gomez, S., Hermes, J., Olivas, S., Robinson, J., & Sharp, J. (2026). A randomized controlled trial of a two-week fruit of the Spirit meditation intervention to improve self- and other-compassion, psychological well-being, and distress tolerance in Christian adults. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 45, 144-157. Lv, J., Liu, Q., Zeng, X., Oei, T. P., Liu, Y., Xu, K., & Liu, J. (2020). The effect of four immeasurables meditations on depressive symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 76, 101814.Petrovic, J., Mettler, J., Cho, S., & Heath, N. L. (2024). The effects of loving-kindness interventions on positive and negative mental health outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 102433.Salzberg, S. (1995). Loving-kindness: The revolutionary art of happiness. Shambhala Publications, Inc.Zeng, X., Chio, F. H., Oei, T. P., Leung, F. Y., & Liu, X. (2017). A systematic review of associations between amount of meditation practice and outcomes in interventions using the four immeasurables meditations. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 141.
Episode 81: Savoring

Episode 81: Savoring

2026-05-2418:07

References Ball, J. (2016). A treatise of divine meditation. Puritan Publications. Beeke, J., & Jones, M. (2012). A Puritan theology: Doctrine for life. Reformation Heritage Books. Bryant, F. B. (2021). Current progress and future directions for theory and research on savoring. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 771698. Chadwick, E. D., Jose, P. E., & Bryant, F. B. (2021). Styles of everyday savoring differentially predict well-being in adolescents over one month. Journal of Happiness Studies, 22(2), 803-824. Chen, P. H., Tung, H. H., Wu, Y. C., & Sie, J. (2026). Effectiveness of savoring interventions: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials. Applied Psychology: Health and Well‐Being, 18(2), e70134. Edwards, J. (2013). The religious affections. Dover Publications. Hurley, D. B., & Kwon, P. (2012). Results of a study to increase savoring the moment: Differential impact on positive and negative outcomes. Journal of Happiness Studies, 13(4), 579-588. Knabb, J. (2021). Christian meditation in clinical practice: A four-step model and workbook for therapists and clients. IVP Academic. Quoidbach, J., Berry, E. V., Hansenne, M., & Mikolajczak, M. (2010). Positive emotion regulation and well-being: Comparing the impact of eight savoring and dampening strategies. Personality and Individual Differences, 49(5), 368-373. Wilson, K. A., & MacNamara, A. (2021). Savor the moment: Willful increase in positive emotion and the persistence of this effect across time. Psychophysiology, 58(3), e13754. Yuille, J. (2008). Puritan spirituality: The fear of God in the affective theology of George Swinnock. Wipf & Stock Publishers.
Episode 80: Failure

Episode 80: Failure

2026-01-0437:00

ReferencesAPA Dictionary of Psychology. (n.d.). Fear of failure. https://dictionary.apa.org/fear-of-failureCarlson, R. W., & Fishbach, A. (2024). Learning from failure. Motivation Science, 10(3), 160–170.Eskreis-Winkler, L., & Fishbach, A. (2022). You think failure is hard? So is learning from it. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 17(6), 1511-1524.Holman Bible Dictionary. (2004). Providence. Holman Bible Publishers.Knabb, J. (2021). Christian meditation in clinical practice: A four-step model and workbook for therapists and clients. IVP Academic.Protestant Reformed Churches in America. (n.d.). Belgic confession. Retrieved March 26, 2025. http://www.prca.org/about/official-standards/creeds/three-forms-of-unity/belgic-confession
ReferencesAschenbrenner, 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-examenIgnatius 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/
Episode 78: Stillness

Episode 78: Stillness

2025-10-2627:27

ReferencesAlvarez-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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