Uncovering the Hidden Work of Catholic Psychologists in the U.S.

By Tim White, PLMHP, M.Psy.

Before I began studying psychology, I knew very little about the hidden work of Catholic psychologists. Perhaps out of a sense of humility or maybe due to a tendency of psychologists to be somewhat private, many of us may only have contact with this mysterious world through our own therapy or an occasional book. It may come as a surprise to discover the hidden and saintly work that this conscientious group of people is up to. Universities are being established, books are being written, distinctly Catholic interventions are being developed, associations are being formed, and clinical sites are buzzing like a hive of honey bees at work. The Holy Spirit is moving potently in the world of Catholic psychology and I believe that the fruits of this movement will become more and more evident in the coming years. God is unleashing a new recapitulation of the Gospel in our times through this unlikely field of study. Something good is about to happen!

Divine Mercy University

Psychology is considered one of the three “wisdom traditions” in the Church. The other two are philosophy and theology. If philosophy is the “handmaiden of theology” then psychology is the “handmaiden of philosophy.” In no other place is this relationship more evident than at Divine Mercy University (DMU). Established in 1997, this graduate program for psychology, counseling, and spiritual direction strives to integrate all three wisdom traditions. If you are considering a graduate degree in one of these areas and want to make your faith part of your work, DMU is great for this. The graduates who are coming out of this program are exceptional practitioners. Seek them out for therapy, assessment, or speaking engagements because they will deliver. DMU offers a viable alternative to overly secular psychology programs, but maintains the difficult standard of being a true place of the dialogue of ideas. In addition to its training programs, DMU boasts a psychological trauma center and robust research department. DMU has recently established research partnerships with McLean (of Harvard University) and several other universities around the world including the University of Navarra in Spain. So far, DMU’s greatest contribution has probably been the publication of a book called “The Catholic Christian Metamodel of the Human Person.”

The Catholic Christian Metamodel of the Human Person

“The Catholic Christian Metamodel of the Human Person” (CCMMP) by Vitz, Titus, and Nordling (2020) attempts to integrate a psychological, philosophical, and theological anthropology into one sweeping volume. This book was years in the making and took an army of geniuses. If you want one book to sum up a Catholic understanding of what it means to be human, read this. It is advanced but readable. The CCMMP articulates what it means to be a human person through eleven “premises” or qualities. The CCMMP states that a person is: 1) created, 2) fallen, 3) redeemed, 4) a body-soul unity (a whole), 5) fulfilled through vocations, 6) fulfilled in virtue, 7) interpersonally relational, 8) sensory-perceptual-cognitive, 9) emotional, 10) rational, and 11) volitional and free. One big take away in my reading of the CCMMP is the idea of the person as a “resonating laminate.” A what?! A resonating laminate. The idea that we have various layers (laminate) that must harmonize (resonate) for us to be the best version of ourselves. For example, our emotions, thoughts, and actions must align internally, and then they must align with those of our spouse, in order to have a flourishing marriage. Personally, it’s going to take me years to unpack the implications of this book. Most Catholic psychologists I know are still trying to unpack it all. A lot of work needs to be done to translate the CCMMP into helpful and distinctly Catholic therapeutic interventions.

Distinctly Catholic Interventions

Some Catholic psychologists are leading the way when it comes to helpful and distinctly Catholic therapeutic interventions. These are people who seem to embody the theoretical integration in the CCMMP. Dr. Conrad Baars and Dr. Anna Terruwe stand out in my mind first. Baars was a concentration camp survivor-turned psychotherapist. He and Dr. Terruwe co-developed a therapy method based on St. Thomas Aquinas. One of their main theses was that many people go emotionally unaffirmed by others and that healing can come from “healing and feeling your emotions.” 

One rising star is Dr. Greg Bottaro, who developed “Catholic Mindfulness.” Dr. Bottaro has a thriving practice with multiple locations, a podcast, and a million other projects going on. His attempt to integrate the Catholic faith and the eastern practice of mindfulness is a brilliant answer to a modern movement.

Dr. Bob Schuchts has come to my attention recently as a powerful presence integrating charismatic healing ministry with counseling. He has published a number of deeply personal books that have been impactful to many. He leads healing retreats around the country that several people I know have greatly benefited from.

I am a little biased, but I have to mention two psychologists who are quietly rocking it: Dr. Peter Martin and Dr. Peter Malinoski. These two Peters are among many Catholics who are developing a faith integrated approach to Internal Family Systems. Internal Family Systems is a secular approach to therapy that sees the internal world as a system of attachment, conflict, and a sort of interpersonal network. Dr. Malinoski’s podcast and “Interior Therapist Community” are wonderful ways to learn about this unique approach to healing. Dr. Martin has taken another step by developing “Internal Evangelization Therapy” in which spiritual figures enter the internal community of the person and heal our wounded parts. It’s hard to describe the work these two are currently doing because it is so groundbreaking and creative. I would encourage anyone to look into it more and keep an open mind as you do so.

Dr. Andrew Sodergren is another humble powerhouse. A university professor turned clinical practitioner, part of Dr. Sodergren’s work focuses on a Catholic approach to transgenderism and sexuality and other hot topics. I recently heard him deliver a keynote lecture at the Catholic Psychotherapy Association conference in San Diego. Drawing from mainstream empirical research, he gave one of the best explanations of a devoted Catholic understanding of LGBTQIA+ issues I have ever heard–and I’ve heard a lot of good explanations. I did not think it was possible to maintain the balance between compassion and Church teaching while using mainstream scientific research, but he did it. I hope he publishes a book soon, because I think it would be groundbreaking.

Catholic Psychotherapy Association

Speaking of the Catholic Psychotherapy Association (CPA), this quiet organization is where all the Catholic therapists like to get together and share ideas to improve things. This national (international?) organization was co-founded by a psychologist in Lincoln, NE: Dr. Kathy Benes, among others. Immaculate Heart of Mary Counseling Center was also founded by Dr. Benes and our clinic has continued to maintain a close relationship to the CPA. Dr. Peter Martin served on the CPA Board from 2013 to 2016. 

Just last year the CPA launched a scientific journal called “Integratus,” meaning “Integration” in Latin. It might not make sense why this journal is a big deal, but I cannot stress enough how big this is. Integratus finally gives Catholic psychology researchers an international voice in the scientific community. We are off the metaphorical scientific bench and back on the court!

As I write this article, I just returned last night from the Catholic Psychotherapy Association Conference in San Diego. I have attended the American Psychological Association’s conference before, but I can assure you that the energy level at the CPA conference is way higher than the APA’s. Imagine Catholic clinicians from around the country (and the world to some degree) all networking and exchanging ideas in a power packed two day conference. This year’s topic was on the Catholic response to gender ideology and boy were there some interesting conversations! Each day begins with the Rosary and Mass and then it is off to the races with topics on the feminine genius, Reintegration Therapy, healing from pornography addiction, seminary formation, or a whole host of other topics. I was delighted to attend with my coworkers here at Immaculate Heart of Mary Counseling Center.

Immaculate Heart of Mary Counseling Center

I would be remiss if I did not expose the hidden work of my own place of employment. Most people know that IHMCC provides psychological services that are faith integrated and that we offer therapy for individuals, couples, families, and groups. Fewer people may know that we offer psychological assessment for vocations (seminarians, religious, deacons) and that we conduct other assessments including cognitive, ADHD, self-knowledge, and behavior assessments. But a lesser known fact is that IHMCC is a national leader when it comes to training new psychologists such as myself. To date, IHMCC is the only clinic that is Catholic faith-integrated and approved by the American Psychological Association to train pre-doctoral interns. St. Raphael’s in Denver is expected to follow our lead soon, though. Accepting trainees allows IHMCC to provide outreach to organizations in the area. Interns join the other clinical staff to provide services to a Catholic elementary and grade school, high school, college, seminary, and womens’ shelter. Clinicians also offer speaking engagements locally and sometimes nationally. There is a reason I moved halfway across the continent to work here.

Other Noteworthy Catholic Clinical Sites

There are countless other noteworthy Catholic clinical sites across the country and around the world, but I want to name two examples. If you get curious or are looking for one in your area I recommend going to https://www.catholictherapists.com/  which is a website where you can find devout Catholic therapists in your area. The site offers detailed information about the therapist, what insurance they take, the level of fidelity to Church teaching, and what they help with.

One example is the Saint John Vianney Center which is a hospital that offers in-patient therapy and assessment for priests, religious, and seminarians. Another quiet organization, this site has been in operation for 77 years. Residents are treated for anything from addiction, to depression, to anxiety and beyond. 

Another exceptional example is the St. Luke Center. This site offers outpatient therapy and assessment for priests, religious, and seminarians and boasts three locations around the country. I received my vocational assessment from the St. Luke Center in Louisville, KY twice: once when I entered college seminary and once when I transitioned to major seminary. The professionalism and accuracy of the assessments they offered me helped inspire me to become a psychologist. 

Areas for Further Development for Catholic Psychologists

Based on the current trends I am seeing and the amazing work described above, I see several possible developments in the hidden world of Catholic Psychology. I think (and hope) that practitioners will become more engaged with popular Catholic media. Catholic clinicians and intellectuals have a wealth of wisdom to share and it would be a loss to keep it under a bushel basket. As Catholic psychologists become more confident, the bushel baskets will inevitably be removed. I also look forward to the continuing development of more distinctly Catholic interventions. Thanks to psychologists responding to St. John Paul II’s exhortation to further develop the psychological sciences, the theoretical research is nearing an inflection point where truly useful interventions can now be developed and disseminated. And not a moment too late! I think there is good evidence to suggest that (once again in history) the Catholic church will be called to preserve the progress of civilization against the collapse of morals. As psychology specifically, and the scientific method generally, falls under greater attack, my hope is that we as a Church can preserve both–just as the monks of the Middle Ages preserved Roman progress against devastation during the Dark Ages. God willing and the creek don’t rise, we can do better than preserve these gifts–God willing we can advance them! God willing, we can catch civilization as it falls or even prevent it from falling. But we need more workers in the vineyard: more devote psychologists, more accredited training programs, more priests, more religious, more married folks, more holiness-minded single folks. Or a few ultra-mega-saints; take your pick. Get the Catholic church off the scientific bench and back on the field! It’s time to shine! Something good really is about to happen.

–Tim White, PLMHP, M.Psy.