Clinical Psychologist and Expert in Spirituality-Integrated Mental Health
Associated with :
University System of MarylandMichelle Pearce serves as a Professor in the Graduate School at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, where she directs three significant graduate certificate programs in Aging and Applied Thanatology, Integrative Health and Wellness, and Science Communication. Her academic journey includes a Ph.D. from Yale University, followed by specialized fellowships in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy at Duke University Medical Center and Spirituality and Health at the Duke Center for Spirituality, Theology, and Health. As a clinical psychologist, she has developed expertise in integrating religious and spiritual elements into psychotherapy, particularly focusing on the relationship between faith, coping mechanisms, and health outcomes. Her scholarly work includes authoring "Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Christians with Depression: A Practical, Tool-Based Primer," which demonstrates her unique approach to faith-integrated mental health care. Her clinical expertise spans multiple areas including cognitive behavioral therapy, spiritual and existential issues, mind-body stress reduction techniques, and behavioral medicine. She has made significant contributions to understanding the intersection of mental and physical illness, developing innovative treatment approaches for moral injury and PTSD among veterans, and advancing the field of spiritually integrated psychotherapy. Her work emphasizes practical applications of psychological principles while maintaining sensitivity to spiritual and religious dimensions of healing.