Written by Dean Robbins and Therese Sanctafamilia
80% of psychologists say they are not trained to address spiritual issues in therapy. Additionally, up to 94% of psychologists say they believe education about spirituality is necessary in therapists’ offices. This poll is simply a symptom of larger trends in current psychology. The secular psychology community is making a serious effort to engage more with faith.
There is a new CUA student group called the “Catholic Psychology Pace Institute” that wants Catholic psychology programs to be at the forefront of this movement.
The American Psychological Association, acronym APA, is the standards organization for the entire field of psychology. They have made great strides towards giving “faith” a more prominent role in the industry.
An interfaith prayer room was set up at last year’s APA convention. “Embodied healing and integration of people’s faith, religion, and spirituality is essential to progress in this field,” wrote 2023 APA President Dr. Tema Bryant.
Bryant further elaborated on his claims in a blog he wrote last November. Since psychology was originally “the study of the soul,” psychologists need to “rethink our roots,” she says.
The CUA Psychology Program is uniquely positioned to foster this trend because, since its inception, our roots have been deeply ingrained at the intersection of faith and reason.
The CUA Psychology Program was founded in 1891 by Monsignor Edward A. Pace, who studied under the “father of experimental psychology” Wilhelm Wundt. Pace pursued this field with vigor despite the concerns of many Catholics. He set out to prove that there was compatibility between psychology and Catholic philosophy. Let’s not forget that Pace also founded our school of philosophy. CUA’s psychology department at the time of its conception. It was closely related to philosophy and theology.
That’s why a group of CUA students founded the Pace Catholic Psychology Institute, an organization dedicated to integrating the greatest contributions of theology and philosophy with modern psychology. We will host a variety of lectures and conversations by leading experts in psychology, other social sciences, philosophy, and theology.
You don’t have to look far for examples. The major Catholic Integralist Psychology program is located just a few miles away at Divine Mercy University (abbreviated as DMU) in Alexandria. The school offers graduate-level degrees in psychology and counseling. They only focus on giving degrees in psychology and counseling. DMU is a leader in integrating psychology, philosophy, and theology. This integration is primarily seen through their “Catholic Christian Meta-Model of the Christian Person,” or his CCMMP.
Last semester, the CUA Psychology Club brought in Clinical Training Director Dr. Helena Orellana (Psychology). To discuss the Divine Mercy model presented at the 2023 American Psychological Association Convention held last year in Washington, DC. The institute hopes to strengthen the relationship between CUA and Divine Mercy College in the coming years.
The main point of this model is that by layering each of the three areas, a deeper understanding and appreciation of humans can be gained. It’s as if each idea is the lens of an ever-expanding magnifying glass. As we layer each field onto the next, the human being becomes clearer and more easily understood. Each of these human-centered disciplines is more effective in combination. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
The textbook explains the theological contribution that “we are in interpersonal relationships and are called to love one another.” His DMU model of psychology does not mean always incorporating Christianity into therapy, but rather the therapist’s disposition towards genuine care for the person and the pursuit of their flourishing.
CUA’s Department of Psychology can situate the field within broader Christian anthropology to give students a more complete understanding of human humanity, mind, and body. In a 1993 address to the American Psychiatric Association, Pope St. John Paul II said:
“For this reason [the unity of mind and body]“The Church is convinced that an adequate assessment of human nature and the requirements of human fulfillment and spiritual and social well-being cannot be made without respecting the spiritual dimension of man and his capacity for self-transcendence. are doing.”
john paul ii, Monday, January 4, 1993
A new marketing campaign calls for CUA to “lead with the light.” The CUA Department of Psychology should be noted for its founder Msgr. Pace as a fundamental example of integration in this new era of psychology. To lead with light, we must look to the past and prepare for the future.
