Professor of Psychology and by courtesy, Religious Studies and the Jesuit School of Theology, as well as Emeritus Adjunct Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, and Editor, Spirituality in Clinical Practice
Thomas G. Plante, Ph.D., ABPP is the Augustin Cardinal Bea, S.J. University Professor, professor of psychology, and by courtesy, religious studies and the Jesuit School of Theology, at Santa Clara University and directs the Applied Spirituality Institute. He is a scholar ibn residence of the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, the largest applied ethics center in the world. Additionally, he is an emeritus adjunct clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine. He currently serves as editor of the APA journal, Spirituality in Clinical Practice. He is an APA fellow (in Divisions 12, 36, 38, 46, and 47) and served on APA’s Council of Representatives (2016-21). He has published 29 books including Living Ethically in an Unethical World (2024), Spiritually Informed Therapy (2024), Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church: A Decade of Crisis, 2002-2012 (2011), and Contemporary Clinical Psychology, Fourth Edition (2022). He has published over 250 journal articles and book chapters, writes and maintains a private clinical practice as a licensed psychologist in Menlo Park, CA. He has been frequently featured in most major national and international media outlets. Time Magazine featured him in 2005 and referred to him in a 2002 cover story about clerical abuse as one of “three leading American Catholics.” He served as vice-chair of the National Review Board for the Protection of Children and Youth for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and other child protection Church review boards. He received an undergraduate degree in psychology from Brown University, an MA and PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Kansas, and completed his clinical internship and postdoctoral fellowship in clinical and health psychology at Yale University.
Blog 1: Psychology Today Blog: "Do the Right Thing: Spirit, Science & Health"
Blog 2: SCU Illuminate Thought Leader Blog
TEDx Talk on Myths Regarding Clerical Abuse
Living Ethically in an Unethical World
ScB Psychology 1982, Brown University
MA Clinical Psychology 1983, University of Kansas
PhD Clinical Psychology, 1987, University of Kansas
Postdoctoral Fellowship and Clinical Internship, 1986-88, Yale University
PSYC 2: General Psychology II (DOC)
PSYC 114: Ethics in Psychology (PDF)
PSYC 115EL: Psychopathology (PDF)
PSYC 116: Advanced Topics in Psychopathology (DOC)
PSYC 117: Health Psychology (DOC)
PSYC 117EL: Health Psychology (PDF)
PSYC 118: Advanced Topics in Health Psychology (DOC)
PSYC 193: Psychology of Religion and Spirituality (PDF)
- Psychology, religion, and health outcomes
- Sex offending clergy
- Psychological screening of Catholic and Episcopal clergy applicants
- Professional and personal ethics
- Psychological benefits of physical exercise
Plante, T. G. (2021). Contemporary Clinical Psychology, Fourth Edition. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN: 978-0-470-58739-3.
Applied Spirituality Institute
Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire (Word)
Plante, T. G., Feldman, D. B., Ge, J., & Cortese, A. (2025). A randomized controlled clinical trial assessing the psychological benefits of the Examen, Journal of Religion and Health.
Plante, T. G. (2024). Dealing with divisiveness: Ignatian principles for better relationships, Pastoral Psychology.
Plante, T. G. (2024). Advising discerning college students about psychotherapist career options: Unpacking the alphabet soup of graduate training and licensure, under editorial review. Authorea (Preprint)
Plante, T. G. (2024). Confronting religious and spiritual discrimination in clinical and professional practice. Spirituality in Clinical Practice. Advance 11(4), 419-423.
Plante, T. G. (2024). Religious and spiritual communities must adapt or die: Surviving and thriving during challenging contemporary times. Religions,15(7), 791. (invited paper).
Plante, T. G. (2024). What professional psychotherapy practice can learn from the Jesuits: Introducing Ignatian spirituality informed therapy (I-SIT). Spirituality in Clinical Practice 11(2), 186-195.
Plante, T. G. (2024). Minding the gap: Spirituality in clinical practice during increased secularization and mental health needs, Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 11(1) 83-88.
Mangione, L., & Plante, T. G. (2024). Spirituality in clinical practice - Integrating who we are with what we do. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 11(1), 1-6.
Buenrostro, C. M., & Plante, T. G. (2024). A clinical trial of the Examen and mindfulness within a secular substance use disorder treatment program. The Journal of Addictions & Offender Counseling, 45, 36-54.
Rader, C., & Plante, T. G. (2024). Potential benefits of the Examen for psychological health and well-being: A pilot study. Pastoral Psychology, (75), 63-72.
Plante, T., & Peng, E. (2024). Use of the MMPI-3 with Catholic and Episcopal seminary and religious life applicants. Pastoral Psychology.
Plante, T. G. (2023). Ethical considerations in working with Roman Catholic seminarians and men and women in religious formation. Integratus: The Journal of the Catholic Psychotherapy Association, 1(4), 293-303.
Plante, T. G. (2023). What is Catholic psychotherapy and how should it move forward? Integratus: The Journal of the Catholic Psychotherapy Association, 1(1), 7-17 (invited lead paper).
Plante, T. G., Schwartz, G. E., Exline, J. Park, C., Paloutzian, R. F., Seitz, R. J., & Angel, H. F. (2023). Human interaction with the divine, the sacred, and the deceased: Topics that warrant increased attention by psychologists, Current Psychology.
Plante, T. G. (2023). Principles for managing burnout among Catholic Church professionals, Pastoral Psychology, 72(1), 23-31.
Plante, T. G. (2023). Religion has a public relations problem: Integrating evidence-based thinking into clinical practice. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 10(4) 358-363.
Eros, A., & Plante. T. G. (2023). The effects of centering prayer on well-being in a sample of undergraduate students: A pilot study. Pastoral Psychology, 72(5), 711-727.
- Plante, T. G. (2023). The world is a mess: Ethics might be our only hope. San Jose Mercury News, September 19, 2023.
- Plante, T. G. (2022). Scouting is in deep trouble but is needed more than ever: Closer inspecting suggests scouting provides critically important activities in challenging times. San Jose Mercury News, September 21, 2022.
- Plante, T. G. (2022). Adults acting like toddlers. Is this the new normal? What we can do to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem. San Jose Mercury News, January 7, 2022.
- Plante, T. G. (2021). Californians are heading back out into the world. Expect some bad behavior. San Francisco Chronicle, June 16, 2021. and KQED Perspectives
- Plante, T. G. (2020). Mental health challenges in ministry: A call for better collaboration. Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs, Georgetown University, May 22, 2020.
- Plante, T.G. & Schwartz, G.E. (2020). A “wakeup” virus for the modern age. Arizona Daily Star, March 17, 2020.