Dr. Arthur P. Rech and Mrs. Jean May Rech Associate Professor of Psychology
On Faculty since 2010
Phone: (630)752-5609
Email: Jamie.Aten@wheaton.edu
Education
Ph.D., Counseling Psychology, Indiana State University, 2005
Pre-Doctoral Internship in Clinical Psychology, Chicago Area Christian Training Consortium, 2005
M.S., Counseling Psychology, Indiana State University, 2001
B.S., Psychology, Indiana State University, 1999
About Jamie D. Aten
Dr. Aten’s primary professional interests focus on the integration of psychological science and theology, with an emphasis on disaster mental health and trauma. Personally, he grew up in a small rural farming community in Southeastern Illinois. He enjoys spending time with his wife and three daughters, reading, and listening to jazz. Dr. Aten has also been an avid Chicago Cubs fan since childhood, to which he jokingly attributes his interest in disasters and trauma work.
Courses Taught
- PSYC 618 Clinical Research Design
- PSYC 715 Professional Development and Ethics II
- PSYC 718 Clinical Research Methods and Program Evaluation
Membership in Professional Societies
- American Psychological Association
- APA Division 36 (Psychology of Religion)
- Christian Association for Psychological Studies
Research
Dr. Aten co-directs the Humanitarian Disaster Institute Applied Research Lab at Wheaton College. The lab's mission is to conduct research that will ultimately: (1) Help strengthen communities affected by trauma being studied; and (2) Better equip those that care for the communities by developing: publications, professional presentations, resources, trainings, and interventions. His empirical research primarily focuses on religious and disaster mental health issues. He has also written widely on the integration of psychology and theology, applying lessons learned from disaster research to broader forms of trauma in psychotherapy and clinical supervision. Overall, Dr. Aten has been awarded over $1 million in external funding by numerous state, federal, and non-profit agencies for his research on faith-based disaster issues, which emphasizes equipping churches and faith-based groups to prepare for and respond to disasters. Dr. Aten was also recently appointed to the Faith Based Learning Collaborative for decreasing health disparities sponsored by SAMHSA.
Grants
Toping, S., & Aten, J. (2009-2013). The role of the African-American church in the Mississippi Delta in reducing mental health disparities. Department of Health and Human Services subcontract through University of Mississippi Medical College Mississippi Institute for Improvement of Geographic Minority Health. Funded $419,000.
Aten, J. (2009-2010). Religion and healthcare access and barriers among rural African Americans following Hurricane Katrina. Aubrey Keith Lucas and Ella Ginn Lucas Endowment. Funded $2,212.
Hosey, J, Aten, J., & Topping, S. (2009-2010). The clergy-mental health clinician collaborative: Promoting equitable community care partnerships. Foundation for the MidSouth subcontract through Interfaith Disaster Task Force. Funded $75,000.
Availa, R., Aten, J., & Sharon Topping. (2009-2010). Disaster clergy network: Equipping clergy for disasters. United Jewish Foundation. Funded $134,000.
Aten, J. & Topping, S. (2008-2009). Response of the Episcopal Church to Hurricane Katrina: Parish, pastoral, diocesan, and national lessons learned. General Convention of the Episcopal Church of the United States. Funded $64,000.
Hosey, J., & Aten, J., & Topping, S. (2008-2009). Faith community preparedness and resilience project. Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium. Funded $20,000.
Aten, J.. (2007-2008). The church disaster mental health project: A Gulf-Region training network. Pew Charitable Trusts and Rand Gulf States Policy Institute. Funded $12,000.
Availa, R., & Aten, J. (2007-2008). Pastoral care and mental health partnership: A Katrina resiliency project. Red Cross Community Resilience Fund and Foundation for the MidSouth subcontract through Interfaith Disaster Task Force. Funded $75,000.
Toping, S., & Aten, J. (2006-2009). Decreasing mental health disparities: The role of the African-American church in overcoming mental health disparities in rural Mississippi. Department of Health and Human Services subcontract through University of Mississippi Medical College Mississippi Institute for Improvement of Geographic Minority Health. Funded $419,152.
Publications
Books
Aten, J., O’Grady, K., & Worthington, E. (under contract). (Eds.). Psychology of religion and spirituality for clinicians: Using research in your practice. New York: Routledge.
Aten, J., Johnson, E., Worthington, E., & Hook, J. (under contract). (Eds.). Evidence-based practices for Christian counseling and psychotherapy. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
Aten, J., McMinn, M., & Worthington, E. (in press). (Eds.). Spiritually oriented interventions for counseling and psychotherapy. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association Books
Leach, M., & Aten, J. (2009). (Eds.). Culture and the therapeutic process: A clinician’s guide. New York: Routledge.
Aten, J., & Leach, M. (2008). (Eds.). Spirituality and the therapeutic process: A comprehensive resource from intake through termination. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association Books.
Selected Book Chapters
Aten, J., McMinn, M., & Worthington, Jr., E. (in press). Spiritually oriented interventions: Introducing the issues. In J. Aten, M. McMinn, & E. Worthington, Jr. (Eds.), Spiritually oriented inventions for counseling and psychotherapy. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Aten, J., & Denney, R. (in press). Qualitative methods. In T. Irons-Georges (Ed.), Psychology and Mental Health. Pasadena, CA: Salem Press.
Denney, R., & Aten, J. (in press). Religious coping. In D. Leeming (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Psychology and Religion. New York: Springer.
Koffman, C., Aten, J., Denney, R., & Futch, T. (in press). African American spirituality. In D. Leeming (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Psychology and Religion. New York: Springer.
McMinn, M., & Worthington, Jr., E., & Aten, J. (in press). Spiritually oriented interventions: Future directions in training and research. In J. Aten, M. McMinn, & E. Worthington, Jr. (Eds.), Spiritually oriented inventions for counseling and psychotherapy. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Worthington, Jr., E., & Aten, J. (2010). Forgiveness and reconciliation in social reconstruction after trauma. In E. Martnz, Trauma rehabilitation after war and conflict: Community and individual perspectives. New York: Springer (pp. 55-72).
Leach, M., & Aten, J. (2009). Culture and the therapeutic process: An introduction. In M. Leach & J. Aten (Eds.), Culture and the therapeutic process: A clinician’s guide. New York, NY: Routledge (pp. 1-12).
Leach, M., Aten, J., Boyer, M., & Strain, J. (2009). Developing therapist self-awareness and knowledge. In M. Leach & J. Aten (Eds.), Culture and the therapeutic process: A clinician’s guide. New York, NY: Routledge (pp. 13-36).
Aten, J., & Leach, M. (2009). Spirituality and the therapeutic process: An introduction. In J. Aten & M. Leach (Eds.), Spirituality and the therapeutic process: A comprehensive resource from intake through termination. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association (pp. 3-8).
Aten, J., & Leach, M. (2009). Spirituality and mental health research: A primer. In J. Aten & M. Leach (Eds.), Spirituality and the therapeutic process: A comprehensive resource from intake through termination. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association (pp. 9-24).
Aten, J., Mangis, M., Campbell, C., Tucker, B., Kobeisy, A., & Halberda, R. (2009).Spirituality in termination. In J. Aten & M. Leach (Eds.), Spirituality and the therapeutic process: A comprehensive resource from intake through termination. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association (pp. 217-240).
Leach, M., Aten, J., Wade, N., & Hernandez, B. (2009). Noting the important of spirituality and the clinical intake. In J. Aten & M. Leach (Eds.), Spirituality and the therapeutic process: A comprehensive resource from intake through termination. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association (pp. 75-92).
Co-Edited Special Issues of Journals
Aten, J., & Walker, D. (in progress). Special issue: Religion, spirituality, and trauma. Journal of Psychology and Theology.
Worthington, E., & Aten, J. (2009). Special issue: Psychotherapy with religious and spiritual clients. Journal of Clinical Psychology: In Session, Volume 65.
Aten, J., & Mangis, M. (2007). Special issue: Clinical supervision. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, Volume 26.
Selected Peer-Reviewed Publications
Aten, J. (in press). Resolving religious differences: A case study from behind bars. Journal of Psychology and Christianity.
Aten, J., Leavell, K., Gonzalez, R., Luke, T., Defee, J., & Harrison, K. (in press). Everyday technology for extraordinary circumstances: Possibilities for enhancing disaster communication. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, & Policy.
Aten, J., Topping, S., Denney, R., & Hosey, J. (in press). Helping African-American clergy and churches address minority disaster mental health disparities: Training needs, model, and example. Psychology of Religion, and Spirituality.
Wood, B., Worthington, E., Exline, J., Yali, A., Aten, J., & McMinn, M. (in press). A brief measure of anger and positive attitudes toward God: Psychometric development, refinement, and validation of the attitudes toward God. Psychology, Religion, and Spirituality.
Aten, J., Mangis, M., & Campbell, C. (2010). Psychotherapy with rural religious fundamental clients. Journal of Clinical Psychology: In Press, 66, 1-11.
Aten, J., & Topping, S. (2010). An online social networking disaster preparedness tool for faith communities. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 2, 130-134.
Aten, J., Topping, S., Denney, R., & Bayne, T. (2010). Collaborating with African American churches to overcome disaster mental health disparities: What mental health professionals can learn from Hurricane Katrina. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 41, 167-173.
Denney, R., Aten, J., & Leavell, K. (2010). Post-traumatic spiritual growth among cancer survivors. Mental Health, Religion, and Culture, 13, 1-21.
Aten, J., Avila, R., Hosey, J., Topping, S., & Weaver, J. (2009). Organizing faith-based responses to Hurricane Katrina: An interfaith task force model. IAEM Bulletin, 26, 9-10.
Aten, J., & Worthington, E. (2009). Next steps for clinicians in religious and spiritual psychotherapy: An end-piece. Journal of Clinical Psychology: In Session, 65, 224-229.
Worthington, E., & Aten, J. (2009). Psychotherapy with religious and spiritual clients: An introduction. Journal of Clinical Psychology: In Session, 65, 123-130.
Aten, J. (2008). Equipping faith communities for disaster: The church disaster mental health project website. Journal of Applied Research in Economic Development, 5, 56-57.
Aten, J., Moore, M., Denney, R., Bayne, T., Stagg, A., Owens, A., Daniels, S., Boswell, S., Schenck, J., Adams, J., & Jones, C. (2008). God images following Hurricane Katrina in South Mississippi: An exploratory study. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 36, 249-257.
Denney, R., Aten, J., & Gingrich, F. (2008). Spiritual self-disclosure in counseling and psychotherapy. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 36, 294-302.
Aten, J., Madson, M., Rice, A., Chamberlain, A. (2008). Supervisor post-disaster strategies for promoting supervisee self-care. Training and Education in Professional Psychology, 2, 75-82.
Aten, J., Gillespie, R., & Strain, J. (2008). A transtheoretical model of clinical supervision. Training and Education in Professional Psychology, 2, 1-9.
Aten, J., Madson, M., & Kruse, J. (2008). The supervision genogram: A tool for preparing supervisor-in-training. Psychotherapy, 111-116.
Aten, J., Boyer, M., & Tucker, B. (2007). Christian integration in clinical supervision: A conceptual framework. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 26, 313-320.
Aten, J., & Hernandez, H. (2004). Addressing religion in clinical supervision: A model. Psychotherapy, 41, 152-160.
Selected Presentations
Aten, J. (Scheduled October, 2010). The roots grew deep that day: Turning research on faith and catastrophe into evidence-based practices. Keynote invited address CAPS East, PA.
Aten, J., Park, C., Walker, D., Murray-Swank, N., & Courtois, P. (August, 2010). Religion, spirituality, and trauma: Advances in theory, research, and practice. Symposium scheduled for the American Psychological Association Convention, San Diego, CA.
Strain, J., Aten, J., Walker, D., Worthington, E., Stoltenberg, C. (August, 2010). Clinical supervision: Transtheoretical, multicultural, and religious and spiritual considerations. Symposium scheduled for the American Psychological Association Convention, San Diego, CA.
Aten, J., Leavell, K., Topping, S., & Hosey, J. (September, 2009). Disaster preparedness in religious communities in South Mississippi and New Orleans: Before and after Hurricane Katrina. Poster presented at the Mississippi Psychological Association, Jackson, MS.
Aten, J., Hathaway, B., Leach, M., McMinn, M., Plante, T., Ripley, J., & Worthington, E. (August, 2009). Psychotherapy with religious and spiritual clients. Symposium presented at the American Psychological Convention, Toronto, CA.
Aten, J., & Topping, S. (April, 2009). Faith-based community disaster interventions: Lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina. Poster presented at the International Convention for the Christian Association for Psychological Studies, Orlando, FL.
Aten, J., Topping, S., & Hosey, J. (April, 2009). The pastoral care and mental health partnership: A Katrina resiliency project. Poster presented at the International Convention for the Christian Association for Psychological Studies, Orlando, FL.
Topping, S., Aten, J., & Hosey, J. (June, 2009). From research findings to funding: Building community collaboration between university researchers, clergy, and mental health providers. Paper presented at the 2009 National Association of Rural Mental Health Convention, Santa Fe, NM.
Aten, J., & Topping, S. (August, 2008). Case studies in faith-community-mental health disaster collaboration. Poster presented at the American Psychological Convention, Boston, MA.
Aten, J., & Topping, S. (March, 2008). Collaborating with African American churches to overcome minority disaster mental health disparities. In E. Worthington Symposium Future of religion and spirituality in counseling psychology, International Counseling Psychology Conference, Chicago, IL. Presenters included Sandage, S., Frazier, P., Cook, S., Wang, Y., & Jones, S.
Aten, J., Topping, S., & Denney, R. (April, 2008). Essentials of church disaster preparedness and response. Paper presented at the International Convention for the Christian Association for Psychological Studies, Mesa, AZ.
Aten, J. (April, 2008). The Church Disaster Mental Health Project. Poster presented at the International Convention for the Christian Association for Psychological Studies, Mesa, AZ.
Johnson, T., Vredeveld, A., Bennett, P., Aten, J., & Madson, M. (March, 2008). Religious and secular coping in survivors of Hurricane Katrina. Poster presented at the Mid-Year Meeting of Division 36 (Psychology of Religion) of the American Psychological Association, Columbia, MD.
Aten, J. (October, 2007). Spiritual lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina. Paper presented at the Katrina Research Center Conference, Biloxi, MS.
Aten, J., Topping, S., Denney, & Bayne, T. (September, 2007). Preparing African American pastors for disaster: A training model. Paper presented at the Mississippi Psychological Association Conference, Biloxi, MS.
Aten, J., Bayne, Moore, M., & Denney, R. (August, 2007). Effects of Hurricane Katrina on religious beliefs: An exploratory study. Poster presented at the American Psychological Association’s 113th Annual Convention, San Fransico, CA.
Bennett, P. R., Aten, J., & Hill, P. (2007, November). In the eye of the storm: The impact of Hurricane Katrina on the religious lives of survivors. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Tampa, FL.
Cook, S., Aten, J., & Leach, M. (August, 2007). Resource loss, religiousness, health, & posttraumatic growth following Hurricane Katrina. Poster presented at the American Psychological Association’s 113th Annual Convention, San Fransico, CA.
Topping, S., & Aten, J. (August, 2007). The role of service after Katrina: Decreasing mental health disparities using African American churches. Academy of Management Convention, Philadelphia, PA.
Aten, J., Hill, P., & Bennett, P. (March, 2007). Effects of Hurricane Katrina on spiritual outcomes. Paper presented at the Christian Association for Psychological Studies 2007 International Convention, Dallas, TX.
Aten, J., Denney, R., Bayne, T., Moore, M., & Cox, O. (August, 2006). Effects of Hurricane Katrina on God images. Poster presented at the American Psychological Association’s 112th Annual Convention, New Orleans, LA.
Aten, J., Madson, M., Rice, A., & Chamberlain, A. (September, 2006). Supervising in the wake of disaster: Lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina. Paper presented at the Mississippi Psychological Association.
Johnson, T., Aten, J., Madson, M., & Bennett, P. (August, 2006). Alcohol use and meaning in life among survivors of Hurricane Katrina. Paper presented at the 2006 International Conference on Personal Meaning: Addiction, Meaning, & Spirituality, British Columbia, Canada.