Rev. Dr Stephen Muse

Adjunct Professor in Pastoral Psychology and Counselling

Education:

BA (Philosophy) Davidson College

MDiv Princeton Theological Seminary

MS, PhD (Counselling Psychology, Pastoral) Loyola College of Maryland

LMFT University of Georgia

Rev. Dr Stephen Muse is a bi-vocational priest in the Greek Orthodox Church with an active independent practice in pastoral psychotherapy, life coaching and clinical supervision. He directed the Pastoral Counselor Training program at the Pastoral Institute, Inc. in Columbus, GA for 21 years. He has held faculty positions in numerous seminaries and universities, most recently as an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioural Science and Bioethics and Medical Humanities at Mercer University School of Medicine (2021-2025). He has led workshops and retreats throughout the US and internationally, as well as offering lectures at St Tikhons, St Vladimir’s, Kottayam Seminary in Kerala, India and the Holy Cross School of Theology. For 25 years he directed the nationally recognised Clergy-in-Kairos program, a personalised week-long out-patient intensive for clergy (and spouse) renewal. He has published more than 60 articles and is the author/editor of many books including When Hearts Become Flame, which is considered essential reading in the field of Orthodox theology and counselling.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS:

(2023)        The Most Important Question, Alhambra, CA: Sebastian Press

(2022)        Parenting In Repentance: Growing Together in Love, Gratefulness, and Joy, Alhambra, CA: Sebastian Press.

(2021)        “Shame and Overcoming the Mechanisms of Defense in response to sin and trauma: Reflections on psychoanalysis and Orthodox Christianity as “cures of love” in Soul and Psyche as a Surprise: Psychoanalysis and Orthodox Theology in Dialogue, Eudoxia Delli and Vasileios Thermos, (Eds), Alhambra,CA: Sebastian Press

(2019)        Words Into Spirit: Pastoral Perspectives on Confession, Thermos, V. and Muse, S. (eds.) Waymart, PA: St. Tikhon’s Monastery Press.

(2019)        “Whatever Happened to Saints Kosmas and Damian: Sustaining the Healing Partnership Under Increasing Demands of Corporate Interests,” in Compliance and Resistance: Discerning the Spirit, Mamalakis, P. Burg, J., Woroncow, H. (eds). Serbia: Sebastian Press

(2019)        Muse, S. “Quality Care and the Soul of the Physician,” J Fam Med Dis Prev, Vol. 5(3), 2019, 5:102, DOI: 10.23937/2469-5793/1510102

(2018)        Pain, Suffering & Resiliency: Orthodox Christian Perspectives, Muse, S., Berg, J, Woroncow, H. (eds.), Alhambra, CA: Sebastian Press.

(2018)        Muse, S, “The Resilient Physician: Sustaining the Healing Partnership,” Mental Health and Addiction Research [MHAR], Online ISSN: 2398-5380, Vol. 3(1), 1-8. DOI: 10.15761/MHAR.1000151

(2016)        Caregivers as Confessors and Healers. Muse, S., Berg, J., Woroncow, H. (eds.), Witchita, Kansas: Eighth Day Institute .

(2016)        “Empathic Encounter and Spiritual Struggle in the Trialogue of the Healing Relationship.” Muse, S, Berg, J, Woroncow, H. (eds.) Caregivers as Confessors and Healers. Witchita, Kansas: Eighth Day Institute.