John Chirban

Professor and Chair of the Human Development Program 

 

BA, Hellenic College and MDiv, Holy Cross School of Theology

ThM and ThD, Harvard University 

PhD, Boston University 

 

Dr. John Chirban maintains special interest in integrative studies of medicine, psychology, and religion.  He serves as professor of psychology and chairman of the Human Development Program.  His current research includes a national study in cooperation with Dr. Phil McGraw on the impact of divorce of children and parents.  Also, following an extensive research project with B. F. Skinner on psychology and religion, he is completing a psychohistory based on extensive recorded interviews compiled over a twenty-year period.  Dr. Chirban is a clinical instructor in psychology at Harvard Medical School at The Cambridge Health Alliance, and, in 2003, he was named Senior Fellow at the Center for the Study of World Religions at Harvard University. 

His recent books include How to Talk with Your Kids about Sex (Thomas Nelson, 2012); Holistic Healing in Byzantium (Holy Cross Press, 2010); What’s Love Got to Do with IT? (Thomas Nelson, 2007); True Coming of Age—A Dynamic Process that leads to Emotional Well-Being, Spiritual Growth, and Meaningful Relationships (McGraw-Hill, 2004); Raised in Glory:  Orthodox Understandings of Death, Resurrection, and Immortality (Holy Cross Press, 2002); Sickness or Sin? Spiritual Discernment and Differential Diagnosis (Holy Cross Press).  Dr. Chirban authors many academic and trade publications and maintains active involvement in research projects in conjunction with his work at Harvard Medical School concerning spirituality and psychotherapy that bridge academic, research, and professional counseling activities at Hellenic College.  Dr. Chirban serves as Director of the Institute of Medicine, Psychology, and Religion in Cambridge, MA and has served on the Advisory Board for the Dr. Phil Show since its inception. 

 

Curriculum Vitae pdf

 

Courses:

• Counseling Psychology
• Counseling and Psychotherapy
• The Psychology of Love
• The Person of Christ
• Faith and Health
• Scripture and Psychology
• General Psychology
• Death and Dying
• Practicum in Human Development