Biographical Information:
Siang-Yang Tan is professor of psychology and has been an
active member of the faculty since 1985. He has previously served as director
of the PsyD program and director of training of The Psychological Center.
Of Tan’s many publications, he is best known for his book Lay Counseling
(1991) and more recently for Full Service: Moving from Self-Serve
Christianity to Total Servanthood (2006); Coping with Depression
(2004, revised and expanded edition), with John Ortberg; Rest (2000); and Disciplines of the Holy Spirit (1997), with
D. Gregg. He also authored “Use of Prayer and Scripture in Cognitive-Behavioral
Therapy” (2007, vol. 26, 101-111) and “Using Spiritual Disciplines in Clinical
Supervision” (2007, vol. 26, 328-335) in the Journal of Psychology and
Christianity and “Developing Integration Skills: The Role of Clinical
Supervision” (2009, vol. 37, 54-61) in the Journal of Psychology and
Theology.
He is associate editor of the Journal of Psychology and
Christianity, contributing editor for the Journal of Psychology and
Theology, consulting editor for Edification: Journal for the Society of
Christian Psychology, and editorial consultant of the Journal of
Spiritual Formation and Soul Care. He has written a new textbook, Counseling
and Psychotherapy: A Christian Perspective (2011) that was just published
by Baker Academic.
Tan is an active member in the American Psychological Association (APA), where
he is also a fellow; the Canadian Psychological Association; the Christian
Association for Psychological Studies; and the American Association of
Christian Counselors. He served as president of Division 36 (Psychology of
Religion) of the APA from 1998 to 1999. He is also a recipient of the
Distinguished Member Award from the Christian Association for Psychological
Studies (CAPS), the Gary R. Collins Award for Excellence in Christian Counseling
from the American Association of Christian Counselors, the Distinguished Silver
Award for Outstanding Influence and Leadership in the Development and Advancement
of Christian Counseling Around the World, the James E. Clinton Award for
Excellence in Pastoral Care and Ministry from the American Association of
Christian Counselors, and the William C. Bier Award for Outstanding and
Sustained Contributions to the Applied Psychology of Religion from Division 36
of the APA.
Tan is also senior pastor of First Evangelical Church Glendale
in Glendale, California.
Areas of Expertise, Research, Writing, and Teaching:
Cognitive-behavioral therapy of anxiety, anger, and depression, behavioral medicine/health psychology, paraprofessional/lay counseling, cross-cultural psychology and counseling, integration of psychology and the Christian faith, spiritual disciplines and mental health, the Holy Spirit and counseling, religious psychotherapy, Christian psychology.