Resources

Reading List

A collection of books on Catholic faith and mental health practice, curated by ICATC. The list will be added to as the conference approaches.

Conrad Baars

Born Only Once: The Miracle of Affirmation

A foundational text on emotional deprivation and the role of affirmation in healing, rooted in Thomistic personalism — essential reading in Catholic psychotherapy.

Gregory Popcak

Unworried: A Life without Anxiety

Blends CBT-style tools with Catholic spirituality. Accessible and client-friendly — a good recommendation for clients looking for faith-integrated tools for managing anxiety.

Bishop Erik Varden

Chastity: Reconciliation of the Senses

Philosophical and spiritual reflections by a Trappist bishop on the integration of desire and embodiment — useful for practitioners working with clients on questions of sexuality, embodiment, or spiritual formation.

Benedict J. Groeschel

Spiritual Passages: The Psychology of Spiritual Development

A blend of psychology and spiritual growth by a Franciscan friar and psychologist, helpful for understanding stages of spiritual life alongside emotional development.

Julienne McLean

Towards Mystical Union

A psychologically astute commentary on St Teresa of Avila's Interior Castle, written by a Catholic psychotherapist.

Julienne McLean

The Diamond Heart: Jungian Psychology and the Christian Mystical Tradition

Brings Jungian insight into conversation with Christian mysticism — useful for practitioners drawn to depth work or symbolic material.