Central in my research are the interrelations between religion, spirituality, and mental health, and their implications for mental health care, with special attention to the relationship between existential and clinical recovery in the context of psychological problems.
With my team I work on numerous empirical studies on specific mental health problems and religion, spirituality, and meaning-making, and specific mental health problems, such as personality disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma and PTSS, substance abuse disorder, autism, depression, and suicidality. For years, the development and functioning of God representations in relation to mental health has been a key topic in my research, and I still underline its relevance for understanding people’s religious or spiritual life. Positive psychology also has my attention, and I did a large empirical study on self-compassion and diverse dimensions of religion and spirituality.
Scientific results in my field have implications for clinical practice. Religion, spirituality, and meaning-making deserve explicit attention in psychotherapy and are an essential part of good health care. The consideration of existential issues in mental health care is not just an option but a professional obligation.
