Faith-Based ACT for Christian Clients

Joshua J. Knabb, PsyD, ABPP, is the director of the PsyD program in clinical psychology and a professor of psychology in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences at California Baptist University. He also serves as the editor for the Journal of Psychology and Christianity.

• Introduction 1. Psychological Problems in the 21st Century 2. Differentiating Psychological Symptoms from Disorders 3. The Problem of Experiential Avoidance 4. Faith-Based ACT for Christian Suffering 5. Mary, Martha, Contemplation, and Action 6. Watching and Enduring 7. Noticing and Shifting 8. Committing and Following 9. Faith-Based ACT for Depression 10. Faith-Based ACT for Anxiety 11. Faith-Based ACT for Trauma 12. Faith-Based ACT for Relationship Distress

"In his second edition of Faith-Based ACT for Christian Clients, Joshua Knabb refines what was already the premier book on ACT from a Christian perspective. His ‘fork in the road’ metaphor grabs me from the first sentence of the introduction and carries me through the rich theoretical, scientific, and therapeutic terrain of this fine book."Mark R. McMinn, PhD, ABPP, professor emeritus and scholar in residence, George Fox University"I love acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). As a licensed psychologist, ACT is the theoretical framework I use most often with my clients. And in my personal life, ACT has helped me work through my own struggles and engage my life more fully. In Faith-Based ACT for Christian Clients, Joshua Knabb takes a deep dive into the overlap between ACT and the Christian faith. It is a must-read resource for anyone interested in helping clients make space for their experiences and create the life they want."Joshua N. Hook, PhD, professor of psychology, University of North Texas"This second edition is even more substantial and better than the first edition, which was already excellent. There are new chapters on trauma and relationship distress, with a stronger emphasis on the primacy of love as central and crucial in faith-based ACT from a Christian perspective. Additional helpful exercises and a modified ‘choice point’ tool that integrates a more recent ACT approach described by Harris (2019) with the Christian faith are also included. Highly recommended as a must read!"Siang-Yang Tan, PhD, senior professor of clinical psychology, Fuller Theological Seminary, and author of Counseling and Psychotherapy: A Christian Perspective"Whether in our healthcare systems, psychological care practices, or religious communities, contemporary cultural influences exert a pull toward quick fixes and a push against acknowledging the inevitability of pain and suffering in our lives. Ironically, yielding to these influences can lead to less fulfilling, joyful, meaningful lives. In this new and updated edition, Knabb takes aim at these 21st century, life-narrowing cultural realities that affect so many. He identifies how ancient Christian practices and understandings of love can be usefully embodied through ACT practices to improve the lives of Christian clients. This is a needed, timely, and practical guide for care providers."Jason Nieuwsma, PhD, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, Duke University Medical Center