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

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.