Multidisciplinary Team
A research team from a variety of disciplines drives the independent research into Grace Examined: Evaluating Gestalt Pastoral Care Spiritually Integrated Strategies For Clinical Effectiveness. We are pleased to introduce these highly qualified people to the general public.
Michael Crabtree, Ph.D., is principal investigator of the project. He is a licensed psychologist in Pennsylvania, a professor at Washington & Jefferson College in Pennsylvania, and a research principal investigator or associate in at least thirteen research projects, including principal investigator for the $5.9 million Combat Stress Intervention Program for the Department of Defense from 2007-2012. He has an impressive list of publications in peer-reviewed journals, general public outlets, books, and book chapters.
Mark Thomas, M.S., will lead the analysis of data collected through this research. A PhD student at the University of Pittsburgh in the field of Clinical and Biological Health Psychology, he has served as a clinical assistant and teaching assistant, presented at numerous conferences, has several manuscripts in the publication process, and received the Young Scholar Award by the American Psychosomatic Society in 2015.
Michelle Zechner, Ph.D., is serving as the mental health educator for the project and will take the lead in guiding the publication, publicity and dissemination areas. An assistant professor at Rutgers University, her area of expertise is psychiatric rehabilitation and counseling. She has served as principal investigator for three research projects, co-investigator for six projects, published nine articles in peer reviewed journals and two articles in technical publications.
Wanda Craner, M.Div. GPCM, is currently the President of the Board of Trustees of Gestalt Pastoral Care Associates, Inc. and is serving as the clergy and practitioner member of the multidisciplinary team, as well as the “champion” of the project. Rev. Craner is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ (UCC), served as Minister of Spiritual Nurture for the Penn Southeast Conference of the UCC for nineteen years, and was trained in Gestalt Pastoral Care by founder the Rev. Tilda Norberg over twenty years ago.
David Janvier, M.A., LPC, CST, GPCM, is the “site manager” of the project. Also serving as a research practitioner, he will coordinate the data collection, training, and ongoing support of GPC practitioners participating in the study. Mr. Janvier has contributed to the selection of local assessment tools for the project and will meet with practitioners multiple times throughout the research period to ensure consistent collection and reporting of data.
Lyn Barrett Bussian, MEd, MDiv, has served as the GPC grant writer, the research team facilitator, the Chair of the Communications Team and is currently the Research Publicity Coordinator. Lyn is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ as well as a certified spiritual director. In the past, she was an elementary school teacher in both public and private schools, as well as the Head of School and Principal in two different schools. Lyn has taken the GPC Foundation Class and is an avid supporter of GPC.
Sylvia Crocker, Ph.D., brings her expertise in Gestalt psychotherapy to the table. Dr. Crocker is a licensed Gestalt psychotherapist in Wyoming, has taught and written articles for an array of journals, and contributed to the definition of Gestalt therapy for this proposal. She is best known for her often-cited book entitled A Well-Loved Life: Essays in Gestalt Therapy, published by the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland, 1999.
It is with sadness we announce that Sylvia Crocker died on November 24, 2019. Dr. Crocker graciously and enthusiastically consented to be an advisory member of our research team. She will be greatly missed even as we celebrate her faith in the God who holds her in the palm of his hand. Well done, good and faithful servant, Sylvia Crocker.
Mary T. O’Neill, D.Min. brings her roots in pastoral care. Dr O’Neill is a Board Certified Chaplain and ACPE Supervisor (BCC-S) and currently serves as the President of the Board of the National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC). Among her varied career experiences, she ministered to the sick, destitute and dying in Calcutta, India, while working with Mother Teresa of Calcutta’s sisters.
“Christian discernment makes each of us more whole,
helps us follow Christ more truly, and enables us to love others more fully. ”