Last week I started an occasional series on “regular” people from my church who are serving God and ministering to people in their “regular” lives. This week’s interview is with Christine Durrett, a 31 year old mom who also works part-time as a clinical psychologist (read Q/A 7 for her helpful analysis of this field). Christine and her husband Tim are super nice. wicked smart, and passionate about reformed theology.
1. Where did you grow up?
Minneapolis, MN/Madison, WI
2. Tell us about your family.
My husband Tim is a biochemist and we have two small children: George (2) and Helen (7 months). I am very blessed with not only my immediate family- mom, sister and brother-in-law- but a huge extended family of whom nearly all are believers.
3. How did you become a Christian?
I grew up in a Christian home although my faith was fairly nominal until college. The churches I attended as a child and teen were pretty shallow in terms of theology. I went to church every week but that was about it; I’m not sure I could even have articulated the gospel in any clear way. During my freshman year of college a friend invited me to a PCA church and there I was introduced to a living, authentic, intellectually substantial faith- this was revolutionary to me. I’ve been passionate about reformed theology ever since.
4. Describe your current vocation and why you decided to do what you are doing.
I’m a clinical psychologist, currently spending much of my time doing neuropsychology which is conducting evaluations of people who have had head injuries, brain tumors, strokes, or other conditions causing cognitive problems such as dementia or MS. I also do psychotherapy. I didn’t exactly set out to do this work, it is best described as the net result of various opportunities that came my way over time. My first counseling position came when I accompanied a friend to an interview for a volunteer crisis line. I interviewed as well to kill the time while I was there, and was offered the position over my friend (oops). I should immediately add that I very much love what I do!
5. What are some of the blessings of your vocation?
In the best case scenario, my job is simply to disciple. It is very easy to have a sense of meaning and purpose in my line of work, and to see how it contributes to building God’s kingdom.
6. What are some of the challenges?
In the worst case scenario, I run into all kinds of ethical challenges, when certain behavioral or social issues come up in therapy with a nonbeliever (for example, a homosexual pair wanting couples counseling). Guilt over past behavior is also a very tricky one when working with someone who doesn’t believe in the concept of sin, or who wants to somehow salve his conscience without confession and repentance.
7. How is your commitment to Christ challenged, strengthened, and exercised in your vocation?
There are few professions with a historical and theoretical underpinning so antithetical to Christianity. Look at psychology’s founding fathers: Freud, Adler, Skinner, Ellis. All outspoken atheists. For that reason there are also relatively few Christians who enter the discipline. This is unfortunate because psychology, especially the science of psychology, has so much to offer the church and we ought not to fear it or dismiss it too easily. There is certainly a precarious intersection between psychology and faith that requires some very careful thinking, but when done properly the result can be to the benefit of the church. In my work, I find that I must constantly hold up what I have read and learned in graduate school against the measure of Scripture, keeping the good and the helpful, discarding the rest. It keeps me accountable and constantly growing in my faith. I also constantly witness the healing power of Christ, when in my work my believing clients do turn to their faith for strength.
8. How has your life and/or vocation been affected by the downturn in the economy?
Actually my practice has become unusually busy, it seems the economic problems have translated into increased depression and anxiety and thus more therapy referrals.
9. What is one thing you know now that you wish you knew when you were younger?
Only one?! Well, referring back to earlier comments, I wish someone had not assumed I was only capable of watered down versions of bible stories such as Noah and Daniel, and given me a catechism at, say, 10 or 12. That would have grabbed my attention far better than the various events sponsored by my youth group, generally involving lots of junk food, screaming, and getting dirty. Some of you who grew up in the western MI reformed culture are probably rolling your eyes at me right now.
10. Any good books you are currently reading or would recommend to others?
I used to be a voracious reader of all sorts of fiction but my spare time is so limited these days. I’ve just finished Revolutionary Parenting by George Barna and Everyday Talk: Talking Freely and Naturally about God with Your Children by John Younts, both were terrific.
