January 21, 2008 · 12:41 pm

Science Monday: Suicidality in Teens across Cultures


This week we spend time in our psychopathology class considering the biblical literature regarding causes and effects of suffering. We do this because any course on problems in living must help students first understand the depths and complexities of suffering. Otherwise our study of problems will be rather sterile if we can’t deeply feel the pain. Some painful suffering leads to suicidal thoughts and that is where I want us to go today…

The January 2008 issue of American Psychologist (63:1) considers “Cultural Considerations in Adolescent Suicide: Prevention and Psychosocial Treatment.” Suicide is most likely to be considered by those who feel intolerable emotional pain and perceive no way out of that pain–other than death.

Not surprisingly, there are significant racial and cultural differences in rates of suicide across ethnicities (Native Americans have the highest, African Americans have the lowest in both genders). Culture plays a big role in each ethnicity’s perception of suicide behaviors, choice of help-seeking behaviors, and what might help prevent suicidality. A couple of examples from the article:

  1. African American male emphasis on coolness may protect them from giving into suicide at first but may increase the likelihood of individuals trying “to provoke others into killing them as an indirect method of suicide” (p. 19).
  2. High rates of suicide among Native American youth, “occur in the context of high rates of other risk-taking and potentially life-endangering behaviors” (p. 21).

The authors look at issues including acculturative stress, enculturation, different manifestations of distress, and cultural distrust in trying to treat and prevent suicide across various cultures. They contend that few culturally sensitive prevention and treatment models exist at this point. In other words, we cannot assume that generic methods of encouraging youth to seek help when distressed will be helpful. In other words, if given the chance, we must make sure we try to understand their (not our) perception of their situation, their pain, their family/community, and possible avenues of hope. Further, we must try to understand how they may perceive us (the counselor) due to our own ethnicity and position of power. We must counter our tendency to allow fear to draw us into a position where we start exhorting our teen clients–thereby shutting them down.

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January 18, 2008 · 9:53 am

Conference Opportunity to hear Dr. Langberg with Ruth Naomi Floyd


Wanted to let locals know of an upcoming conference that should be quite enjoyable. On February 23, 2008, the TenthWomen 2008 Annual Conference (one day) features Diane Langberg and the gospel jazz vocalist, Ruth Naomi Floyd. Diane will speak three times and Floyd will give three short periods of special music. Conference title: The God of All Comfort. The schedule also lists time for group worship and Q & A. Both of these women are powerful in their medium and I highly recommend attending. For more information, see www.tenth.org. Cost is 35 dollars (includes lunch if you pre-register) or less if you are in college or grad school.

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January 18, 2008 · 6:30 am

Things that make you go hmmm


This blog runs on WordPress. WordPress gives me certain data about my blog. I get to see how many people come each day, what posts get the most activity, and who refers people to this site (e.g., if someone puts up a link to me on their own site and then someone clicks it). There is one other interesting piece of data that gives me pause: entries that people type into search engines like Google that result in their clicking a link to this site. Here are some searches that people (I do not know who) search who then decide to come here:

These make sense: “wordpress psychologist”, “Ed Welch”, “Christianity Bi-polar disorder”, “Mindfulness Bible”, “Phil Monroe”

But what should I make of this? “Reformed theology + oral sex”

I guess someone wanted to know whether Calvin thought oral sex was okay. I have to admit I ran the same search in Google just to see why I cam up. And there I was on the first page. I wrote about Reformed and sex (not oral) in a blog posting and voila, Google finds me and puts me up front an center.

There are other doozies in this wordpress data on searches that end up here but I can’t print them here…   

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January 17, 2008 · 4:11 pm

Effects of a Me-Centered Generation?


In the past several days I’ve had a number of conversations about the generation born in the 1970s. I’m trying to put together several of the “facts” and consider how one might go about engaging such a generation to look beyond themselves:

Some observations about Gen Me (see this site for more: http://www.generationme.org/index.html)

1. A generation raised in child-centered environments, probably by parents who were themselves latchkey kids. Even in college, their parents actively advocate for them to get all they are entitled to and to protect them from the consequences of their failures. Maybe this is why some students feel free to publicly criticize their teachers and to demand the best grade despite little work. Student-centered classrooms have much that is good, but also a downside.

2. A generation that is fully e-connected all the time. There is no down time away from media.

3. A consumer driven generation. No commitment or lasting connection needed to things larger than individuals. Go where the best experience will be. If not satisfied, look elsewhere. (They didn’t create this mindset, their parents did!)

4. A generation that isn’t going to do as well financially as their parents and so are not becoming adults until their late 20s–despite engaging in adult activities at a younger age than their parents (i.e., sex).

5. Like their parents, they aren’t particularly happy. But they don’t necessarily believe in finding themselves and maybe they aren’t as optimistic as their parents were about the future. And they are more aware of superficiality in leadership but willing to engage it via brief connections like texting.   

Of course these observations are gross stereotypes. And they don’t mention the good advances such as the demand racial diversity.

But, how does the church connect to this generation? Why should they care about organized religion? Just some thoughts running through my head today.  

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January 16, 2008 · 5:35 pm

Integrative Psychotherapy: A Review 1


Consider this your forwarning that I am about to start weekly chapter reviews of Mark McMinn and Clark Campbell’s book Integrative Psychotherapy: Toward a Comprehensive Approach(IVP, 2007). I believe this book is important because it marks an important step forward in developing a substantial theoretical model for integrationist psychotherapy. Most of what has gone on in the last several decades has been primarily theoretical and not practice oriented. Both men are professors at George Fox University in Oregon. I know Mark personally as he taught several of my classes at Wheaton and helped me publish my first book chapters in a book he edited. Mark is a gentleman, prolific writer, and pretty good basketball player (he has/had one of the quickest releases around, making it hard to block his shot).

I’m not likely to fully agree with this book, but I expect that it will provoke some thoughts among my student readers.

Introduction: What is a Christian psychotherapy? Good question. the authors say that Christian psychotherapy must be based on “a model of psychotherapy that is faithful to both Christianity and psychology.” (p. 15).

They acknowledge some problems with prior attempts. They define integration in 2 dimensions: (a) integrating a Christian view of persons with psychological literature, and (b) integrating various approaches to therapy (they do not believe in any one pure approach to therapy).

They are not trying to propose the ONE christian model for psychotherapy.

What is to come? the first 4 chapters establish their theoretical framework. For example, they use the concept of the imago dei and its functional, structural, and relational aspects to build their model of persons and therapy). The next 7 chapters consider the practice of their model referred to as IP.

Well, strap on your seatbelts and come along for the ride each Wednesday. 

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January 15, 2008 · 10:05 am

Taking stock on Dr. King’s birthday


Today marks what would have been Dr. King’s 79th birthday. It is always good to see what has changed for the better and where growth is still needed in race relations. Senator Obama’s legitimate chance to become our next president speaks volumes as well as his ability to move beyond tired arguments (despite the efforts of some in the media to keep the focus on his race).

One stat, though, should give us pause. How many African American senators have we had in our country’s history?

2  in the 19th century. From Mississippi. Before the set back from reconstruction policies
3 in the 20th century. One from Mass (in the 60s), Mosely-Braun in the late 90s (Illinois) and Obama now (also Illinois). Cong. Harold Ford made a bid to represent Tennessee in the Senate but was turned back. So were two others (Mass and Maryland).  

Think about this. Only one from key abolitionist, Eastern Seaboard states. So much for pushing for equal representation. 

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January 14, 2008 · 10:35 am

Psychopathology and diagnosing After Bath Mania?


Today marks the beginning of my winter term with the start of Psychopathology class. After exploring the concept of suffering, we’ll look at 11 key classes of pathology (from depression and anxiety to psychoses and personality disorders). Each Monday I will return to a habit I had last year and post a “Science Monday” where I look at some interesting science related to psychopathology.

On a lighter note, my wife and I may have discovered a new disorder. I put its name and diagnostic symptoms out there to see if any of you may have witnessed this malady.

After-Bath Mania (ABM)

ABM is a condition usually found only in elementary age children. After soaking in a warm bath, they become loud, silly, tempted to engage in many kinds of foolish behavior including, but not limited to: (3 of 6 criteria needed)

  1. Nude gyrating or running about the house
  2. Singing nonsense syllables, inventing raps, or repeating High-school Musical lines
  3. Tackling brother and tickling without mercy
  4. Standing on head or climbing door casing
  5. Answering questions in loud singsong voice
  6. Making sounds from parts of body besides the voice-box

These symptoms do not appear prior to bath (whether at 7 am or 7 pm) but do appear post bath more times than not, cause distress in others (e.g., brother angry, parent’s yelling to stop making that racket and to get ready for school), and subside only after parent loses control or the school bell rings. Symptoms may abate once child becomes self-conscious pre-teen. If these symptoms are found in an adult, they may not be considered a pathology unless individuals other than spouse are in the room.  

What is it about baths that makes my son crazy? Anybody have boys that do this? I thought warm baths would calm someone down and get them ready for bed.

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January 11, 2008 · 5:23 am

Mirroring yourself and why you can’t


We all believe we have a decent grasp on reality. We can read the emotions and motivations of others and accurately evaluate our self. But in point of fact, we operate mostly through assumptions and perceptions of others and our self. Some of us more closely approximate the truth, others less so. Those who have a better grasp of reality tend to be folks willing to test out their perceptions. Without becoming too dependent on the opinions of others, they ask what others are thinking and feeling without preemptive assumptions. When they hear these experiences, they spend more time trying to understand and less time defending their own opinion. They ask for feedback and consider what they hear without denial or acquiescence.

Why is it hard for some to avoid preemptive assumptions about self and the world? Why is it that some use repetitive relational scripts where they accept and play a role in most of their relationships? As children, our sense of self and other builds from our interactions with important figures in our lives. If we are exposed to relentless criticism (we are bad) or neglect (we don’t matter), we are likely to try to conjure up our own sense of self.  Some personality theorists call this a lack of appropriate mirroring.

Most then fall into one of two response types: I must be right all the time or not responsible for my failings (though I fear I will be found out to be a failure), or I am never right and am only worthy of shame (so I fear and avoid people at all costs or allow others to use and destroy me since that is all I am good for). Of course some vacillate between the two.   

Is there any hope for us who find ourselves trapped in these scripts? Some personality theorists would say no. But, they are wrong. There is hope for us, but it is not a hope in safety. What do I mean? There is some safety in playing out the script as we always have. We know we will be rejected, we know that we will be mistreated or misunderstood, and we know how we will respond. There is comfort in the known (even if we hate it at the same time). What is unsafe is to put down our repetitive thoughts about self, fears about what others think, and just begin to observe the other in our relationships. What is it that they think? Feel? Desire? Believe? I liken this to having conversations with another where we no longer talk to them with a mirror in the middle. When the mirror is present, we are relating to them but constantly assessing ourselves, noticing our feelings, etc. When we remove the mirror, we have the opportunity to only see them and have our self go to the background. This, of course, causes us to feel small and vulnerable. Hence why I said that it does not feel safe. And yet, the very act of connecting to another without the mirror positions us to potentially receive more accurate feedback about ourselves.

I’m reminded of the biblical text in James about the man who looks in the mirror and then promptly forgets what he has seen (1:23). We forget when we listen to things but “forget” because other things are speak more powerfully to us–seem to be more true. The text goes on to say that we remember what we have seen and heard when we are open to the the perfect truth. So, we will have God’s power to change from building our own mirror to that of a more truthful image when we keep ourselves close to God, his Word, AND when we connect to others who also reflect God’s true character.  Misappropriating CS Lewis, its not a safe option, but it is good. 

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January 10, 2008 · 5:24 am

Students as consumers or disciples? Or both?


I’ll let you in on a snippet of a faculty meeting. We were discussing how best to give students regular feedback beyond letter grades a brief comments–especially those who might have some particular struggle: academic, spiritual, interpersonal, etc. While we offer academic degrees, part of what we do as a Seminary pays attention to spiritual formation. That’s a broad category of course. But any student or group issues (and cohorts almost always have some group issues) have the opportunity of being formative teaching/pastoring moments. But I digress…

In the midst of this conversation, some faculty noted the consumerist mentality that some students have. They are coming here for MAs, MDivs, or DMins and the program should serve their interests and at the end they should get a degree that will get them a job. Nothing really new here. Most wouldn’t spend 20+K on an MA or 40+K on an MDiv just for the enrichment of it. Other faculty noted that some consumer mentality is appropriate. Students are coming here to buy a product and we need to sell the best version of that product.

So, here’s my question, can student as consumer also do a good job being student as disciple of Christ? Where’s the line between wise consumer and self-focused/demanding consumer?

This past month my credit card company submitted my check to them TWICE to my bank. That means they took a significant amount of money out of my checking account without my consent–and it could have caused other checks to bounce. I was not happy. Calls to the bank quickly resulted in our getting back what was rightfully mine. I was not happy with the bank for letting it happen and I was not happy with the credit card company for making the mistake. I want them to know that I’m not happy and to assure me it will never happen again. Ultimately, I want them to make me happy all the time. I want them to never let me down. And if they do not make me happy? Then I’ll take my business elsewhere.  Isn’t that how we approach most of our consuming? If my favorite restaurant stops pleasing me and treating me as a king, then I’m not likely to go back.

Do students bring this attitude into their education? I think so. I think I did as a student. I noted every failure of my profs. I rarely brought my concerns to them (for fear of looking petty) but more than once I’m sure I complained (shared my feelings) to my peers. Where does it lead us? Grumbling and complaining. Looking at the faults of others rather than our own. Defending rather than being appropriately self-critical. Not sure it is easy to be a disciple when I’m grumbling and complaining.

So, the challenge for students is to bring legitimate concerns and complaints to their professor’s attention, avoid gossip, and consider the formation opportunity in front of them (e.g., life when things don’t turn out as expected). And faculty/administration have the challenge before them to make sure they listen to said complaints, avoid defensiveness, repent where necessary, and pursue both their own and their student’s formative learning moments. Teachers and program administrators must remember that they too are disciples on the same journey as their pupils.

May we all pursue excellence as servants of the kingdom.  

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January 9, 2008 · 11:13 am

Do Americans Want a King?


My wife and I were discussing last night’s NH primary results and she stated the opinion that she thought that most Americans really desire a King (a la the Israelites). But, of course, as soon as we would get one, we’d also start loathing them. Seems that is what happens in the polls. We want a kingly or queenly leader but we also enjoy seeing them embarrass themselves (a la Howard Dean’s scream).

What do you think? Are we looking for royalty?

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