Episode 74: Depressive Rumination
The Christian Psychologist: Mental Health for 21st Century Christ FollowersShow Notes
In this 74th episode, Dr. Knabb discusses depressive rumination, including its role in depressive episodes, drawing upon insights from meta-cognitive therapy. In this exploration, he offers several meta-cognitive strategies, including attentional training and detachment, for shifting from depressive rumination to another area of focus. To conclude the episode, Dr. Knabb provides a Christian view of depressive rumination, including biblical meditation as an attentional strategy to detach from unhelpful forms of rumination and pivot toward God.
More from The Christian Psychologist: Mental Health for 21st Century Christ Followers
In the 83rd episode, Dr. Knabb explores the topic of existential anxiety from both secular psychological and Christian perspectives. In particular, existential anxiety is a unique type of anxiety that relates to the ultimate concerns of death, meaninglessness, isolation, and freedom. Dr. Knabb covers secular research on the topic, secular interventions, and a Christian understanding of the problem of and solution to existential anxiety. At the conclusion of the episode, Dr. Knabb offers a short meditative practice to turn from existential anxiety to God's providential care.
In this 82nd episode, Dr. Knabb explores the widely popular four immeasurables meditation. He starts by discussing its roots in Buddhism, as well as research on the four immeasurables in the contemporary clinical psychology literature. In turn, Dr. Knabb explores a Christian alternative, the fruit of the Spirit, including recent research he conducted on the topic. To conclude, he offers a short meditative practice, the fruit of the Spirit meditation, for 21st century Christ followers.
In this 81st episode, Dr. Knabb explores the topic of savoring, or the ability to hold onto and heighten positive emotional experiences. He first discusses a secular psychological view on the topic, followed by a Christian perspective. To conclude, Dr. Knabb offers a meditative strategy for savoring God.
In this 80th episode, Dr. Knabb explores the psychology of failure from both secular psychological and Christian perspectives. Specifically, he discusses a definition of failure, along with barriers to learning from failure and strategies for overcoming such barriers. Then, Dr. Knabb offers a Christian view of learning from failure, focusing on God's grace, mercy, and providential care. To conclude, he offers a multi-step approach to learning from failure by walking with God and trusting in his providence.
In the 79th episode, Dr. Knabb explores the problem of spiritual avoidance, also called spiritual bypass. First, a secular psychological perspective is offered on the dilemma of spiritual bypass, including research that suggests it is linked to psychological distress. Then, a Christian understanding is provided on the importance of accepting, not avoiding, emotions as God-given signals as 21st century Christ followers. To conclude, a spiritual practice, the daily examen, is offered to help Christians recognize that God is working in and through our emotional pain.