The
Christian story is one of creation, brokenness, redemption,
and hope, and each of our lives highlight these very themes.
For Christians to integrate their faith with learning, it
is essential to obtain a scientific understanding of psychology
with a deep respect and awe for God’s work in human
lives and sound Christian theology. The relationship between
psychology and Christian faith wed harmoniously in my role
in working with students as my own training, life story,
spiritual development, and interests all adjoin. For me,
one form of integrative work occurs in using the skills and
tools from mental health to serve the Church. This includes
training others in psychological methods that could be useful
to them in care-giving, conducting applied research that
supports Christian ministries (such as consultation, program
development, program evaluation, and needs/ resource assessments),
and dedicating personal service to Church-related work.
I have taught graduate students (since 2001) and maintained
private practice work (since 1998). While I have greatly
valued clinical work, I recently have shifted to full-time
academic work. In this role, I most enjoy working closely
with students as they develop skills to serve them in their
future work as well as in their current lives as they synthesize
classroom learning with practice. My goals with students
beyond information sharing include encouraging diligence
in; exploring their own stories, seeking meaning in such,
wrestling with worldview issues, and developing a commitment
towards a deeper self-knowledge to serve as a base for deeply
understanding others.
My current professional interests include partnerships between
psychology and the Church, substance abuse assessment and
treatment, ministry assessment, and understanding perceptions
of Christians regarding infertility treatment and Christian
therapy practices. |
