Fuller Theology Commemorates 60th Anniversary of Mental Health School and Clinic – Pasadena Now

Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena is marking an important milestone in its commitment to bridging mental health and spiritual leadership. As the Fuller Psychological and Family Services (FPFS) Clinic and the Fuller School of Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy celebrate their 60th anniversary, the seminary reaffirms its dedication to fostering collaboration between mental health professionals and religious leaders. did.

The School of Psychology, Marriage, and Family Therapy is one of two schools at Fuller, along with the School of Missionary Theology, and was recognized by the American Psychological Association (APA) in 1974 as the first seminary to explicitly incorporate spirituality. It has unique features as a psychology-based program. Incorporating , religion, and theology into psychology training. This holistic approach provides graduates with a deeper understanding of the issues of meaning and purpose embedded in spirituality and religion, allowing them to more effectively address their clients’ areas of pain.

“We are uniquely positioned to enable spiritual and mental health leaders to effectively collaborate and dispel the stigma associated with mental health within the spiritual community,” said Dr. Cynthia Erickson, chair of the Department of Psychology, Marriage and Family Studies. said. Treatment.

Located within a seminary, the school also has the opportunity to influence future community religious leaders. These leaders can help reduce the need to seek mental health services and model attention to personal mental health by promoting understanding of the scientific and spiritual nature of mental distress. Helpful.

For more than 50 years, FPFS, the clinical training and community mental health support division of the Fuller School of Psychology, has played a vital role in providing affordable, high-quality mental health care in the Pasadena area and beyond.

“We are proud to provide affordable psychological services to the Pasadena community and beyond,” said Dr. Ted Kosse, executive director of FPFS.

Founded in 1964 as the Pasadena Community Counseling Center, the clinic offers a wide range of services including individual, couples, family, and group therapy to address issues such as anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, trauma, and grief. We offer

FPFS also provides neuropsychological assessments to help detect neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD, autism, and learning disabilities.

FPFS therapists, primarily students in the Fuller School of Psychology’s Clinical Psychology and Marriage and Family Therapy programs, provide thousands of hours of therapy and assessment services each year under the close supervision of qualified professionals. I am. They are trained to incorporate issues of faith and spirituality into treatment in a sensitive way and welcome clients from all faith traditions.

As Mental Health Awareness Month highlights the importance of addressing mental health issues, Fuller Theological Seminary is a global, evangelical, ecumenical, and egalitarian Christian institution with campuses in Pasadena, Houston, Phoenix, and online with over 3,000 students enrolled worldwide. , and its digital learning platform FULLER Equip, said in a statement that it remains committed to integrating mental health and spiritual leadership.