Page 8 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 7

Michael Strating Michael Strating,

Introduction to the B.A. Second year
Master’s student
Canadian Contributions in the Adult Cli-
nical Psycholo-
In terms of education and training opportuni- gy program at
ties in Canada, there are some Christian semi- the University
naries and universities that offer graduate level of Windsor. Pri-
programs related to psychology and counsel- mary area of re-
ling. However, at this point in time there are search is in psy-
almost no programs in Canada that are compa- chotherapy pro-
rable to the Christian PhD and PsyD programs cess-outcome research with a focus on emo-
in the USA. Alternatively, the primary draw- tion change processes. He is also interested
back in pursuing education at a secular Cana- in the intersection of Christian faith with
dian university is that I must actively seek out mental health and topics related to resilience
critical discourse in psychology and personal and stress-related growth, personal identity,
interaction with the Christian academic com- and the construction of life narratives, as well
munity beyond my regular study and contact as the integration of theology and psycholo-
with colleagues at school. gy more broadly.
Unfortunately, there are no formal societies
or associations for Christian psychologists in man edition. In his introduction he addresses
Canada. So where does a young and aspiring the limitations of psychology as being less than
psychologist like myself turn to find such a a perfect science, that is, as a means of gleaning
community? I was able to connect with a few objective truth in an absolute sense. As much
Christian counselors and social workers I knew as I enjoy learning about psychological theory,
in my own community, but I predominantly statistics, and research methods, its inherent
looked south to find fellow Christians with a fallibility is a concern that continually sticks
passion for psychology. As I set out on this jour- with me. At times it even evokes a creeping sen-
ney only a few years ago I was blessed with the se of despair, knowing that psychology can ne-
opportunity to meet individuals like Eric John- ver even remotely attain the status of the truths
son and others whose work is permeated with revealed in Scripture.
a love for God and His Holy Word. From the- However, this is not to say that this work is fu-
re I have been introduced to Werner May and tile. Many of us are convinced that, as a method
was delighted to discover that this work is being of systematic study, psychology provides us
done by many others worldwide as well, as this with valuable insights into our lives when it is
journal attests to. firmly grounded in the Scriptures and is held
Admittedly, as a result of this sequence of expe- in close dialogue with Christian theology, phi-
riences, in some ways this is as much an intro- losophy, history, and community. And, when
duction to Christian scholarship in Canada for rooted as such, there is little reason to believe
me as it is for many other readers of this edition. that Christian psychology cannot be advanced
However, this does not mean that Christian psy- by critical and open dialogue with mainstream
chology is absent in Canada. On the contrary, I psychology as well. Given this prioritization I
have the pleasure of introducing you to some think it is also important that we maintain clo-
of the excellent work that is being done here as se dialogue with those in the Biblical/Nouthetic
well. I hope you find, as I have, that Christian Counseling tradition as well. While awareness
psychology is alive and growing, just as it is in of the limitations of psychology may be frustra-
many other regions of the world. ting at times, in many ways I see it as a correc-
As I was familiarizing myself with previous is- tive pulling us back to the real Source of Truth.
sues of the EMCAPP journal, I was struck by In an interview with Werner May, Russ Ko-
several comments made by Werner in the Ger- sits shares with us what such transdisciplinary
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