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

Episodes

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  Episode 83: Existential Anxiety 18.10.2026 18m

  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.
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  Episode 82: The Four Immeasurables 04.10.2026 14m

  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.
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  Episode 81: Savoring 24.05.2026 18m

  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.
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  Episode 80: Failure 04.01.2026 37m

  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.
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  Episode 79: Spiritual Avoidance 23.11.2025 28m

  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.
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  Episode 78: Stillness 26.10.2025 27m

  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.
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  Episode 77: Loneliness 28.09.2025 29m

  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.
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  Episode 76: Self-Transcendence 31.08.2025 31m

  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.
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  Episode 75: Envy 03.08.2025 38m

  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.
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  Episode 74: Depressive Rumination 22.06.2025 37m

  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.
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  Episode 73: Mantras 25.05.2025 20m

  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.
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  Episode 72: Shattered Worldviews 27.04.2025 32m

  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.
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  Episode 71: Thinking About Thinking 30.03.2025 34m

  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.
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  Episode 70: Assumptions 02.03.2025 31m

  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.
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  Episode 69: Intrusive Thoughts 02.02.2025 35m

  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.
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  Episode 68: The Fruit of the Spirit 05.01.2025 29m

  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.
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  Episode 67: Positive Thinking 08.12.2024 29m

  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.
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  Episode 66: Purpose in Life 10.11.2024 31m

  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.
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  Episode 65: Collaborative Problem Solving 13.10.2024 28m

  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.
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  Episode 64: Empathy 15.09.2024 27m

  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.