Integratus, the official journal of the Catholic Psychotherapy Association, is pleased to announce a special call for manuscript submissions focused on deliverance and exorcism ministry and psychology.
Spiritual healing and recovery is a topic of great significance from the perspective of Catholic theology, spirituality, and mental health clinical practice. The effects of ordinary sin and deliberate acts of turning away from God and the current social environment in which we find ourselves impact one’s psychological well being, and symptoms of spiritual affliction can often be conflated with those of mental illness. The Deliverance and Exorcism Ministry Special Interest Group (DEM SIG) of the CPA has previously written the Guidelines for Mental Health Professionals Supporting Persons Seeking Freedom and Recovery from Possession and Other Spiritual Affliction, now in its 2nd Edition. The basic foundation provided by that document often prompts many subsequent questions that illuminate gaps in the current literature. For instance, what best practices still apply when addressing more minor spiritual afflictions when those symptoms also overlap with mental health issues? Case studies are needed to provide concrete examples in which mental health professionals and clergy collaborated to navigate the referral process for a spiritual evaluation, to discern psychological and/or spiritual explanations for symptoms, and to provide therapeutic accompaniment and care by psychotherapists for individuals who are undergoing the process of deliverance and/or exorcism. The leaders of the DEM SIG invite scholars and clinicians to contribute to this rich discussion that is essential to, and largely unique to the vocation of mental health professionals who endeavor to honor and integrate faith in practice.
Integratus is excited to partner with Dr. Frank Moncher, Rev./Dr. John Szada, and Ms. Jennifer Madere on this special call for manuscript submissions, which may address any or all aspects of the essential dispositions, knowledge, and roles of mental health professionals supporting people who are also seeking spiritual healing through the Church, diagnostic and referral issues, case studies, ethical considerations, and other related topics.
Manuscript Submission details
1. Manuscript submissions may be…
a. Case studies that apply theoretical and evidence-based scholarship in clinical practice within or parallel to deliverance and/or exorcism ministry.
b. Empirical investigation of theories, assessment tools, assumptions, and principles.
c. Theoretical, historical reflection, critique, and exploration of integration of psychology with Catholic teaching related to spiritual affliction and recovery.
d. Literature review that provides an analytic overview, clinical implications, limitations, and future directions.
2. Submitted manuscripts will go through the standard review process as well as editorial overview by Dr. Frank Moncher, Rev.Dr. John Szada, and Ms. Jennifer Madere.
3. Manuscripts selected for publication will reflect the general standards of Integratus as well as fit with this special call.
Timeline/Deadlines
- Author(s) may submit a preliminary abstract to Integratus editors, Drs. Robert Kugelman and Jesse Fox by November 1, 2024. Email address: integratus@catholicpsychotherapy.org
- Submitted abstracts should be a maximum of 500 words and include a title, author(s) name and contact information, summary of the manuscript idea and explicit description of fit with this special call focused on the psychology of forgiveness.
- Full-length manuscripts are due by March 1, 2024 and are submitted through the standard, online submission portal: https://integratus.scholasticahq.com/
- Authors are encouraged to follow the Author Guidelines and Submission Requirements: https://integratus.scholasticahq.com/for-authors