Joseph M. Currier, Ph.D.
Dr. Currier will be reviewing applications for the SPiRIT Lab for the 2026-27 academic year.
Education
Post-Doctoral Fellowship (APA Accredited), Polytrauma and Returning Veterans (OEF/OIF) Program, Memphis VA Medical Center, Memphis TN
Clinical Psychology Internship (APA Accredited), Memphis VA Medical Center, Memphis TN
Ph.D Clinical Psychology, University of Memphis, Memphis TN
M.A. Clinical Psychology, Wheaton College, Wheaton IL
B.A. Psychology and Catholic Studies, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul MN
Recent Interests
My research focuses on understanding and addressing the multifaceted role of spirituality/religion (S/R) in trauma, moral injury, and other mental health challenges. My team with the Spirituality in Psychological Intervention, Research, and Training Lab (SPIRiT) conducts basic research that examines the pathways and processes via which varying aspects of S/R can support resilience and well-being; cause psychological suffering; and influence the etiology, phenomenology, and course of recovery from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental disorders. We also translate this foundational evidence into the development and evaluation of training, assessment, and treatment strategies that can help practitioners attend to peoples’ S/R in effective, ethical, and culturally responsive ways. We rely on diverse scientific methods to achieve these goals, including mixed methods, longitudinal surveys, practice-based evidence research, meta-analysis, experience sampling, and community participatory action research. We also regularly collaborate with colleagues from psychology and other healthcare fields (including chaplaincy), community partners and organizations, and funders who make our work possible.
Recent Grants
2026-2029: Gutierrez, D. (PI), Pearce, M. Rosmarin, D., Currier, J. M., Silverio, N., Kaufman, C., & Pargament, K. I. “Equipping the Global Mental Health Workforce for Spiritually Competent Care.” Funded at $2,988,825 via John Templeton Foundation (#63966). Role: Co-Investigator.
2025-2028: Zlomke, K. (Director) & Currier, J. M. (Co-Director). “The South Alabama HOPES: Health-Oriented Psychology Education for Substance Use Recovery.” Funded via the Human Resources and Health Administration’s (HRSA) Graduate Professional Education Program (HRSA-25-067) at $1,348,438. Role: Co-Director
2025-2028: Usset, T. (PI), Fantus, S. (Co-PI), Klee, A., Griffin, B., Kondrath, S., Harris, J. I., Pyne, J., Golden, K., & Currier, J. M. “Understanding delivery of spiritual care across the Veterans Health Administration.” Funded at $1,143,385 via John Templeton Foundation (#63600). Role: Co-Investigator.
2025-2026: Currier, J. M. (PI), Gutierrez, D., Kaufman, C., Pargament, K., Pearce, M., & Rosmarin, D. “Advancing the global reach and impacts of mental health training programs in spiritual and religious competencies.” Funded via John Templeton Foundation (#63446) at $259,849. Role: Principal Investigator.
2024-2027: Fox, J. (PI), Granello, P. (Co-PI), & Currier, J. M. (Co-PI). “A sequential-explanatory approach to understanding the forms and functions of lectio divina in the everyday lives of Christians.” Funded via Templeton World Charity Foundation’s “Science of Religious and Spiritual Exercises” (#32530) at $500,000. Role: Co-Principal Investigator.
2023-2025: Currier, J. M. (PI) & Davis, E. B. (Co-PI). “The nature, expressions, and functions of divine forgiveness in theistic relational spirituality.” Funded via John Templeton Foundation and Florida State University’s “Divine Forgiveness Project” (#61927) at $228,638. Role: Principal Investigator.
2021-2024: Currier, J. M. (PI), Fox, J., Oxhandler, H., Pargament, K., Pearce, M., Polson, C., & Vieten, C. “Catalyzing a cultural shift toward integrating religious and spiritual competencies in mental health through training and systems-level change.” Funded via John Templeton Foundation (#62033) at $5,388,796. Role: Principal Investigator.
Recent Publications
Currier, J. M., Salcone, S. G., Kim, E., Fernandez, P. E., & Kemp, D. (2025). Cultural processes for addressing clients’ spiritual and religious identities in psychotherapy: A proof-of-concept investigation. Psychotherapy. Advance online publication
Currier. J. M., Foster, J. D., Witvliet, C. V., Abernethy, A. D., VanHarn, K., Root Luna, L., & Schnitker, S. A. (2025). Reasons for living, spirituality, and suicidal ideation in a spiritually integrated inpatient program. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy. Advance online publication.
Currier, J. M., Davis, E. B., McDermott, R. C., *Kim, E., *Pencakowski, D., Kemp, D., Brock, B., & Dvorak, R. (2025). Divine forgiveness may build psychospiritual resources following moral transgressions: An ecological momentary assessment study of U.S. Christian adults. Journal of Positive Psychology. Advance online publication.
Milstein, G., Currier, J. M., Dent, C., McKnight, M., Eckert, D., & Manierre, A. (2025). COPE: Community Outreach & Professional Engagement - a framework to bridge public mental health services with religious organizations. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 16, 1461804.
Currier, J. M., McDermott, R. C., Sanders, P., & Richards, P. S. (2025). Spiritual struggles drive psychological distress in psychotherapy: Replication of findings using a practice-research network. Psychotherapy, 62, 424-431.
Currier, J. M. Pearce, M. J., Wong, S., Salcone, S., Brock, B., Kim, E., Kemp, D., Hinkel, H., Oxhandler, H. K., Vieten, C., Fox, J., Polson, C., & Pargament, K. I. (2025). Acceptability and feasibility of infusing training in spiritual and religious competencies in mental health graduate education. Training and Education in Professional Psychology, 19, 226-236.
Salcone, S. G., Currier, J. M., McDermott, R. C., Davis, D., Raines, A., Lee, Y., Exline, J., & Pargament, K. I., (2025). Development and evaluation of the Religious and Spiritual Struggles Scale-5 (RSS-5). Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 47, 8.
Pearce, M. J., Pargament, K. I., Wong, S., Hinkel, H., Salcone, S., Morgan, G., Kemp, D., Brock, B., Kim, E., Oxhandler, H. K., Vieten, C., Fox, J., Polson, E. C., & Currier, J. M. (2024). Enhancing training in spiritual and religious competencies in mental health graduate education: Evaluation of an integrated curricular approach. PloS one, 19(9), e0306114.
Currier, J. M., Swift, J., Sanders, P., & Richards, P. S. (2024). Preventing dropout in spiritually integrated psychotherapies: What are effective methods of attending to clients’ spirituality? Psychotherapy, 61, 184-190.
Currier. J. M., Bounds, E. M., Matsuo, H., Abernethy, A. D., Witvliet, C. V., VanHarn, K., Root Luna, L., Foster, J. D., & Schnitker, S. A. (2024). Temporal associations between meaning in life, ultimate meaning struggles, and mental health outcomes in a spiritually integrated inpatient program. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 80, 1306-1322.
Currier, J. M., McDermott, R. C., Sanders, P., Barkham, M., Owen, J., Saxon, D., & Richards, P. S. (2024). Practice-based evidence for spiritually integrated psychotherapies: Examining trajectories of psychological and spiritual distress. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 71, 291-303.
Currier, J. M., McDermott, R. C., Fernandez, P., Salcone, S., Hinkel H. M., Schuler, K., Fadoir, N., & Smith, P. N. (2024). Examining the outcomes and acceptability of a peer-led spiritual intervention for moral injury in a Veteran Service Organization. Psychological Services, 21, 276-286.