Christian Association for Psychological Studies

The Christian Association for Psychological Studies (CAPS) is a United States-based professional and scholarly association for Christians involved in counseling, psychology, and related behavioral sciences. Founded in 1956, it developed during a period when some Christian psychologists and counselors were seeking organized ways to relate psychological practice and research to Christian faith and theology. The association has been described as part of a broader renewal of interest in religion among psychologists and as offering an alternative community to more secular professional organizations, including the American Psychological Association. CAPS functions as a professional network, educational organization, and publisher. Its activities include an annual conference, chapter-based participation in several parts of the United States, and publication of the Journal of Psychology and Christianity. The journal serves as a scholarly forum for work at the intersection of psychology, counseling, Christianity, and related disciplines, and is indexed in psychological and other scholarly databases. Through this publishing activity, CAPS participates in discussions about the relationship between Christian commitments and psychological theory, research, clinical practice, and professional ethics. The association also has a publishing arm that produces books and other materials relevant to Christian psychology and counseling. A substantial account of the organization's development was prepared for its fiftieth anniversary in a volume edited by Stevenson, Eck, and Hill. That history reflects CAPS's role in building an institutional community for practitioners and scholars who do not regard psychological work and Christian belief as separate or inherently incompatible fields. CAPS is organized through chapters and national activities rather than as a consumer-facing commercial brand. Its principal audiences are Christian mental-health professionals, counselors, psychologists, educators, students, researchers, and others interested in integrating psychological studies with Christian perspectives. The organization's principal offerings are therefore membership and professional community, its annual conference, the Journal of Psychology and Christianity, chapter activities, and publications. Public reference material does not establish a headquarters address, corporate parent, founder, current executive roster, financial scale, or publicly traded status. Its present identity remains that of a specialized American association serving the Christian psychology and counseling community.

CAPS was founded in 1956 in the United States by Christians working in or studying the counseling and behavioral sciences. Its emergence has been situated within a wider recovery of interest in religion among psychologists. In that context, the association provided a formal setting for people who wanted professional and scholarly engagement with psychology to remain connected to Christian belief, rather than being defined solely by secular professional frameworks. Over time, CAPS developed as a national association with chapters in several parts of the United States. The chapter structure gave members opportunities for local professional contact while the national organization supported broader educational, scholarly, and networking activities. The association's identity has consequently combined professional fellowship with an intellectual mission: encouraging dialogue about how Christian commitments affect psychological theory, counseling practice, research, education, and professional life. One of CAPS's most visible institutional activities has been its annual conference. The conference provides a recurring forum for presentations, discussion, professional interaction, and examination of subjects relevant to Christian psychology and counseling. The organization has also maintained a publishing program. Its principal scholarly publication, the Journal of Psychology and Christianity, provides a venue for research and reflection concerning the relationship between psychology and Christianity. The journal is indexed in psychological and other scholarly databases, extending the association's work beyond its membership and conference audience. CAPS has also published books through an associated publishing arm. These publications support the association's broader educational purpose and contribute to the literature used by Christian psychologists, counselors, students, and allied professionals. A book prepared for the organization's fiftieth anniversary, edited by Stevenson, Eck, and Hill, is identified as an important source for detailed information about the association's history and development. The association has been characterized as offering alternatives to more secular organizations such as the American Psychological Association. This does not make CAPS a general-interest psychology provider or a commercial mental-health brand; rather, it is a specialized professional and scholarly community organized around the integration of Christian faith with psychological study and practice. Publicly available reference material does not provide a verified founder, headquarters location, executive succession, financial information, or a detailed chronology of individual conferences and publications. Those details therefore remain unspecified in this dossier.

• 2006

  Fiftieth-anniversary history published

  [1]Christian Association for Psychological Studiesen.wikipedia.org

  A book documenting CAPS history was published in connection with its fiftieth anniversary and edited by Stevenson, Eck, and Hill.

• 1956

  CAPS founded

  [1]Christian Association for Psychological Studiesen.wikipedia.org

  The Christian Association for Psychological Studies was established in the United States as an association for Christians in counseling and the behavioral sciences.

• Development of a chapter network

  [1]Christian Association for Psychological Studiesen.wikipedia.org

  CAPS developed chapters in several parts of the United States, creating local structures alongside its national activities.

• Journal of Psychology and Christianity established as a core publication

  [1]Christian Association for Psychological Studiesen.wikipedia.org

  The association's publishing activity came to include the Journal of Psychology and Christianity, which is indexed in psychological and other scholarly databases.

A faith-oriented professional and scholarly association that connects Christian belief with psychology, counseling, and behavioral-science practice.

• Scholarly journal

  Journal of Psychology and Christianity

  The Journal of Psychology and Christianity is CAPS's principal scholarly periodical. It publishes work concerning the relationship between Christian faith and psychology, counseling, and related behavioral sciences. The journal extends the association's mission into academic and professional discourse and is indexed in psychological and other scholarly databases.

• Professional conference

  CAPS annual conference

  CAPS holds a yearly conference for members and others interested in Christian psychology, counseling, and behavioral-science issues. The conference functions as a venue for professional education, scholarly exchange, networking, and discussion of the integration of Christian perspectives with psychological work.

• Books and educational publications

  CAPS books and publications

  Through its publishing arm, CAPS produces books and related materials addressing psychology, counseling, Christianity, and the history or practice of Christian psychological studies. These publications complement the association's journal and conference activities.

1. 1Christian Association for Psychological Studiesen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Christian Association for Psychological Studies official websitecaps.net