Joshua J. Knabb

Joshua J. Knabb

Joshua J. Knabb, PsyD, ABPP, is a board-certified clinical psychologist and Fellow of the American Academy of Clinical Psychology, specializing in individual and couples therapy. Residing in Southern California with his wife and two children, Dr. Knabb is a professor of psychology at California Baptist University (CBU), serving as Director of the Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology Program in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences. In addition to his work as an educator and psychotherapist, Dr. Knabb is the Editor for the Journal of Psychology and Christianity, and he was recently elected to a three-year appointment as Member-at-Large with the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Division 36 (Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality) Executive Committee. His writings and research have been published in a wide variety of academic journals over the last decade, and he has written several books on Christian approaches to psychotherapy, the psychology of religion and spirituality, and related topics. His research interests include, in no particular order, marriage and the family, psychological assessment, attachment theory, transdiagnostic constructs and interventions, mindfulness-based therapies, the psychology of religion and spirituality, emic assessment and intervention strategies within the Christian tradition, and Christian meditative and contemplative practices.

Publications

Books

Faith-Based ACT for Christian Clients: An Integrative Treatment Approach

Faith-Based ACT for Christian Clients: An Integrative Treatment Approach (2016)

Contemplative Prayer for Christians with Chronic Worry

Contemplative Prayer for Christians with Chronic Worry (2017)

The Compassion-Based Workbook for Christian Clients: Finding Freedom from Shame and Negative Self-Judgments

The Compassion-Based Workbook for Christian Clients: Finding Freedom from Shame and Negative Self-Judgments (2018)

Christian Psychotherapy in Context: Theoretical and Empirical Explorations in Faith-Based Mental Health

Christian Psychotherapy in Context: Theoretical and Empirical Explorations in Faith-Based Mental Health (2019)

The Psychology of World Religions and Spiritualities: An Indigenous Perspective

The Psychology of World Religions and Spiritualities: An Indigenous Perspective (2020)

Christian Meditation in Clinical Practice: A Four-Step Model and Workbook for Therapists and Clients

Christian Meditation in Clinical Practice: A Four-Step Model and Workbook for Therapists and Clients (2021)

Healing Conversations on Race: Four Key Practices from Scripture and Psychology

Healing Conversations on Race: Four Key Practices from Scripture and Psychology (2023)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Christian Clients: A Faith-Based Workbook

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Christian Clients: A Faith-Based Workbook (2022)

The Christian Trauma Survivor’s Workbook: A Skills-Based Approach for Psychological and Spiritual Healing

The Christian Trauma Survivor’s Workbook: A Skills-Based Approach for Psychological and Spiritual Healing (2026)

Worship and Awe in Christian Psychology: How Centering God Transforms Mental and Spiritual Health

Worship and Awe in Christian Psychology: How Centering God Transforms Mental and Spiritual Health (2026)

Articles

  • Curriculum Vita
  • Knabb, J., & Vazquez, V. (2025). Decentering mindfulness: Toward greater meditative diversity in global public health. Mindfulness, 16, 647-654. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-023-02203-7
  • Knabb, J., Wang, K., Lewis Hall, M., & Vazquez, V. (2025). The Christian Worldview Scale: An emic measure for assessing a comprehensive view of life within the Christian tradition. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 12, 1-19. https://dx.doi.org/10.1037/scp0000306
  • Knabb, J., DiFonzo, N., & Garzon, F. (2024). Emic Christian worldview psychologies: Theoretical and empirical contributions. Journal of Psychology andChristianity, 43, 108-121.
  • Knabb, J., & Donavan, T. (2024). The relationship between Christian worldview, well-being, and psychopathology: A mediation study. Journal of Psychology andChristianity, 43, 122-134.
  • Vazquez, V., Knabb, J., Lima, A., Manhas, A., Soto Santana, D., Senger, S., & Sweet, K. (2024). Lectio divina for race-based traumatic stress among Black Christians. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 43, 170-188.
  • Vazquez, V., & Knabb, J. (2023). Special issue introduction: “One in Christ Jesus”: Racial disunity and the need for integrative programs to improve racial unity among Christian populations. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 42, 72-78.
  • Vazquez, V., Knabb, J., Lee-Johnson, C., & Hays, K. (2023). Healing conversations on race: The HEAL model for diverse Christian communities. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 42, 79-96.
  • Knabb, J., Boyd, H., Duvall, K., & Lowell, J. (2023). The relationship between God attachment, transdiagnostic processes, and symptoms of psychopathology among Christian adults. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 51, 296-315. https://doi.org/10.1177/00916471221124084
  • Knabb, J., Vazquez, V., Pate, R., & Wang, K. (2023). The Christian Gratitude Scale: An emic approach to measuring thankfulness in every season of life. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 10, 304-315. https://doi.org/10.1037/scp0000278
  • Knabb, J., Vazquez, V., Pate, R., Wang, K., Lowell, J., De Leeuw, T., Dominguez, A., Duvall, K., Esperante, J., Gonzalez, Y., Nagel, G., Novasel, C., Pelaez, A., Strickland, S., & Park, J. (2022). Lectio divina for trauma symptoms: A two-part study. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 9, 232-252. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/scp0000303
  • Knabb, J., Vazquez, V., Pate, R., Garzon, F., Wang, K., Edison-Riley, D., Slick, A., Smith, R., & Weber, S. (2022). Christian meditation for trauma-based rumination: A two-part study examining the effects of an internet-based four-week program. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 9, 253-271. https://doi.org/10.1037/scp0000255
  • Knabb, J., & Wang, K. (2021). The Communion with God Scale: Shifting from an eticto emic perspective to assess fellowshipping with the Triune God. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 13, 67-80. https://doi.org/10.1037/rel0000272
  • Knabb, J., Vazquez, V., & Wang, K. (2021). The Christian Contentment Scale: An emicmeasure for assessing inner satisfaction within the Christian tradition. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 49, 324-341. https://doi.org/10.1177/0091647120968146
  • Knabb, J., Pate, R., Sullivan, S., Salley, E., Miller, A., & Boyer, W. (2020). “Walking with God”: Developing and pilot testing a manualized four-week program combining Christian meditation and light-to-moderate physical activity for daily stress. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 23, 756-776. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674676.2020.1819221
  • Knabb, J., Johnson, E., & Garzon, F. (2020). Introduction to the special issue: Meditation, prayer, and contemplation in the Christian tradition: Towards the operationalization and clinical application of Christian practices in psychotherapy and counseling. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 39, 5-11.
  • Knabb, J., & Bates, M. (2020). “Holy desire” within the “Cloud of Unknowing”: The psychological contributions of medieval apophatic contemplation to Christian mental health in the 21stJournal of Psychology and Christianity, 39, 24-39.
  • Johnson, E., Knabb, J., & Garzon, F. (2020). Conclusion to the special issue: Formalizing Christian indigenous practices for evidence-based research. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 39, 75-85.
  • Knabb, J., Vazquez, V., Garzon, F., Ford, K., Wang, K., Conner, K., Warren, S., & Weston, D. (2020). Christian meditation for repetitive negative thinking: A multi-site randomized trial examining the effects of a four-week preventative program. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 7, 34-50. https://doi.org/10.1037/scp0000206
  • Knabb, J., Vazquez, V., & Pate, R. (2019). ‘Set your minds on things above’: Shifting from trauma-based ruminations to ruminating on God. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 22, 384-399. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674676.2019.1612336
  • Knabb, J., Vazquez, V., Wang, K., & Bates, T. (2018). ‘Unknowing’ in the 21stcentury: Humble detachment for Christians with repetitive negative thinking. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 5, 170-187. https://doi.org/10.1037/scp0000165
  • Knabb, J., & Vazquez, V. (2018). A randomized controlled trial of a two-week Internet-based contemplative prayer program for Christians with daily stress. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 5,37-53. https://doi.org/10.1037/scp0000154
  • Knabb, J., Frederick, T., & Cumming, G. (2017). Surrendering to God’s providence: A three-part study on providence-focused therapy for recurrent worry (PFT-RW).Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 9, 180-196. https://doi.org/10.1037/rel0000081
  • Knabb, J., & Pelletier, J. (2014). ‘A cord of three strands is not easily broken’: An empirical investigation of attachment-based small group functioning in the Christian church.Journal of Psychology and Theology, 42, 343-358. https://doi.org/10.1177/009164711404200403
  • Knabb, J.(2014). A preliminary investigation of the relationship between religion and marital adjustment among Christian adults from a conservative denomination. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 33, 263-276.
  • Knabb, J., Pelletier, J., & Grigorian-Routon, A. (2014). Towards a psychological understanding of servanthood: An empirical investigation of the relationship between orthodox beliefs, experiential avoidance, and self-sacrificial behaviors among Christians at a religiously-affiliated university.Journal of Psychology and Theology, 42, 269-283. https://doi.org/10.1177/009164711404200304
  • Knabb, J., & Grigorian-Routon, A. (2014). The role of experiential avoidance in the relationship between faith maturity, religious coping, and psychological adjustment among Christian university students.Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 17, 458-469. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674676.2013.846310
  • Knabb, J., & Pelletier, J. (2014). The relationship between problematic Internet use, psychological functioning, and God attachment among adults at a Christian university. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 17, 239-251.https://doi.org/10.1080/13674676.2013.787977
  • Knabb, J., & Emerson, M. (2013). ‘I will be your God and you will be my people’: Attachment theory and the grand narrative of scripture. Pastoral Psychology, 62,827-841. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-012-0500-x
  • Knabb, J., & Pelletier, J. (2013). The effects of parental divorce on God image among young adults at a Christian university.Marriage & Family Review, 49, 231-250. https://doi.org/10.1080/01494929.2012.762443
  • Knabb, J., Welsh, R., & Alexander, P. (2012). Towards an integrated view of the necessity of human interdependence: Perspectives from theology, philosophy, and psychology. Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health, 14,166-180. https://doi.org/10.1080/19349637.2012.697370
  • Knabb, J., Vogt, R., Gibbel, M., & Brickley, D. (2012). An empirical investigation of the relationship between clinical personality patterns and marital functioning. Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice, 1, 66-77.https://doi.org/10.1037/a0027315
  • Knabb, J., & Vogt, R. (2011). The relationship between personality and marital adjustment among distressed married couples seen in intensive marital therapy: An actor-partner interdependence model analysis. Contemporary Family Therapy, 33, 417-440. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-011-9167-1
  • Knabb, J., Vogt, R., & Newgren, K. (2011). MMPI-2 characteristics of the Old Order Amish: A comparison of clinical, nonclinical, and United States normative samples. Psychological Assessment, 23, 865-875. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0023681
  • Knabb, J., & Vogt, R. (2011). Assessing Old Order Amish outpatients with the MCMI-III. Journal of Personality Assessment, 93,290-299. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223891.2011.558878
  • Knabb, J., Vogt, R., Brickley, D., & Newgren, K. (2011). Personality typologies for conservative Christians in intensive marital therapy. Marriage & Family Review, 47, 23-44. https://doi.org/10.1080/01494929.2011.558466
  • Knabb, J., Brokaw, D., Reimer, K., & Welsh, R. (2009). Retrospective meaning-making in adulthood: A qualitative study of conservative Protestant adults who experienced parental divorce as adolescents. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 28,44-56.

Manuals

  • Knabb, J., & Frederick, T. (2016). Providence-focused therapy for recurrent worry: An eight-week program for Christians. Unpublished manual.
  • Knabb, J. (2017). The Jesus prayer for Christians with daily stress: A two-week program. Unpublished manual.
  • Knabb, J., Vazquez, V., Bates, M., Garzon, F., Ford, K., & Wang, K. (2018). Christian meditation for repetitive negative thinking: A four-week preventative program. Unpublished manual.
  • Knabb, J., Pate, R., Sullivan, S., Salley, E., Miller, A., & Boyer, W. (2018). Walking with God: A four-week
    program for Christians with daily stress    . Unpublished manual.
  • Knabb, J., Vazquez, V., Pate, R., Garzon, F., & Wang, K. (2019). Christian meditation for trauma-based rumination: A four-week program. Unpublished manual.
  • Knabb, J., Vazquez, V., Pate, R., Lowell, J., & Wang, K. (2021). Lectio divina for trauma-related emotions: A two-week program. Unpublished manual.

Websites

Journal of Psychology and Christianity

Editor of the Journal of Psychology & Christianity