What do you think?
Rate this book
God's Psychiatry: Healing for Your Troubled Heart
With more than a million and a half copies sold, God's Psychiatry shows readers how ancient teachings of the Bible offer timeless wisdom for a happier and healthier life today. Readers will acquire confidence, banish fear and worry, root out hate and suspicion, bring out the best in themselves, and face life with enthusiasm and inward peace.
176 pages, Paperback
First published November 2, 1953
107 people are currently reading
709 people want to read
About the author
Charles L. Allen
103 books14 followersCharles Livingstone Allen (1913 – 2005) was an American ordained United Methodist minister.
He was the former pastor of First United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas. The author of over 30 books, he was a featured columnist with the Atlanta Constitution from 1948 to 1960, and with the Houston Chronicle from 1960 to 1983.
He was the former pastor of First United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas. The author of over 30 books, he was a featured columnist with the Atlanta Constitution from 1948 to 1960, and with the Houston Chronicle from 1960 to 1983.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
October 28, 2015
My mother is a big believer in not being idle.
As children, we even found that time in the restroom, "resting", was not to be wasted.
There on the water tank, we would find a variety of items to keep our minds and hands occupied: pads of paper, pencils and pens, Reader's Digests, Highlights, and a plethora of books.
It was during one of these "reflective" moments of necessary isolation, that I first discovered this book. How long I spent reading it at one sitting...I do not know...but it captivated me.
For some reason, the title did not register, only the AMAZING analysis of Psalms 23.
Years and years later, I was called upon to help my mother to sort through her belongings for a garage sale.
When I was outside selling, selling, selling, my mother kept finding objects to add to the assortment of bargains and junk.
Out came a yellow book without a jacket with no spine to identify it.
It was to be sold along with some other misfit items.
Why I opened it, I do not know, but within seconds of reading the first chapter, I recognized it as the long lost title-less book I had fallen in love with.
As I reacquainted myself with its contents, I began to share it with my mother.
Oh, how she loved it.
Its an incredible work of faith and love.
It will make you a better person.
As children, we even found that time in the restroom, "resting", was not to be wasted.
There on the water tank, we would find a variety of items to keep our minds and hands occupied: pads of paper, pencils and pens, Reader's Digests, Highlights, and a plethora of books.
It was during one of these "reflective" moments of necessary isolation, that I first discovered this book. How long I spent reading it at one sitting...I do not know...but it captivated me.
For some reason, the title did not register, only the AMAZING analysis of Psalms 23.
Years and years later, I was called upon to help my mother to sort through her belongings for a garage sale.
When I was outside selling, selling, selling, my mother kept finding objects to add to the assortment of bargains and junk.
Out came a yellow book without a jacket with no spine to identify it.
It was to be sold along with some other misfit items.
Why I opened it, I do not know, but within seconds of reading the first chapter, I recognized it as the long lost title-less book I had fallen in love with.
As I reacquainted myself with its contents, I began to share it with my mother.
Oh, how she loved it.
Its an incredible work of faith and love.
It will make you a better person.
August 13, 2015
A Prescription for Peace
I chose this rating because the author did an excellent job of explaining and interpreting the Word of God. I love the way he broke down the verses one by one and described what each one meant. I have a better understanding of the 23rd Psalm, the Lords Prayer, and the Beatitudes. A must read for those who desire peace, healing, and the Kingdom of God, on Earth and in Heaven!
I chose this rating because the author did an excellent job of explaining and interpreting the Word of God. I love the way he broke down the verses one by one and described what each one meant. I have a better understanding of the 23rd Psalm, the Lords Prayer, and the Beatitudes. A must read for those who desire peace, healing, and the Kingdom of God, on Earth and in Heaven!
March 22, 2017
Full of excellent and bite-sized insights into God’s grace for our lives. Has it’s weak moments, but overall well worth the read.
August 24, 2013
Allen's book will become one I regularly refer to and review. His chapters on Psalm 23, The Lord's Prayer and the Beatitudes can be transformational if we let them seep in.
The book is somewhat dated in examples but the truths surpass the examples.
The book is somewhat dated in examples but the truths surpass the examples.
February 17, 2024
I enjoyed the insights and the way it was broken down, as well as the bite-size pieces of information (but don't be fooled! Each chapter contains a lot and not a word is wasted). However, I don't think that everything was considered for some passages as some things have more than one interpretation. It could've gone a little deeper in some pieces but I still learned a lot from it!
October 9, 2015
I liked it, it broke bible verses down to help understand them better.
February 23, 2016
Great book. Be prepared to fall in love with the psalm. Was a great insight on how God loves us.
January 6, 2019
You will never look at traditional prayer in the same way again. Nice book to look back on from time to time.
August 13, 2019
This book comments on the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, Psalm 23, and the Beatitudes. It is good, but it doesn't promote deep thought.
January 1, 2019
This is not a psychiatry book. It barely even mentions psychological issues related to counseling in the introduction. The connection between God and psychiatry is said to be that the essence of religion is to adjust the mind. The book is about how the author interprets passages from the Bible to be helpful for daily living. The premise is that if people followed proper behavior, then they wouldn’t have gotten themselves into a psychological mess.
Certainly a person’s attitude can have a tremendous impact on their mental well-being. Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is a popular therapy method. Any method that claims to change attitudes and behaviors could roughly be called CBT. Therefore, this book might work for you. That is the reason that I didn’t give the book a lower rating. However, be careful that this sort of help may not make much of an impact if you have serious problems or are treating someone with serious disorders. There is also the possibility that the methods might appear rigid. The author does not talk about how the methods should be flexibly applied to each person in their individual circumstance. It is simplistic to say that healing is only bringing someone into a right relationship with God.
The method neglects that many psychological problems have a biological or genetic component.
To read this, it is best to forget the title and intent to deal with psychiatry. It is best to see the book as only a book of sermons. Much discussion is given for the twenty-third psalm, the Lord’s prayer, Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes. The author sometimes has interesting points about each of these. The interpretation of the twenty-third psalm as through the eyes of lamb is a good reflection.
Certainly a person’s attitude can have a tremendous impact on their mental well-being. Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is a popular therapy method. Any method that claims to change attitudes and behaviors could roughly be called CBT. Therefore, this book might work for you. That is the reason that I didn’t give the book a lower rating. However, be careful that this sort of help may not make much of an impact if you have serious problems or are treating someone with serious disorders. There is also the possibility that the methods might appear rigid. The author does not talk about how the methods should be flexibly applied to each person in their individual circumstance. It is simplistic to say that healing is only bringing someone into a right relationship with God.
The method neglects that many psychological problems have a biological or genetic component.
To read this, it is best to forget the title and intent to deal with psychiatry. It is best to see the book as only a book of sermons. Much discussion is given for the twenty-third psalm, the Lord’s prayer, Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes. The author sometimes has interesting points about each of these. The interpretation of the twenty-third psalm as through the eyes of lamb is a good reflection.
July 11, 2021
Here’s what this book is about:”Dr. Charles L. Allen explains the essence of God's Psychiatry through four of the best-known passages of the Bible: The 23rd Psalm, the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, and the Beatitudes. These "prescriptions" along with your ongoing relationship with our lord and savior Jesus Christ will help cure discouragement, depression, and doubt plus dramatically and positively change your life by aligning with the word of God.”
I got this book from my grandma. I wanted to read this to see what it would say. I own a physical copy of it but I decided to listen to it on audio. I like that Dr. Allen broke down the 23rd Psalm, the Lord’s Prayer, The Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes so it would be easy to understand because I have a hard time understanding the Bible and it also made me think.
I got this book from my grandma. I wanted to read this to see what it would say. I own a physical copy of it but I decided to listen to it on audio. I like that Dr. Allen broke down the 23rd Psalm, the Lord’s Prayer, The Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes so it would be easy to understand because I have a hard time understanding the Bible and it also made me think.
August 4, 2021
Keys to the Kingdom
Some very old references from the 50s, but still wholy true today. The foundations of our faith, from Old Testament and New, explained with practical light on how we can apply them to our lives.
False witness ... gossip:
"The law holds the receiver of stolen goods as guilty as the thief. It is really an insult to you for someone to tell you of the vices of an other man, because in so doing he is passing judgment, not only on the subject of his gossip, but also on you. If someone tells you a dirty joke his very action is saying that he thinks of you as one interested in dirty jokes. For one to tell you of another's sins means that the gossiper's opinion of you is that you would be glad to know such things."
Some very old references from the 50s, but still wholy true today. The foundations of our faith, from Old Testament and New, explained with practical light on how we can apply them to our lives.
False witness ... gossip:
"The law holds the receiver of stolen goods as guilty as the thief. It is really an insult to you for someone to tell you of the vices of an other man, because in so doing he is passing judgment, not only on the subject of his gossip, but also on you. If someone tells you a dirty joke his very action is saying that he thinks of you as one interested in dirty jokes. For one to tell you of another's sins means that the gossiper's opinion of you is that you would be glad to know such things."
August 7, 2025
Greatest thought I gleaned from the book is that only God can completely heal one's heart. Below are a few more gleanings:
If a man’s soul is sick, only God can truly heal him. We must start with God.
The greatest source of worry is “tomorrow,” but God holds that in His hands. Matthew 6:25–34; Psalms 37:25
God gave the Sabbath, a rest. You could do more in six days than you can in seven. You will not accomplish anything with an unrested soul.
We are in too big of a hurry. God teaches us to stand still and know that He is God.
You can and should pray that His will be done in your life.
If a man’s soul is sick, only God can truly heal him. We must start with God.
The greatest source of worry is “tomorrow,” but God holds that in His hands. Matthew 6:25–34; Psalms 37:25
God gave the Sabbath, a rest. You could do more in six days than you can in seven. You will not accomplish anything with an unrested soul.
We are in too big of a hurry. God teaches us to stand still and know that He is God.
You can and should pray that His will be done in your life.
June 2, 2021
Dr. Allan wrote devotional chapters readable in a single sitting. He included anecdotes that kept that book interesting and relevant, and ended with a poignant chapter that encourages you to put into practice the life God wants for you. This is a life of self-denial, but one when lived will afford you the kingdom of God. It was both compelling and encouraging. I will remember some of the stories for a long time, and I won't be surprised to return to this book to reread one or more of them for inspiration.
June 24, 2021
This was a surprisingly good book. I told myself this year I wanted to read outside my comfort zone of authors specifically Christian authors. This guy was a Methodist going through Psalm 23, The Lord’s Prayer, Ten Commandments, and the Beatitudes and how they can be healing to the soul. This brought way new insight on how I view Psalm 23 and the Beatitudes. Somethings are old fashioned in certain ways but then you remember he was born after WW1.
A word of advice it’s better as a devotional than trying to read it in one sitting.
A word of advice it’s better as a devotional than trying to read it in one sitting.
January 11, 2021
This one came highly recommended by my grandmother :) It's a relatively short book that covers the 23rd Psalm, the Lord's Prayer, the 10 commandments, and the beatitudes. These are all great passages for a troubled heart. Overall, I enjoyed the book and needed the reminders to focus on God rather than the crazy events of the the world. However I was turned off by phrases like "savages" referring to other cultures.
February 16, 2024
A very good book discussing God's psychiatry: the premise being that if we follow His Word, we will be of sound mind. He discusses the four major Bible passages: the 23rd Psalm, the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, and the Beatitudes. Very inspirational and uplifting. I read a very old copy and loved it. This is not a technical textbook on psychiatry; however, God is not complicated. If we yield to Him, we will be blessed and can overcome difficulties in our lives and souls.
December 4, 2020
Reputation Well Earned
I have heard of this book for years. Now that I have read it, I have heard this book for years in the sermons and lessons of many a preacher and teacher. You will no doubt smile at the recognition of some of the stories. Read this book and enjoy it. Learn from it. Take it to heart. It is good medicine.
I have heard of this book for years. Now that I have read it, I have heard this book for years in the sermons and lessons of many a preacher and teacher. You will no doubt smile at the recognition of some of the stories. Read this book and enjoy it. Learn from it. Take it to heart. It is good medicine.
October 26, 2024
This book went through four things...the 23rd Psalm, The Lord's Prayer, The Ten Commandments, and The Beatitudes.There were some things he brought out that I had not thought of before! I really appreciate the simple faith his books bring out. His books are always written in a very simplified way, yet there is actual depth to his writings!
September 5, 2025
This book is a prescription for your heart and soul. I deal with high levels of anxiety and stress and this tiny, but mighty little book eases my mind immensely.
I am not a super religious person, but I do believe anyone who relates to Christianity should have this book on their bedside table. It's truly medicine for the soul.
I am not a super religious person, but I do believe anyone who relates to Christianity should have this book on their bedside table. It's truly medicine for the soul.
January 6, 2023
I read this book at the request of a loved one. There was a good balance between the author’s opinion and scripture. Aside from his comments on vulgarity, the author presented ways of living that are not too extreme, even for modern times. There are several lessons that I can apply.
August 18, 2018
A beautiful book to help you heal your mind using four well-known passages from the Bible.
November 12, 2024
Something to dip into for strength and encouragement during tough times.
A reminder of the goodness and love of God.
A reminder of the goodness and love of God.
July 7, 2025
pretty surface level
May 4, 2019
Author gives insight into the Ten Commandments, Lord’s Prayer, 23rd Psalm and Beatitudes. Applications for living the life God intended for his beloved children. Transformative.
February 23, 2011
My feeling is that one of the high points in the bible is the Sermon on the Mount and one of the low points is Psalms (although I’ll give exception to Psalm 23). This book discusses each, and, ironically, gives the SOTM an uninsightful commentary but the 23rd a good one. On the 23rd, he describes some real facts behind shepherding, giving a clearer understanding of the metaphors used in the verses. I recognize that these verses have served many generations as powerful comfort to those enduring hardship and crisis. And that’s great; I don’t want to take that from anyone. But the whole Christian shepherd-sheep analogy thing turns maudlin when overworked in our modern age or blithely accepted as sacred. Don’t people realize that sheep are not a shepherd’s pets? They’re all going to end up as haggis and car seat covers. The author also discusses the Ten Commandments, offering a few expanding thoughts, and the Lord’s Pray, for which he needn’t have bothered. IMHO, the Lord’s Prayer is grossly overrated and serves as another example of what Schopenhauer pointed out: “There is no absurdity so palpable but that it may be firmly planted in the human head if you only begin to inculcate it before the age of five, by constantly repeating it with an air of great solemnity.” Anything else I could say about this book would require a big essay. But I will note that the book’s front cover says “With faith you can work miraculous changes in your life—in seven day!” Well, I think publisher better review the ninth commandment.
February 18, 2021
This easily read oldie is chalk-full of good and clear advice about how to put faith in God and see healing. It's blunt without being hurtful or preachy, but rigorous as an old book can be. I read through it easily, but should go back and revisit it to unpack the Lord's prayer, the 23rd Psalm, the 10 Commandments, and the Beatitudes. I love the modern-day application and analysis presented for insightful reflection. Each verse is examined beyond its obvious meaning. For example, the chapter on stealing defines "stealing" as a failure to give an honest day's work. Stealing is also violating another's boundaries or taking another's "inner supports" by unlovingly criticizing him or her. Talking badly about another person steals their reputation. Failing to meet obligations or take opportunities is stealing too! These are painfully honest yet refreshing examples.
Pages: 172; Publication Date: 1953; Not part of my book collection.
Pages: 172; Publication Date: 1953; Not part of my book collection.
December 22, 2017
I have just finished reading this book again, many decades later. I found an original copy of the hardback, and although water-damaged, I am glad I have this one. It is a lot like us Christians - hardly perfect. Dr. Allen wrote a great book for any Christian, easy to understand and totally accessible. It covers The 23RD Psalm, The Ten Commandments, The Lord's Prayer, and The Beatitudes. Each subject is covered in detail. Below is my original review:
I read this many years ago. Something my pastor said recently about Dr. Allen suddenly brought it back into my thoughts. It appears it was first published in 1953 but I read it as a teenager during the 60's. I remember it vastly improving my understanding of the Shepherd, and I have decided I need to read it again!
I read this many years ago. Something my pastor said recently about Dr. Allen suddenly brought it back into my thoughts. It appears it was first published in 1953 but I read it as a teenager during the 60's. I remember it vastly improving my understanding of the Shepherd, and I have decided I need to read it again!
July 2, 2013
This book contains explanations of four different passages in the Bible; The Twenty-third Psalm, The Ten Commandments, The Lord's Prayer, and The Beatitudes.
The book is divided into four parts; one for each Bible passage. The passages are then divided into small sections (ex. Part II has 10 sections, one for each commandment).
The reader can read this book rather quickly, for the sections are just a few pages long, but I suggest that the reader take their time in reading the book section by section and also take time to ponder what they just read (similar to reading a devotional). I read a section per day and I would take time to reflect on how what I had just read pertains to me.
The book is divided into four parts; one for each Bible passage. The passages are then divided into small sections (ex. Part II has 10 sections, one for each commandment).
The reader can read this book rather quickly, for the sections are just a few pages long, but I suggest that the reader take their time in reading the book section by section and also take time to ponder what they just read (similar to reading a devotional). I read a section per day and I would take time to reflect on how what I had just read pertains to me.
July 27, 2011
Nice book; shame about the title. Does God invite us to His office, for a lie down on the fainting couch? Well, maybe, but I prefer running through the forest.
Lest I should judge the book by its cover, I really appreciated the content. Allen walks us through the 23rd Psalm, the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer and the Beatitudes; giving a thorough culturally relevant explanation that transcends time
Lest I should judge the book by its cover, I really appreciated the content. Allen walks us through the 23rd Psalm, the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer and the Beatitudes; giving a thorough culturally relevant explanation that transcends time
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews