Mental Illness and the Church: Integrating Psychology & Theology

By Eric C Little Ph.D.

Mental Illness and the Church: Integrating Psychology & Theology

When I began studying the disciplines of Psychology and Theology as a bi-vocational pastor, I didnt consider them to be at odds with each other; I viewed them rather as complimentary, one supporting the other. Little did I realize, however, that this perspective was not shared by everyone. I soon discovered that many in the mental health profession felt that any discussion of religion should be avoided at all cost, and many Christians believed that psychology was a tool of the devil.
I have spent the better part of my professional career trying to dispel this myth, both in counseling sessions and from the pulpit. I am fortunate to have had opportunities to spread the message of integrating psychology and theology in seminars and workshops across the United States. This book is a continuation of those efforts; a chance to help others understand that the healing of ones mind and emotions can come from more than one source; it can come from a combination of both psychology and theology.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Feb 27, 2018
• ISBN: 9781984511225

Eric C Little Ph.D.

Dr. Eric Little is a native of Birmingham, Alabama. He is an ordained Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church (retired), where he served as pastor of several churches in the Ninth Episcopal District. He holds a Bachelors degree in Social Work (Alabama State University), a Masters degree in Educational Leadership (Concordia University), and a Ph.D. in Christian Counseling & Psychology (Logos University). He has conducted seminars across the country on a variety of mental health topics and has worked in both private and public settings as a mental health professional for over 20 years. He is the founder and CEO of ECL Consulting, LLC, and serves as the Executive Director of A Life Recovery Center (ALRC), a faith-based substance abuse treatment program in Tallahassee, Florida.

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Copyright © 2018 by Eric C. Little, Ph.D..

Library of Congress Control Number:       2018902459

ISBN:                         Hardcover                       978-1-9845-1124-9

                                  Softcover                         978-1-9845-1123-2

                                  eBook                               978-1-9845-1122-5

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

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Rev. date: 03/27/2018

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Contents

Introduction

Chapter One -The Journey from There to Here

Chapter Two - Spirituality and Mental Health

Chapter Three - The Theology of Insanity

Chapter Four - The Case for Integration

Chapter Five - Understanding Psychiatric Disorders

Chapter Six - A Balm in Gilead

Chapter Seven - A New Paradigm

Introduction

The subjects of psychology and theology have long been of interest to me. During the early years of my pastoral ministry, I developed a keen interest in human behavior. I wanted to know why people behaved the way they did…what made people tick. That interest led me into the study of psychology. At the time, I wasn’t interested in pursuing a bi-vocational career as a Mental Health Professional or Psychotherapist, I was primarily interested in learning more about human behavior so that I could be a better pastor. To me, the disciplines of Psychology and Theology were never at odds with each other; I saw them rather as complimentary, one supporting the other. Little did I realize, however, that this perspective was not shared by everyone. I soon discovered that many in the psychiatric profession had no use for religion of any sort, and many Christians believed that psychology was a tool of the devil.

I have spent the better part of my professional career trying to dispel this myth, both in counseling sessions and from the pulpit. I am fortunate to have been given opportunities to spread the message of integrating psychology and theology in seminars and workshops across the United States. This book is a continuation of those efforts; a chance to help others understand that the healing of one’s mind and emotions can come from more than one source; it can come from a combination of both psychology and theology.

Finally, let me take this opportunity to thank those who helped bring this project to fruition. I’d like to thank the Rev. Dr. Julius McAllister, Jr. and the members of Bethel A.M.E. Church in Tallahassee, Florida, for providing a venue to host seminars to educate communities of faith about this important issue. A special thanks to my wife Rosalind, who provided not only technical support, but moral support as well. She helps keep me sane, and one could not ask for a more supportive and loving partner.

~Eric C. Little, PhD, MEd, CAP

Chapter One

The Journey from There to Here

It’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.

Lewis Carroll – Alice in Wonderland

The quality of treatment for those with mental illness has come a long way since the days when Nellie Bly, a reporter for the New York World, went undercover to investigate the infamous lunatic asylum on Blackwell’s Island in 1887. According to Bly, patients were made to sit for most of the day on hard benches with little to do but gaze out of windows or engage in conversations about what life would be like if they were to ever leave the asylum. The New York winters were cold and frigid, and patients were