Steven J. Sandage

Steve grew up in Iowa as the son of two former teachers and was confirmed in the United Methodist Church. He studied psychology at Iowa State University where he developed an interest in connections between mental health, spirituality, and ministry, which he also pursued in seminary. This led to working as a chaplain in prisons, a geriatric facility, and a group home for boys, which further shaped his desire to integrate psychology and theology in understanding human development and healing. He and his wife Danielle ventured out to Virginia for his doctoral program in counseling psychology and her graduate studies in social work, and this was the context where he started to focus on marriage and family therapy as a clinical specialization. He completed his clinical internship at the Federal Corrections Institute (Petersburg, Virginia) where he did specialty rotations in HIV services and forensic assessment. Following completion of their graduate degrees, they moved to Minnesota where Steve joined the faculty in marriage and family therapy at Bethel Seminary and started a clinical practice. In 2013 and after sixteen years at Bethel, Steve accepted the Danielsen Chair position at Boston University School of Theology and the Danielsen Institute, where he also serves as Research Director and Senior Staff Psychologist. He holds a joint appointment at BU in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences.

Sandage is the co-author/co-editor of 8 books and does research in areas that include positive psychology and virtue, spiritual formation, psychology of religion, psychotherapy processes and outcome, intercultural competence and social justice, psychopathology, and practitioner formation and well-being. His research has been funded by the Lilly Endowment, the Fetzer Institute, the John Templeton Foundation, the Peale Foundation, the Association of Theological Schools, the Covenant Foundation, and the Methodist Education Fund. Sandage received the Narramore Award for excellence in the integration of psychology and theology from the Christian Association of Psychological Studies and the Applied Psychology of Religion and Spirituality Award from Division 36 of the American Psychological Association. He serves on the editorial boards for two clinical journals: (a) the Journal of Clinical Psychology and (b) Psychotherapy.  He also practices as a Licensed Psychologist at the Danielsen Institute with clinical specializations that include couple and family therapy, multicultural therapy, and spiritually-integrative therapy. The American Psychological Association has published two clinical demonstration video projects with Sandage, one on couple therapy and forgiveness and another on engaging strengths and flourishing in psychotherapy.

Publications

Books

Sandage, S.J., & Strawn, B.D. (Eds.). (2022). Spiritual diversity and psychotherapy: Engaging the sacred in clinical practice. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Sandage, S.J., Rupert, D., Stavros, G.S., & Devor, N.G. (2020). Relational spirituality in psychotherapy: Healing suffering and promoting growth. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Sandage, S.J., & Brown, J.K. (2018). Relational integration in psychology and Christian theology: Theory, research, and practice. New York, NY: Routledge.

Worthington, E.L., Jr., & Sandage, S.J. (2016). Forgiveness and spirituality: A relational approach. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Stavros, G., & Sandage, S.J. (Eds.). (2014). The skillful soul of the psychotherapist: The Link between spirituality and clinical excellence. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.

Shults, F. L., & Sandage, S. J. (2006). Transforming spirituality: Integrating theology and psychology. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.

Shults, F. L., & Sandage, S. J. (2003). The faces of forgiveness: Searching for wholeness and salvation. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.

Winner of first Narramore Award for excellence in the integration of psychology and theology by the Christian Association for Psychological Studies (2005).

McCullough, M. E., Sandage, S. J., & Worthington, E. L., Jr. (1997). To forgive is human. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press

Videos

Sandage, S.J., Crabtree, S. Farchione, T., Levitt, H., Wong, J., & Owen, J. (2024). Strengths and flourishing in psychotherapy [Video]. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Worthington, E.L., Jr., & Sandage, S.J. (2017). Forgiveness in couple therapy: A relational approach [Video]. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Selected Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

Davis, D.E., Hunter, E., Lee, Y., Choe, E.J.Y., Sandage, S.J., Hook, J., DeBlaere, C., & Owen, J. (in press). Culturally humble continuing education: A multicultural orientation perspective. Practice Innovations.

Jankowski, P.J., Sandage, S.J., Wang, D.C. (2024). Latent profiles of seminary students’ perceptions of sense of community amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Religions, 15: 1235. https: //doi.org/10.3390/rel5101235

Captari, L.E., Guterres, K., Oleson, D., Devor, N., & Sandage, S.J. (2024). Sources of meaning and hope associated with well-being among psychotherapy clients: A practice-based mixed method study. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research. https//doi.org/ 10.1002/capr.12838.

Crabtree, S.A., & Sandage, S.J. (2024). Spiritual and religious competence in couple therapy training: A relational spirituality perspective. Counseling & Values, 69, 362-377.

Crabtree, S.A., Captari, L.E., Hydinger, K.R., Jankowski, P.J., & Sandage, S.J. (2024). Virtue engagement in contemporary relational psychotherapy: A mixed method practice-based study. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research. http://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12856

Stein, L.B., Gerstenblith, J.A., Sandage, S.J., Hydinger, K.R., Klein, D.S., Tanchel, S., & Crabtree, S.A. (2024). Student perspectives on spiritual formation at a Jewish pluralistic seminary: A qualitative study. Pastoral Psychology, doi: 10.1007/s11089-024-01169-0

Stein, L.B., & Sandage, S.J. (2024). Psychology of religion and spirituality in Jewish contexts: A synthetic review. Archive for the Psychology of Religion, doi: 10.1177/00846724241275130

Captari, L.E., Choe, E.J.Y., Stein, L.B., & Sandage, S.J. (2024). Trauma survivor’s spiritual struggles and the anger of hope: A practice-based clinical study examining links with mental health symptoms and well-being. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 11, 235-249.  https://doi.org/10.1037/scp0000376

Hydinger, K. R., Wu, X., Captari, L. E., & Sandage, S. J. (2024). Burnout, trauma impacts, and well-being among clergy and chaplains: A systematic review and recommendations to guide best practice. Pastoral Psychology. doi: 10.1007/s11089-024-01150-x

Sandage, S.J. (2024). The generative virtues of integrating psychology, religion, and spirituality: A tribute to Everett L. Worthington, Jr. Spirituality in Clinical Practice. doi: 10.1037/scp0000355

Sandage, S.J., & Stein, L.B. (2024). Mindfulness and other virtues in the development of intercultural and interreligious competence. Mindfulness. doi: 10.1007/s12671-024-02372-z

Brown, E. M., Taylor, J., Burgess, D., Cabell, A., Captari, L. E., Sandage, S. J., Wang, D. C., Davis, D. E., & Hook, J. N. (2024). Burnout, racial trauma, and protective experiences of Black psychologists and counselors. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. Advance online publication. https://dx.doi.org/10.1037/tra0001726

Brown, E.M., Chin, E.G., Wang, D.C., Lewis, B., Fort, C., Captari, L.E., Crabtree, S.A., & Sandage, S.J. (2024). Adverse childhood experiences, religious coping, and congregational support among Black clergy and religious leaders. Religions 15: 396. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15040396

Captari, L. E., Choe, J. Y., Crabtree, S. A., Sandage, S. J., Gerstenblith, J., Stein, L., Hydinger, K. R., & Stavros, G. (2024). Evaluating a novel group intervention to support helping professionals in metabolizing suffering and engaging strengths: The CHRYSALIS program. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 74, 177-216. DOI: 10.1080/00207284.2024.2329565

Jankowski, P.J., Sandage, S.J., Captari, L.E., Crabtree, S.A., Choe, E.J.Y., & Gerstenblith, J. (2024). A practice-based study of relational virtues and alliance correspondence in psychodynamic psychotherapy. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 80, 1323-1344. DOI: 10.1002/jclp.23669

Wildman, W. J., Rohr, D., Sandage, S. J., & Donato, N. C. (2024). The Dimensions of Spirituality Inventory. Archive for the Psychology of Religion, 46, 35-70. https://doi.org/10.1177/00846724231185180

Jankowski, P.J., Sandage, S.J., Wang, D.C., Zyphur, M., Crabtree, S.A., & Choe, E.J.Y. (2024). Longitudinal processes among humility, social justice activism, transcendence, and well-being. Frontiers in Psychology. DOI: 15:1332640. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.133264

Jankowski, P.J., Sandage, S.J., Crabtree, S.A., Owen, J., & Stavros, G.S. (2024). A constructive replication of client change during psychodynamic treatment in an outpatient setting. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 24, 746-757. DOI: 10.1002/capr.12710

Choe, E.J.Y., Waldron, S., Choi, H.A., & Sandage, S.J. (2024). Intellectual humility and religion/spirituality: A scoping review of research. Journal of Positive Psychology, 19, 611-628. DOI: 10.1080/17439760.2023.2239792

Paine, D.R., & Sandage, S.J. (2023). Disappointment in God and relational spirituality: Moderator effects for meditative prayer. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 51, 278-295. doi: 10.1177/0091647119870296

Porter, E., Jessen, M., Coleman, J., Sinha, S., Devor, N.G., Sauer-Zavala, S., Levitt, H., Tao, K., Zanarini, M., Farchione, T., Sandage, S.J., & Owen, J. (2023). Therapist experiences and perspectives on moving beyond symptoms and into flourishing: A grounded theory analysis. Counselling Psychology Quarterly. DOI: 10.1080/09515070.2023.2225033

Jankowski, P.J., Sandage, S.J., & Wang, D.C. (2023). (Re)framing resilience: A trajectory-based study involving emerging religious/spiritual leaders. Religions, 14: 333. https:// doi.org/10.3390/rel14030333

Hook, J. N., Zuniga, S., Wang, D. C., Brown, E. M., Dwiwardani, C., & Sandage, S. J. (2023). Conviction, competence, and context: A three-level model to promote racial diversity, inclusion, and equity among Christians. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 42, 97-115.

Hydinger, K.R., Sandage, S.J., Wu, X., Stein, L., & Wang, D.C. (2023). Compassion and humility as predictors of diversity and justice commitments among seminary faculty. Pastoral Psychology, 72, 169-185. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-023-01058-y

Crabtree, S.A., Captari, L.E., Hall, E.L., Sandage, S.J., & Jankowski, P.J. (2023). Mental health, well-being, and experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed methods practice-based study. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 23, 134-151. https://doi-org.ezproxy.bu.edu/10.1002/capr.12503

Choe, E.J.Y., Jankowski, P.J., Sandage, S.J., Crabtree, S.A., & Captari, L.E. (2022). Cultural humility and well-being among psychotherapy clients: A longitudinal practice-based study. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12599

Ruffing, E.G., Brody, L.R., & Sandage, S.J. (2022). Distress and satisfaction in women whose male partners use pornography: The roles of attitude, religious commitment, and religious conservatism. Journal of Sex Research. DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2022.2137097

Sandage, S.J., & Choi, H.A. (2022). Intellectual humility in applied sociocultural contexts: A reply to Ballantyne. Journal of Positive Psychology. DOI: 10.1080/17439760.2022.2155224

Hook, J.N., Hodge, A., Sandage, S.J., Davis, D.E., & Van Tongeren, D. (2022). Differentiation of self and cultural competence: A systemic review of the empirical literature. Practice Innovations. Advance online publication. https://dx.doi.org/10.1037/pri0000196

Marmarosh, C.L., Sandage, S.J., Wade, N., Captari, L.E., & Crabtree, S.A. (2022). New horizons in group psychotherapy research and practice from Third Wave Positive Psychology: A practice-friendly review. Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome, 25, 258-270. https://doi.org/10.4081/ripppo.2022.643

Jankowski, P.J., Sandage, S.J., Hauge, D.J., Choi, H.A., & Wang, D.C. (2022). Longitudinal associations for Right-Wing Authoritarianism, social justice, and compassion among seminary students. Archive for the Psychology of Religion. https://doi.org/10.1177/00846724221125277

Bell, C.A., Dumitrascu, N., Sandage, S.J., Hall, E.L., Jankowski, P.J., & Waldheter, M. (2022). Development and evaluation of the clinician-rated humility scale. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 50, 257-275.

Captari, L. E., Hydinger, K. R., Sandage, S. J., Choe, E. J., Bronstein, M., Stavros, G., Shim, P., Kintanar, A. R., Cadge, W., & Rambo, S. (2023). Supporting chaplains on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed-method practice-based pilot intervention study. Psychological Services, 20(1), 6–18. https://doi-org.ezproxy.bu.edu/10.1037/ser0000692

Jankowski, P. J., Sandage, S. J., Ruffing, E. G., Crabtree, S. A., Bell, C. A., & Park, S. H. (2022). A mixed-method intervention study on relational spirituality and humility among religious leaders. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 9(2), 87–102. https://doi-org.ezproxy.bu.edu/10.1037/scp0000248

Thomas, D.L., Stavros, G.S., Sandage, S.J., Berg-Cross, L., & Nichols, E.J. (2022). Attachment neuroscience and Martin Luther King, Jr’s nonviolence philosophy: Implications for the 21^st century and beyond. Journal of Black Psychology, 48, 507-546.

Jankowski, P.J., Sandage, S.J., & Crabtree, S.A. (2022). The moderating influence of Religiousness/Spirituality on Covid-19 impact and change in psychotherapy. Religions, 13, 488. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel13060488

Jankowski, P.J., Sandage, S.J., & Crabtree, S.A. (2022). The psychometric challenges of implementing wellbeing assessment into clinical research and practice: A Commentary on “Assessing mental wellbeing using the Mental Health Continuum – Short Form: A systematic review and meta-analytic structural equation modeling.” Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice. Advance online publication. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/cps0000090

Captari, L. E., Cowden, R. G., Sandage, S. J., Davis, E. B., Bechara, A. O., Joynt, S., & Counted, V. (2022). Religious/spiritual struggles and depression during COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns in the Global South: Evidence of moderation by positive religious coping and hope. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality.

Jankowski, P.J., Sandage, S.J., Wang, D.C., & Crabtree, S.A. (2022). Virtues as mediators of the associations between religious/spiritual commitment and well-being. Applied Research in Quality of Life. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-022-10046-y

Jankowski, P.J., Murphy, S., Johnson, J., Sandage, S.J., Wang, D.C., & Tomlinson, J. (2022). The influence of experiential avoidance, humility and patience on the association between religious/spiritual exploration and well-being. Journal of Happiness Studies. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-021-00488-w

Sandage, S.J., Jankowski, P.J., Paine, D.R., Exline, J.J., Ruffing, E.G., Rupert, D., Stavros, G.S., & Bronstein, M. (2022). Testing a relational spirituality model of psychotherapy clients’ preferences and functioning. Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health, 24, 1-21. DOI: 10.1080/19349637.2020.1791781

Captari, L. E., Sandage, S. J., & Vandiver, R. A. (2022). Spiritually integrated psychotherapies in real-world clinical practice: Synthesizing the literature to identify best practices and future research directions. Psychotherapy, 59(3), 307–320. https://doi-org.ezproxy.bu.edu/10.1037/pst0000407.supp (Supplemental)

Tomlinson, J., Sandage, S.J., Jankowski, P.J., & Captari, L.E. (2022). Religious diversity and well-being in positive psychology: Implications for clinical practice. Counseling Psychology Quarterly, 35, 959-979. DOI: 10.1080/09515070.2021.2001312

Jankowski, P. J., Hall, E. L., Sandage, S. J., & Dumitrascu, N. (2022). Religious leaders’ well-being: Protective influences for humility and differentiation against narcissism. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 9(2), 103–113. https://doi-org.ezproxy.bu.edu/10.1037/scp0000265

Jankowski, P.J., Sandage, S.J., Wang, D., & Hill, P.C. (2022). Relational spirituality profiles and flourishing among emerging religious leaders. Journal of Positive Psychology, 17, 665-678. https://doi-org.ezproxy.bu.edu/10.1080/17439760.2021.1913637

Select Chapters in Edited Books

Sandage, S.J., Bell, C.A., Moon, S.H., & Ruffing, E.G. (in press). Religious and spiritual problems in couples. In L.Sperry, K. Helm-Lewis, & J. Carlson, The disordered couple (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Routledge.

Sandage, S.J., Crabtree, S.A., & Bell, C.A. (in press). Forgiveness and culture: Conceptual issues. In E. L. Worthington, Jr. & N. Wade, (Eds.). Handbook of forgiveness (2nd ed). New York: Brunner-Routledge.

Boettscher, H.T., Sandage, S.J., Latin, H.M. & Barlow, D.H. (in press). Transdiagnostic treatment for enhancing positive affect and well-being. In J. Gruber (Ed.), Positive emotion and psychopathology. New York: Oxford University Press.

Sandage, S.J., Paine, D.R., & Morgan, J. (2019). Relational spirituality, differentiation, and mature alterity. In T.M. Crisp, S.L. Porter, & G.A. Van Tenselhof (Eds.), Psychology and spiritual formation in dialogue: Moral and spiritual change in Christian perspective. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press Academic.

Hague, D.J., Glenn, E., Paine, D.R., & Sandage, S.J. (2019). Spirituality and interculturality. In L. Zsolnai & B. Flanagan, The Routledge international handbook of spirituality and society in the professions. New York: Routledge.

Paine, D.R., Moon, S.H., Hauge, D.J., & Sandage, S.J. (2018). Cultural and racial perspectives on positive psychologies of humility. In T. Lomas, N. Brown, & F. Eiroa-Orosa (Eds.), The Routledge international handbook of critical positive psychology (pp. 281-298). New York, NY: Routledge.

Ruffing, E.G., Moon, S.H., Krier, J., Paine, D.R., Wolff, E., & Sandage, S.J. (2017). Self-forgiveness in couple and family therapy. In L. Woodyatt, M. Wenzel, B. Griffin, E.L. Worthington, Jr. (Eds.), Handbook of the psychology of self-forgiveness (pp. 193-206). New York, NY; Springer.

Sandage, S.J., Paine, D.R., Rupert, D., Bronstein, M., & O’Rourke. (2017). Humility in psychotherapy. In E.L. Worthington, Jr., D.E. Davis, & J. Hook (Eds.), Handbook of humility (pp. 301-315). New York: Routledge.