Joshua Knabb Image

Joshua Knabb, PsyD, ABPP

Professor of Psychology
Associate Dean, Division of Psychology, College of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Director, PsyD Program

Office Phone: (951) 343-4405
E-mail: jknabb@calbaptist.edu
Office Location: W. E. James Building, Room J116
Office Hours: By Appointment

Degree Major Emphasis Institution Year
PsyD, ABPP Clinical Psychology Azusa Pacific University 2010
MA Clinical Psychology Azusa Pacific University 2007
BS Business and Management University of Redlands 2005
  • Additional Education

    Board Certified in Clinical Psychology, American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP)

    Fellow, American Academy of Clinical Psychology (AACP)

    Core Skills Advanced Training, International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT)

    Licensed Psychologist, State of California (License Number PSY 24736)

    Pre-Doctoral Internship, Philhaven Hospital (APA-Accredited)

  • Courses Taught

    PSY 320 Life-Span Development
    PSY 325 Tests and Measurements
    PSY 346 Abnormal Psychology
    PSY 422 Theories of Counseling
    PSY 473 Psychophysiology
    PSY 505 MFT Counseling Theory
    PSY 505 Human Growth and Development
    PSY 520 Human Communication in Group Process
    PSY 530 Advanced Research Methodology
    PSY 535 Advanced Psychopathology
    PSY 543 Evaluation and Treatment of Compulsive Disorders
    PSY 545 MFT Counseling: Child/Adolescent
    PSY 560 Professional Ethics and Law
    PSY 590 Christian Perspectives on Professional Counseling
    PSY 700 Theories of Psychotherapy
    PSY 704 Statistics in Psychology
    PSY 713 Law and Ethics in Clinical Psychology
    PSY 714 Research Methods in Psychology
    PSY 723 Psychometrics
    PSY 725 History of Psychological Science
    PSY 751 Research Team I
    PSY 752 Research Team II
    PSY 753 Research Team III
    PSY 761 Psychology and Christianity I: Theology
    PSY 762 Psychology and Christianity II: Worldview, Ontology, and Epistemology
    PSY 770 Practicum IV: Evidence-Based Practice
    PSY 771 Intervention I: Psychodynamic Approaches to Treatment
    PSY 773 Intervention III: Couples Approaches to Treatment
    PSY 781 Dissertation I
    PSY 782 Dissertation II
    PSY 783 Dissertation III
    PSY 784 Dissertation IV

  • Academic Areas & Scholarly Interests

    Clinical psychology; psychological assessment; scale development; marriage and the family; psychology of religion and spirituality; mindfulness-based therapies; transdiagnostic constructs and interventions; attachment theory; Christian meditation, prayer, and contemplation; the spiritual disciplines

  • Teaching Experience at Institutions Other than CBU

    Teaching Assistant in the Department of Graduate Psychology at Azusa Pacific University

  • Research, Presentations, & Publications

    Peer-Reviewed Books/Book Chapters:

    Vazquez, V., Knabb, J., Lee-Johnson, C., & Hays, K. (2023). Healing conversations on race: Four key practices from Scripture and psychology. InterVarsity Press.

    Knabb, J. (2022). Acceptance and commitment therapy for Christian clients: A faith-based workbook (2nd ed.). Routledge.

    Knabb, J. (2022). Faith-based ACT for Christian clients: An integrative treatment approach (2nd ed.). Routledge.

    Knabb, J. (2021). Christian meditation in clinical practice: A four-step model and workbook for therapists and clients. InterVarsity Press.

    Sisemore, T., & Knabb, J. (Eds.). (2020). The psychology of world religions and spiritualities: An indigenous perspective. Templeton Press.

    Knabb, J., Johnson, E., Bates, T., & Sisemore, T. (2019). Christian psychotherapy in context: Theoretical and empirical explorations in faith-based mental health. Routledge.

    Knabb, J. (2018). The compassion-based workbook for Christian clients: Finding freedom from shame and negative self-judgments. Routledge.

    Knabb, J., & Frederick, T. (2017). Contemplative prayer for Christians with chronic worry: An eight-week program. Routledge.

    Knabb, J. (2016). Acceptance and commitment therapy for Christian clients: A faith-based workbook. Routledge.

    Knabb, J. (2016). Faith-based ACT for Christian clients: An integrative treatment approach. Routledge.

    Knabb, J., & Meador, K. (2016). A theological lens for integrating ACT with conceptions of health, healing, and human flourishing. In J. Nieuwsma, R. Walser, & S. Hayes (Eds.), ACT for clergy and pastoral counselors: Using acceptance and commitment therapy to bridge psychological and spiritual care (pp. 19-40). New Harbinger Publications, Inc.

    Selected Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles:

    Vazquez, V., & Knabb, J. (in press). 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.

    Vazquez, V., Knabb, J., Lee-Johnson, C., & Hays, K. (in press). Healing conversations on race: The HEAL model for diverse Christian communities. Journal of Psychology and Christianity.

    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.

    Knabb, J., Wang, K., Lewis Hall, M., & Vazquez, V. (2022). The Christian Worldview Scale: An emic measure for assessing a comprehensive view of life within the Christian tradition. Spirituality in Clinical Practice. Advance online publication.

    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.

    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.

    Knabb, J., Vazquez, V., Pate, R., & Wang, K. (2021). The Christian Gratitude Scale: An emic approach to measuring thankfulness in every season of life. Spirituality in Clinical Practice. Advance online publication.

    Knabb, J., & Wang, K. (2021). The Communion with God Scale: Shifting from an etic to emic perspective to assess fellowshipping with the Triune God. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 13, 67-80.

    Knabb, J., Vazquez, V., & Wang, K. (2021). The Christian Contentment Scale: An emic measure for assessing inner satisfaction within the Christian tradition. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 49, 324-341.

    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.

    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 21st century. Journal 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.

    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.

    Knabb, J., Vazquez, V., Wang, K., & Bates, T. (2018). 'Unknowing' in the 21st century: Humble detachment for Christians with repetitive negative thinking. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 5, 170-187.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    Knabb, J., & Vogt, R. (2011). The relationship between personality and marital satisfaction among distressed married couples seen in intensive marital therapy: An actor-partner interdependence model analysis. Contemporary Family Therapy, 33, 417-440.

    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.

    Knabb, J., & Vogt, R. (2011). Assessing Old Order Amish outpatients with the MCMI-III. Journal of Personality Assessment, 93, 290-299.

    Knabb, J., Vogt, R., Brickley, D., & Newgren, K. (2011). Personality typologies for conservative Christians in intensive marital therapy. Marriage & Family Review, 47, 23-44.

    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.

  • Church Membership & Activities

    Member of Sandals Church Woodcrest in Riverside, California

  • Community Service & Involvement

    Check out my personal website at joshuaknabb.com
    Check out my weekly podcast at https://the-christian-psychologist-mental-health-for-21st-century-c.simplecast.com
    Member-at-Large, Division 36 (Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality) Executive Committee for the American Psychological Association (APA) (2021-Present)
    Editor, Journal of Psychology and Christianity (2020-Present)
    Editorial Board, Journal of Psychology and Theology (2017-Present)
    Program Chair, Division 36 (Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality) for the American Psychological Association's (APA) Annual Convention (2019-2020)

  • Interests & Hobbies

    Hobbies include spending time with my wife and children, writing, running, and watching documentaries

  • Personal Philosophy

    "If anyone proved to me that Christ was not the truth, and it really was a fact that the truth was not in Christ, I would rather be with Christ than with the truth." Fyodor Dostoyevsky

    "And I saw a river over which every soul must pass to reach the kingdom of heaven and the name of the river was 'suffering.' And then I saw a boat which carries souls across the river and the name of that boat was 'love.'" John of the Cross