Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Christians with Depression: A Practical Tool-Based Primer

by Michelle Pearce

Does religion belong in psychotherapy? For anyone in the helping profession, whether as mental health professional or religious leader, this question is bound to arise. Many mental health professionals feel uncomfortable discussing religion. In contrast, many religious leaders feel uncomfortable referring their congregants to professionals who do not know their faith or intent to engage with it. And yet Michelle Pearce, PhD, assistant professor and clinical psychologist at the Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Maryland, argues that if religion is essential to a client, religion will be a part of psychotherapy, whether it is discussed or not. Clients cannot check their values at the door more than the professionals who treat them. To Pearce, the question isn’t really, “does religion belong?” but rather, “how can mental health professionals help their religious clients engage with and use their faith as a healing resource in psychotherapy?” Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Christian Clients with Depression is the answer to that question, as the book’s purpose is to educate mental health professionals and pastoral counselors about religion’s role in therapy, as well as equip them to discuss religious issues and use evidence-based, religiously-integrated tools with Christian clients experiencing depression. In this book, readers will find the following resources in an easy-to-use  An overview of the scientific benefits of integrating clients’ religious  beliefs and practices in psychotherapyAn organizing therapeutic approach for doing Christian CBTSeven tools specific to Christian CBT to treat depressionSuggested dialogue for therapists to introduce concepts and toolsSkill-building activity worksheets for clientsClinical examples of Christian CBT and the seven tools in actionPractitioners will learn the helpful (and sometimes not so beneficial) role a person’s Christian faith can play in psychotherapy. They will be equipped to discuss religious issues and use religiously-integrated tools in their work. At the same time, clergy will learn how Christianity can be integrated into an evidence-based secular mental health treatment for depression, which is sure to increase their comfort level for making referrals to mental health practitioners who provide this form of treatment. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Christian Clients with Depression is a practical guide for mental health professionals and pastoral counselors who want to learn how to use Christian-specific CBT tools to treat depression in their Christian clients. 

Genres: Counselling, Psychology

249 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 25, 2016

About the author

Dr. Michelle Pearce is a clinical psychologist and Professor in the Graduate School at the University of Maryland, Baltimore and an adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavior Sciences at Duke University Medical Center. Dr. Pearce is also a board-certified health and wellness coach, author, researcher, writing for wellness facilitator, and spiritual seeker.

After obtaining her PhD from Yale University, she completed two post-doctoral fellowships at Duke University Medical Center. She is licensed to practice psychotherapy in Maryland.

Dr. Pearce is the author of "Night Bloomers: 12 Principles for Thriving in Adversity" and "Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Christians with Depression: A Tool-Based Primer." She is also co-author of "Religion and Recovery from PTSD."

She lives in Maryland, and when she's not writing, you can find her salsa dancing or hiking in the woods.

Reviews

[Susan Kendrick]

This seems like a really helpful book. It was written for therapists but is not so academic that a lay person would find it inaccessible. I checked it out from the library but I may buy it. It’s useful if you’re struggling with depression or if you want to be a good friend to someone who is struggling with depression. I liked that it is not written from a faith-based perspective; it’s a tool for therapists treating Christian clients, reminding them of what they (the clients) believe to be true. Definitely worth a skim/read.

[Taylor Carter]

Helpful practical toolset and cool to read that research supports the effectiveness of practices Christians have done for thousands of years have for helping treat depression.

Don’t agree with her on taking evangelism out of the counseling room or adjusting counsel to fit the client’s (potentially already faulty) belief system. Leaves people stuck in the mud without offering them a way out

[Kenneth Tembei Acha]

Excellent and worthy read

As a medical doctor and doctor of spiritual formation and biblical spiritual mentor, I was looking for a book that was written by an expert that shows how the principles of CBT are rooted in biblical truths and how to use CBT to work with Christians. Dr. Michelle Pearce wrote an excellent book that is both down to earth and scientifically and biblically rigorous. I highly recommend it.

[Asher Ardizzoni]

This is a helpful resource and gave me a lot of tools for my counseling tool belt. It was very accessible and I’ll definitely apply much of what I learned in this book. I didn’t agree with the author 100% of the time, but I would still
recommend this to Christians trying to grow in their counseling abilities.

[Maggie Ardizzoni]

Great resource on Christian Cognitive Behavioral Therapy! Will definitely reference this in the future!

[Ainsley Hartman]

Read for "Problematic Emotions"

[Kat Long]

Update: Read this for the second time in a class, and it's a pretty interesting method of employing CBT techniques alongside biblical principles

Read this for a paper, pretty interesting!