John Scanish has spent 30 years engaged in the interplay of Christianity with psychological services. He has a master’s degree in Pastoral Counseling from La Salle University in Philadelphia (1993), and two graduate degrees from Wheaton College near Chicago, Illinois, an MA in Theology (1996) and a PsyD in Clinical Psychology (1998) where he studied under professor/author Mark McMinn, PhD. He is an active member in the Christian Association for Psychological Studies.
John has taken his interest in integration and applied it to clinical services in secular settings. As a licensed psychologist in a state psychiatric hospital, John consults on cases in which patients present with strong faith commitments. Along with the co-author of this manual, John facilitates a Spirituality group for hospital patients. As a training center for graduate students at the University of Kentucky where he holds an Assistant Professor, Voluntary Faculty, Department of Psychiatry position, John leads diversity training seminars specific to working with Christians who have mental illness.
Mike Sibley obtained his MDiv from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 2004, with a specialization in Urban Missions. Mike then completed 3 years of clinical residency culminating in supervisory status, and he obtained licensure as a Pastoral Counselor. He currently is enrolled in a DMin program with specialization in Pastoral Counseling.
Mike has 17 years of experience as a clinical chaplain, including 7 years in a state psychiatric hospital where he blends his clinical and pastoral training to serve individuals with severe mental illness. Mike facilitates a Spirituality group with John. Mike offers didactic instruction to residents and serves on the Pastoral Care Advisory Board at the Lexington VA Medical Center. As a guest lecturer at the University of Kentucky, he offers instruction to social work and nursing students. Mike is active within the Association of Professional Chaplains and the Spiritual Care Association, where he frequently is asked to create webinars and presentations related to the intersection of spirituality and the behavioral sciences. He has provided consultation to pastoral care departments around the country as it relates to the provision of spiritual support for those living with mental illness.
John and Mike have presented at numerous conferences and on webinars, deftly blending their experience with their thinking to provoke conversation and growth. John and Mike hope to share the ideas in this proposed manual at conferences for students, professors, chaplains, clinicians, researchers and pastors in the years ahead.
s4mi: Spirituality for the Mentally Ill 