Research | mysite

Overview

My research explores intersections between psychotherapy and spirituality from an interdisciplinary perspective. Specific topics of interest include: the historical, philosophical, and spiritual underpinnings of various psychotherapeutic modalities; sleep, dreams, and dream interpretation in various cultural and religious contexts; developmental psychology in spiritual perspective; biblical, theological, and interfaith traditions of Sophia; Christian and comparative mysticism; and theory and method in theology and religious studies.

Selected Publications

2025. Jacob Boehme and the Spiritual Roots of Psychotherapy: Dreams, Ecstasy and Wisdom. Studies in Theology and Religion Vol. 35. Leiden: Brill.

2025. “The Inner Mission: Trauma, Extraversion, and Missiology.” In Do No Harm: A Festschrift in Honor of Charles Fensham. Edited by Ernest van Eck and George Hunsberger. Pickwick Publications. 40 pages.

2024. With Henry Shiu. “Dreaming Buddha: Dream Interpretation in Buddhism and Contemporary Psychotherapy.” Canadian Journal of Buddhist Studies 19: 70-111.

2023. “Northrop Frye, C.G. Jung, and the Grand Scheme of Things: Mapping the Psycho-Mythical Cosmos.” The Journal of Religion 103(2): 145-186.

2023. “Anton Boisen Reconsidered: Psychiatric Survivor and Mad Prophet.” Journal of Religion and Health 62(1): 228-254.

2002. “Heidegger, Augustine, and : Renewing the Technological Mind.” Theology Today 59(1): 21-38.

Doctoral Research

My doctoral research at the University of Toronto explored the history of dreams and their interpretation in various therapeutic and spiritual contexts.

Almost every culture in recorded history has viewed dreaming as a portal to a realm of spirits and ancestors, and many cultures have also used dreams for medical diagnosis and healing. After a comprehensive survey of the place and role of dreams in Western history, my research pinpointed certain mystical and "esoteric" traditions in 17th century Europe that used dreams and their symbols to chart a developmental journey of transformation and expanded consciousness. This tradition in turn fed into the theories of the two most prolific modern dream theorists: Freud and Jung.

This research was generously funded by the Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), the Ontario Graduate Scholarship Program (OGS), and scholarships from the Toronto School of Theology. This video summary of my work was featured in the SSHRC Storytellers showcase.