Psychology and Spirituality in Harmony

"Though faith is above reason, there can never be any real discrepancy between faith and reason." CCC §159

There is much which contradicts faith in the world. However, if we take seriously the pairing of faith and reason, and understand the arts and sciences as human contributions to creation, we can begin to see where truth shines through in the fields of counseling and psychology.

That isn’t to say all psychological theory and practice is in line with the Catholic faith. But not all psychological theory is in line with all other psychological theory. There is direct contradiction by different schools of thought, methods of healing, and even research findings; there is not a unified front on many matters in the field.

This does not mean there is no sound reason in psychology. Difference is to be expected. Each of us, even each researcher and practitioner, comes with a lens through which we view the world and interpret what we see. This is not to say there is no truth or objective reality. The Catholic tradition affirms that there is (John Paul II, 1998). But we should expect to see differences because, 1) we are created as unique beings with individual differences (a blessing from God), and 2) we are beings whose intellect and senses, and therefore our observations and conclusions, are not perfect (a reality of our fall).

We experience the world differently.

Integration Between Catholicism and ACT

One model that stands out as possessing an ability to be congruent with Catholic anthropology and moral teaching is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT, read as the verb, to “act”) (P. J. Gordon & C. M. Williams, personal communication, Nov. 2024). ACT is grounded in a values-based approach that respects individual differences in belief, culture, and life purpose (Hayes, 2004). It does not impose a singular moral or ethical framework[1], but instead invites people to identify and commit to what they personally hold meaningful. In the therapeutic setting, this allows the integration of Catholic values explicitly when clients desire that, while remaining respectful and effective with clients who hold other worldviews.

What makes ACT uniquely valuable for Catholic integration is not only its openness to client-chosen values, but the synergy with faith across the other five domains which contribute to psychological well-being, collectively promoting psychological flexibility (Harris, 2009; Hayes, 2004). There is resonance between each of these ACT processes and themes within Catholic spirituality and theology. These aren’t forced parallels, but natural alignments with truths the Church has long upheld about the human person, our freedom, our relationship to suffering, and our call to live in love and purpose (Gordon, Williams, & Murray, 2025).

The chart below outlines the six core processes of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) alongside corresponding Catholic insights. As I begin this project, I look forward to exploring these with you - not only as evidence-based therapeutic strategies, but also as pathways to spiritual growth, the cultivation of virtue, and deeper union with God.

This overlap is not incidental. Rather, it reflects the reality that when psychology and theology earnestly seek truth and healing, they may converge upon insights that God, in His providence, has made available for our restoration.

ACT Principle	Catholic Resonance
Self-as-context The “observing self,” distinct from passing experience	Mirrors Christian anthropology: the soul as our enduring self, made in the image and likeness of God; we are not our feelings, failures, or roles; rejects overidentification with things of this world
Cognitive defusion Understanding thoughts as creations of our own minds, not necessarily accurate reflections of reality	Encourages discernment; aligns with Catholic teaching that not all thoughts are truth or from God; detachment from lies about ourselves, others, and the world
Experiential acceptance Embracing thoughts, feelings, urges, and other interior experiences without trying to change them	Makes space for redemptive suffering; acknowledges difficult experiences as part of life; rejects the notion of avoiding pain by value-incongruent means
Present moment Awareness to the here-and-now	Invites us into union with God who always reaches out to us in the now; contemplative awareness; the sacramentality of time
Values clarification Determining what matters deeply	Provides space and place for virtue; tied to Catholic moral theology; discernment of vocation
Committed action Behaving in alignment with values, despite discomfort	Reflects the spiritual and corporal works of mercy; aligns with living out one’s call and mission

Gordon, P. J., Williams, C. M., & Murray, R. W. (2025, March). Will to love [Teaching series]. Mary Queen of Apostles Parish, Salem, MA.

Harris, R. (2009). ACT made simple: An easy-to-read primer on acceptance and commitment therapy. New Harbinger.

Hayes, S. C. (2004). Acceptance and commitment therapy, relational frame theory, and the third wave of behavioral and cognitive therapies. Behavior Therapy, 35, 639–665.

[1] Russ Harris, in his recent training (2025) does concede that pro-social values, particularly compassion, are more inherent to ACT and in that sense it, too, is not value-neutral.