Stetson Counselor Educator Co-Edits Special Section on Spirituality and Psychotherapy
The journal section features 13 articles examining spirituality, religion, and psychotherapy through projects supported by a Templeton Foundation grant.
May 20, 2026
Dr. Jesse Fox, Associate Professor in Stetson University’s Department of Counselor Education, recently co-edited a national special section in the journal Psychotherapy, highlighting research connected to a multi-year Templeton Foundation-funded initiative focused on spirituality, religion, and mental health care.
The special section includes 13 peer-reviewed articles exploring the integration of spiritual and religious competencies into psychotherapy and counselor training. Fox co-edited the section alongside Dr. Joseph Currier from the University of South Alabama.
The publications represent the third special issue connected to the Templeton-funded project, which supported research initiatives between 2022 and 2024. Many of the featured articles report findings from funded projects examining how clinicians ethically and effectively engage spiritual and religious dimensions within counseling and psychotherapy practice.
Fox serves as co-investigator for the Spiritual and Religious Competencies Project, an initiative designed to strengthen clinician competence and responsiveness when addressing clients’ spiritual and religious identities in therapeutic settings. His work reflects broader efforts within the counseling profession to promote culturally responsive and holistic approaches to mental health care.
In addition to his faculty role at Stetson, Fox serves as director of the Center for Optimal Health Across the Lifespan. His scholarship and leadership frequently focus on counselor development, wellness, spirituality, and integrated approaches to mental health and human flourishing.
The special issue contributes to ongoing national, interdisciplinary conversations about the role of spirituality and religion in counseling and psychotherapy while also providing practical resources for counselor educators, clinicians, and students interested in integrating these competencies into training and practice.
Learn more ››
- Check out the "Special Section: Spiritual and Religious Training in Psychotherapy" in Psychotherapy.
- Read Fox's introductory article to the special section.
- Check out the Center for Optimal Health Across the Lifespan.
- Read more about Fox on his faculty profile.