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

In the 83rd episode, Dr. Knabb explores the topic of existential anxiety from both secular psychological and Christian perspectives. In particular, existential anxiety is a unique type of anxiety that relates to the ultimate concerns of death, meaninglessness, isolation, and freedom. Dr. Knabb covers secular research on the topic, secular interventions, and a Christian understanding of the problem of and solution to existential anxiety. At the conclusion of the episode, Dr. Knabb offers a short meditative practice to turn from existential anxiety to God's providential care.

In this 82nd episode, Dr. Knabb explores the widely popular four immeasurables meditation. He starts by discussing its roots in Buddhism, as well as research on the four immeasurables in the contemporary clinical psychology literature. In turn, Dr. Knabb explores a Christian alternative, the fruit of the Spirit, including recent research he conducted on the topic. To conclude, he offers a short meditative practice, the fruit of the Spirit meditation, for 21st century Christ followers.

In this 81st episode, Dr. Knabb explores the topic of savoring, or the ability to hold onto and heighten positive emotional experiences. He first discusses a secular psychological view on the topic, followed by a Christian perspective. To conclude, Dr. Knabb offers a meditative strategy for savoring God.

In this 80th episode, Dr. Knabb explores the psychology of failure from both secular psychological and Christian perspectives. Specifically, he discusses a definition of failure, along with barriers to learning from failure and strategies for overcoming such barriers. Then, Dr. Knabb offers a Christian view of learning from failure, focusing on God's grace, mercy, and providential care. To conclude, he offers a multi-step approach to learning from failure by walking with God and trusting in his providence.

In the 79th episode, Dr. Knabb explores the problem of spiritual avoidance, also called spiritual bypass. First, a secular psychological perspective is offered on the dilemma of spiritual bypass, including research that suggests it is linked to psychological distress. Then, a Christian understanding is provided on the importance of accepting, not avoiding, emotions as God-given signals as 21st century Christ followers. To conclude, a spiritual practice, the daily examen, is offered to help Christians recognize that God is working in and through our emotional pain.

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.

In this 58th episode, Dr. Knabb discusses the secular psychological topic of contrast avoidance, which involves the tendency to use worry, rumination, and other types of negative thinking to keep negative emotions like anxiety actively elevated to avoid being surprised by sudden spikes in negative emotions and corresponding negative life events. In addition, secular and Christian exercises to combat contrast avoidance through the use of savoring are offered, which, for Christians, involves savoring God and God's Word, the Bible. Overall, the aim of this episode is to help 21st century Christ followers find more enjoyment in the Trinitarian God, as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, savoring God as the possible antidote to contrast avoidance.

In the 57th episode, Dr. Knabb explores the topic of transitional characters, coined by the American psychologist and sociologist Carlfred Broderick. Specifically, transitional characters are those who do not pass on the abuse, neglect, trauma, and so forth, collectively called adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), that they experienced in their own family-of-origin and, instead, create a healthier cycle for their children. Both secular psychological and Christian perspectives are offered, with Dr. Knabb suggesting that Jesus Christ, for Christians, is the ultimate transitional character for us to look to, given he took on the sins of the world and offers new life for those who put their faith in him. To conclude, a short prayer is offered, referred to in Christianity as a "breastplate prayer," to help Christians draw upon God's strength and power to become transitional characters by emulating Jesus Christ.

In this 56th episode, Dr. Knabb explores spiritual struggles, including their definition and implications for mental health. He also discusses similar Christian concepts, like the dark night, wherein God helps Christians to let go of earthly preoccupations in favor of a direct relationship with him. To conclude the episode, Dr. Knabb offers a short contemplative practice to embrace the dark night and move toward a deeper trust in the God of love.

In this 55th episode, Dr. Knabb explores the important topic of attention in general, as well as attentional control more narrowly. Specifically, he discusses the role that attentional control plays in mental health within the secular psychology literature, then illuminates a Christian perspective on the topic. To conclude, he offers a short contemplative practice to move toward greater attentional control in the Christian life.

In this 54th episode, Dr. Knabb explores distorted thinking, doing so from both psychological and Christian perspectives. In particular, he reviews cognitive behavioral therapy, including the notion that our interpretation of life, not life's events in and of themselves, often determines how we feel and what we do. Then, Dr. Knabb discusses a Christian perspective on the fallen human mind, including strategies for managing distorted thoughts in Christian living.

In this 53rd episode, Dr. Knabb explores the powerful topic of forgiveness, doing so from both secular psychological and Christian perspectives. In particular, he explores forgiveness as a psychological variable for measurement and intervention, then pivots toward a biblical understanding of the topic. To conclude, he offers a meditative practice, anchored to Puritan spirituality, to help Christians remember Jesus' act of forgiveness on the cross and, in turn, forgive others on an ongoing basis.

In this 52nd episode, Dr. Knabb discusses living an ordinary life, including its mental and spiritual benefits. Exploring ordinary living from both secular psychology and Christian perspectives, Dr. Knabb makes the case for living a humble, simple, quiet, Spirit-filled life, in contrast to the seemingly ideal life promoted by influencers, celebrities, politicians, and others, who want millions of followers, best-selling books, and sold-out arenas. To conclude, practicing God's presence is offered as a strategy to embrace an ordinary, blessed life within Christianity.

In this 51st episode, Dr. Knabb explores one of the most painful emotions in existence: shame. First, he discusses a secular psychological view of the topic, reviewing theory and research. Then, he covers a Christian perspective, before concluding with a short meditative practice to develop compassion in response to shame and self-criticism.

In this 50th episode, Dr. Knabb tackles a topic that is extremely important for contemporary society: contempt. First, he explores the secular psychology literature, including theory and research on contempt. Then, he discusses a Christian perspective, including the possible antidote, mercy. To conclude, he offers a short practice, the Jesus Prayer, to cultivate mercy, not contempt, for those we struggle to love.

In this 49th episode, Dr. Knabb explores the topic of hope from both secular and Christian perspectives, including research on hope, hope interventions, and a biblical view of hope, placed in the context of eternity with God. To conclude, Dr. Knabb guides the listener through a short meditative practice to cultivate hope in the presence of God.

In this 48th episode, Dr. Knabb explores the observing self (also called the transcendent or noticing self), contrasting it with the verbal self (also referred to as the thinking self). Specifically, the observing and verbal selves are contrasted in an effort to better understand 21st century mental health. In addition, Christianity's equivalents, the contemplative and thinking selves, are reviewed, before Dr. Knabb concludes with a short practice to cultivate a greater awareness of the contemplative self for Christian mental and spiritual health.

In this 47th episode, Dr. Knabb explores resilience, also referred to as mental or psychological resilience. Specifically, he covers theory and research in the secular psychology literature on the topic, along with a biblical view of resilience. Finally, he leads listeners through a short lectio divina practice to move toward greater resilience in life.

In this 46th episode, Dr. Knabb explores the topic of compulsivity in the secular psychology literature, along with similar terms in Christianity, including temptations and sin. He also explores solutions to compulsivity, such as nonattachment with mindfulness and detachment with the Jesus Prayer. To conclude, Dr. Knabb guides the listener through a short practice in an effort to cultivate Christian detachment in response to compulsivity.

In the 45th episode, Dr. Knabb discusses humility, including what the secular psychology literature has to say, theory- and research-wise, along with a Christian understanding of humility, comparing and contrasting the two. To conclude the episode, Dr. Knabb leads listeners through a short practice, drawing upon a Medieval Christian spiritual writing, to help 21st century Christ followers cultivate and maintain Christlike humility.

In the 44th episode, Dr. Knabb explores the topic of kindness, which has been written about in detail in both secular psychology and Christianity. To start, a secular psychological view is presented, including theory and research, then a Christian understanding of kindness is offered. To conclude, a short practice, drawing upon the Jesus Prayer, is offered to help Christians cultivate and maintain kindness in order to be more like Jesus Christ.

In the 43rd episode, Dr. Knabb discusses interpersonal mindfulness, including its Christian equivalent, Christian contemplation and practicing God's presence in relational exchanges. Specifically, he explores what the secular clinical psychology literature has to say about the topic, then explores classic Christian spiritual writings from Francis de Sales, Thomas Merton, and Brother Lawrence. He concludes with a short practice to help 21st century Christ followers to practice God's presence in relational exchanges throughout the day to move toward improved mental, relational, and spiritual health.

In this episode, Dr. Knabb discusses mindset, focusing on the differences between a fixed and growth mindset in the secular psychology literature. He also explores a biblical view of the topic, emphasizing the importance of sanctification and Christlikeness for 21st century Christ followers. To conclude, he offers a prayer exercise to help Christians shift from a fallen self, fixed mindset to a Christlike, growth mindset.

In this 41st episode, Dr. Knabb explores grit, or passion and perseverance in achieving the goals of life. Specifically, he discusses grit in secular psychology, then explores a Christian understanding of perseverance. Dr. Knabb concludes with a short practice to cultivate and maintain Christian grit, drawing upon the writings of Brother Lawrence.

In this 40th episode, Dr. Knabb discusses psychological flexibility from both secular psychological and Christian perspectives. He begins by exploring being open, centered, and engaged as key components of psychological flexibility, then offers a Christian alternative: shifting from earthly- to spiritual-mindedness. Finally, he leads listeners through a short practice to cultivate psychological flexibility from a Christian perspective.

In this 39th episode, Dr. Knabb explores a topic that has been researched of late in secular psychology: openness to the future. First, he discusses the mental health implications of being open to the future with a positive outlook on what is ahead. Then, he offers a biblical understanding of the future, making a case that Christians can be open to the future because of what God has revealed in the Bible. To conclude, he guides listeners through a short meditative practice to meditate on heaven, something the Puritans frequently advocated for.

In the 38th episode, Dr. Knabb explores the importance of the breath in daily life. First, he discusses what is known as "breath psychology" in secular psychology, focusing on the role that the breath cycle plays in mental health. Then, he offers a Christian understanding of the breath, drawing upon the Bible and classic Christian spiritual writings. To conclude, he provides a short practice, pairing the Jesus Prayer with the breath, to help 21st century Christ followers learn a popular breath prayer to maintain an awareness of God's presence.

In this 37th episode, Dr. Knabb tackles an incredibly important topic within the Christian life: doing versus being. Specifically, he explores the secular psychology literature, discussing how to shift from the "doing" mode of the mind to the "being" mode of the mind when responding to unpleasant inner experiences. He also compares and contrasts this understanding with action and contemplation in Christianity, turning to the story of Martha and Mary in Luke's gospel. To conclude, he offers a short contemplative practice, anchored to the Christian faith tradition, to practice shifting from "doing" to "being" in God's presence.

In this 36th episode, Dr. Knabb explores mental and spiritual well-being in both secular psychology and Christianity. First, he discusses both short-term (hedonic) and long-term (eudaimonic) well-being, along with a spiritual type of well being, in the secular psychology literature. Then, he explores a parallel concept, peace, in Christianity. To conclude, he offers a short practice, centering prayer, to help Christians practice God's presence and a greater awareness of God's peace, because Christians are a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit.

In this 35th episode, Dr. Knabb explores God representations, including the God concept (our "head" knowledge about God) and God image (our "heart" knowledge about God) within the secular psychology of religion literature. Then, he discusses ways to close this gap so that Christians' head and heart are working together to relate to God and others with greater authenticity and intimacy. To conclude, Dr. Knabb offers a short exercise, based on lectio divina (Latin for "divine reading"), to help 21st century Christ followers experience, on a deeper, more intimate level, God's loving goodness.

In the 34th episode, Dr. Knabb explores a topic that seems to be overwhelming contemporary society: boredom. Specifically, he explores the secular psychology literature on the topic, then a Christian viewpoint, capturing the mental health implications along the way. To conclude, Dr. Knabb guides listeners through a short practice to practice God's presence in order to gently pivot from boredom to the excitement and newness that comes from walking with the God of love.