THE FAITH DEVELOPMENT OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS A dissertation presented to the faculty of ANTIOCH UNIVERSITY SANTA BARBARA in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PSYCHOLOGY in CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY By TIANA BLACKBURN JUNE 2017 THE FAITH DEVELOPMENT OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS This dissertation, by Tiana Blackburn, has been approved by the committee members signed below who recommend that it be accepted by the faculty of Antioch University Santa Barbara in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PSYCHOLOGY Dissertation Committee ____________________________________ Dan Schwartz, Ph.D. Chairperson ____________________________________ Lee Weiser, Ph.D. Second Faculty Reader __________________________________ Murray Stein, Ph.D. External Reader ii Copyright by Tiana Blackburn 2017 iii ABSTRACT THE FAITH DEVELOPMENT OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS By Tiana Blackburn This research is a phenomenological study which explores the faith development of six clinical psychologists. Thematic aspects of faith were determined using James Fowler’s Faith Development Theory and includes form of logic, perspective-taking, moral judgment, social awareness, coherence, locus of authority, and symbolic function. These aspects are seen as foundational to an understanding of participants’ stage of faith development. Note that in Faith Development Theory a religious belief system is not required in order to have the experience of faith. In terms of affiliation or non-affiliation with religion, psychologists’ beliefs included atheist, agnostic, religious, and spiritual. Faith was also viewed through a depth psychological lens to help understand the construct. Psychologists’ completed a survey of their personal perspectives on religion and spirituality in clinical practice, personal characteristics, and their demographics. They were interviewed using the Faith Development Interview from which aspects of faith were interpreted and coded. It was observed that maturity of faith varied within and between aspects. Uneven development is to be expected in any growth process. Scores within aspects were averaged and rolled up to an estimated stage score. The stages of faith for two of these clinical psychologists was interpreted as transitioning from Synthetic- Conventional (stage 3) to Individuative-Reflective (stage 4). The stages of faith for four of these clinical psychologists was interpreted as Individuative-Reflective (stage 4) with two psychologists transitioning to Conjunctive Faith (stage 5). The conclusion is that clinical psychologists do indeed have faith and here they describe their experience of it. This study is a move towards a multi-perspectival view of what it means to have faith. Future studies can provide a better understanding of faith development when they are analyzed alongside states of consciousness. It remains to be seen whether or not faith makes a qualitative difference in therapeutic outcomes. Note: The electronic version of this dissertation is available free at Ohiolink ETD Center, www.ohiolink.edu/etd. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am very thankful to Lee Weiser, PhD., as an advisor, teacher, and committee member: her attention and support meant a great deal to me. Thanks go to Barbara Lipinski, PhD., for a travel award to attend the 2012 Summer Research Workshop on Spirituality and Health at Duke University, which boosted my morale; and all inspirers at Antioch U. including our librarian Christine Forte, who provided inestimable help over the years. Much appreciation goes to Harold G. Koenig, MD, MHSc for adding depth and breadth to my research skills and knowledge beyond what any university graduate program can offer. Along with Allen Verhey, PhD. (a renowned theological ethicist now passed), these gentlemen listened and offered helpful guidance over the course of several days at Duke University. I give thanks for Marc Rosenbush, a dear Buddhist friend who offered me his couch during my pre-doc fellowship in a city where I no longer lived. I also greatly appreciate my strongest ally, my beloved mother, who listens tirelessly even at 82 years old … along with all of her furry creatures. I am grateful as well to Francesco Di Santis for his critique and friendship. Most of all, I thank the psychologists who selflessly gave generously their physical and emotional time and energy to share their soul and spiritual autobiographies to help other searchers and seekers of knowledge…you will be in my heart forever! v Contents ABSTRACT ...........................................................................................................................................iv LIST OF TABLES.................................................................................................................................vii CH. 1 INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................1 BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................................................. 2 STATEMENT................................................................................................................................................. 4 DEFINITION OF TERMS ............................................................................................................................... 5 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY........................................................................................................................... 11 METHODOLOGY AND THEORETICAL ORIENTATION............................................................................... 12 RELEVANCE OF THE STUDY...................................................................................................................... 15 CH. 2 LITERATURE REVIEW.............................................................................................................18 RELIGION/SPIRITUALITY.......................................................................................................................... 20 FAITH ........................................................................................................................................................ 26 CHAPTER 3 METHOD .......................................................................................................................37 RESEARCH DESIGN AND RATIONALE....................................................................................................... 37 ROLE OF THE RESEARCHER ..................................................................................................................... 38 METHOD.................................................................................................................................................... 39 PARTICIPANTS........................................................................................................................................... 40 INSTRUMENTATION................................................................................................................................... 41 DATA COLLECTION .................................................................................................................................. 42 DATA ANALYSIS........................................................................................................................................ 42 VALIDITY STRATEGY................................................................................................................................43 RISKS/ETHICAL PROCEDURES ................................................................................................................. 45 CHAPTER 4. RESULTS......................................................................................................................47 DEMOGRAPHIC DATA OF PSYCHOLOGISTS .............................................................................................. 47 CHARACTERISTICS OF PSYCHOLOGISTS .................................................................................................. 48 PERSPECTIVES OF PSYCHOLOGISTS ......................................................................................................... 49 ASPECTS OF FAITH DEVELOPMENT .......................................................................................................... 52 SUMMARY OF RESULTS .......................................................................................................................... 103 CHAPTER 5: DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION ...........................................................................105 REFERENCES...................................................................................................................................113 Appendix A.........................................................................................................................................125 Appendix B.........................................................................................................................................127 Appendix C.........................................................................................................................................129 Appendix D ........................................................................................................................................130 Appendix E.........................................................................................................................................131