What is ‘integration’? Christians serving in the psychological professions have long debated the proper way to understand the relationship between ‘psychology’ on the one hand, and ‘theology’ or ‘Christianity’ or ‘the Christian faith’ on the other. This book argues for understanding integration as a matter of personal integrity: it’s not about bridging or blending academic disciplines, but about having a coherent vocational identity. What narrative will hold together both our core identity as Christians and our developing identity as clinicians? Peacemaking is proposed as the central motif, based on the Beatitudes of Jesus. Christian therapists who understand themselves as peacemakers will in turn cultivate the clinical virtues of hope, humility, compassion, and Sabbath rest.
About the author
Cameron Lee is Professor of Family Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. He is the author of four previous books, including Unexpected Blessing: Living the Countercultural Reality of the Beatitudes (2004) and two books on ministers’ families. He is a teaching pastor at Hillside Community Church in Alta Loma, California.