Faculty and Staff

John Thoburn, Ph.D., ABPP

Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology

B.A., University of Kansas, 1976; M.Div., Fuller Theological Seminary, 1984; Ph.D., Fuller Graduate School of Psychology, 1991. At SPU since 1998.

Specialty: Family and Consulting Psychology
Areas of Scholarship: Family and international psychology
Areas of Teaching: Family psychology; human sexuality; individual, couple, and group psychotherapy

Recent Publications:

Collaborative Treatment for the Psychosomatic Couple.

Clergy Sexual Misconduct: A Systems Approach to Prevention, Intervention and Oversight, published by Gentle Path Press.  The book contains chapters from leaders in the field of clergy care and attacks the subject of clergy sexual misconduct using a system psychology and reconciliation theology approach.  Topics include scope of the problem, prevention, treatment, denominational oversight, spiritual formation, working with clergy couples, legal issues and more.  Further information may be found on the website www.clergycareconsultants.com.

Curriculum Vitae: CV Document (PDF)
Office: 107 Marston Hall

Email: thoburn@spu.edu
Phone: 206-281-2908

Dr. John Thoburn is a licensed psychologist in the state of Washington. He is board certified in couple and family psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology and he is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association.

Dr. Thoburn received a Master of Divinity degree from Fuller Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. from Fuller Graduate School of Psychology. He is currently past president of the American Academy of Couple and Family Psychology, a specialty of the American Board of Professional Psychology, and he is past president of the Society for Family Psychology, Division 43 of the American Psychological Association. Dr. Thoburn is currently on the Board of Trustees of the American Board of Professional Psychology and is a board member of the couple and family psychology specialty of the American Board of Professional Psychology.

Dr. Thoburn is associate professor of clinical psychology in Seattle Pacific University’s APA accredited clinical psychology program. He teaches courses in individual, couple, and family psychology and human sexuality. He teaches in both the child and family cognates and the theology integration cognate.

Dr. Thoburn's research and writing are in the areas of relational psychology and international psychology.

Thoburn Honored as Humanitarian: Sustainable psychological first aid to victims of disasters creates lasting impact.  Dr. Thoburn was awarded the 2012 International Humanitarian Award granted by the American Psychological Association.  A recent article was published in The Falcon, Vol. 83, Issue 11, published 1/25/12.

Pictures of Dr. Thoburn taken from recent trips to Haiti to help with relief efforts:

With training team in Port Au Prince                 Dr. Thoburn helping child in Haiti

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