Colleague Alumni Magazine | Graduate School of Education and Psychology | Pepperdine University

Psychology Professor Honored by the American Psychological Association

Dr. Edward Shafranske, professor of psychology, was named a Fellow of the Society of Clinical Psychology by the American Psychological Association (APA). Achieving initial fellow status in the APA provides the recognition that the individual has achieved great distinction in his or her own field. Beyond the achievement of great distinction, gaining Fellow status also indicates having made a significant impact on the field of psychology at the national level.

“I am truly honored to have been named a Fellow of the Society of Clinical Psychology, particularly in light of my involvement in training the next generation of psychologists,” said Shafranske. He received a certificate from the APA to commemorate the honor; however, it was the recognition from his colleagues, noted Shafranske, which was most meaningful.

Additionally, APA released a DVD that features Shafranske, titled Addressing Issues of Spirituality and Religion in Psychotherapy. Following the publication of Shafranske’s book, Spiritually Oriented Psychotherapy (with L. Sperry, APA, 2004), Dr. Jon Carlson, the host of many APA video series, contacted Shafranske to produce a DVD for APA illustrating a psychoanalytic approach to religious issues in psychotherapy. In the DVD Shafranske demonstrates his psychoanalytic therapeutic method of handling issues of spirituality and religion within therapy. This approach provides for respect and acceptance for the client’s religious faith, while incorporating the client’s spiritual and religious life into the therapy itself. Shafranske is filmed in a therapy session with a man in his 20s. The young man is a devout Christian, but he manipulates situations using his faith to avoid conflict and direct emotional experience. Shafranske aids the client in viewing how he uses religion not only as a genuine expression of his faith, but as a defense mechanism in situations in which he feels uncomfortable. Shafranske concludes that, “over time, in successful treatment, the client would transform his God representations and would more fully integrate his religious beliefs into his life.”