John Poston
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John Poston

Associate Professor of Psychology

DepartmentRosemead School of Psychology
Biola AffiliationsFaculty

Documents

CV Document (PDF)

Degrees

  • PhD, Purdue University
  • MS, Western Carolina University
  • BA, Bryan College

Biography

John Poston teaches courses related to personality theory, psychodynamic theory, psychological assessment and the empirical foundations of psychotherapy. He completed his doctorate in counseling psychology at Purdue University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in clinical psychology at Albany Medical College/Albany Medical Center, which emphasized psychodynamic psychotherapy and assessment. His current research and teaching interests include psychodynamic psychotherapy, psychological testing, and the integration of psychology and theology (e.g., God Image, Attachment to God). Dr. Poston is also a licensed psychologist who maintains a small clinical practice at the Biola Counseling Center. John lives with his wife and their four children in La Mirada, CA.

Affiliations

  • American Psychological Association
  • American Psychological Association, Division 39 (Psychoanalysis)
  • American Psychological Association, Division 36 (Religion & Spirituality)
  • Society for Exploration of Psychoanalytic Therapies and Theology

Awards

Awards

  • Psychoanalytic Scholars Program – Early Career Professionals, APA Division 39, 2016-2017.

Grants

  • Wang, D.C., Reed, A.H., Rudy-Froese, A., Lattimore, V., Lee, D., Kim, C. L., Walker, B., Bee, R., Canada, A., & Poston, J. M. (2018-2019). An empirical, mixed-methods investigation into the prevalence and impact of shame on the spiritual life and financial behavior of seminary students. Lilly Endowment. Funded: $27,500.
  • Wang, D. C., Canada, A. L., & Poston, J. M. (2016-2018). The multifaceted impact of graduate school debt on seminary students. Lilly Endowment. Funded: $44,586.

Publications

Selected Publications

  • Poston, J. M., & Bland, E. (2020). Not just anything goes: Psychoanalytic psychotherapy competencies in psychology doctoral programs. Psychoanalytic Psychology, 37, 62-73. doi: https://doi.org/10.1037/pap0000209
  • Ridenour, J. M., Lewis, K. C., Poston, J. M., & Ciecalone, D. N. (2019). Performance-based assessment of social cognition in borderline versus psychotic psychopathology. Rorschachiana, 40(2), 95-111. doi: https://doi.org/10.1027/1192-5604/a000114
  • Cozen, J., Hanson, W. E., Poston, J. M., Jones, S., & Tabit, M. (2016). The Beliefs, Events, and Values Inventory (BEVI): Integrative implications and therapeutic assessment applications across settings and populations. In C. N. Shealy (Ed.), Making sense of beliefs and values (pp. 575-621). New York, NY: Springer.
  • Clemence, A. J., Tillman, J., & Poston, J. M. (2015). How to include analytic patients in research and how this affects treatment. Psychoanalytic Inquiry, 35(Supp1), 135-149. doi: 10.1080/07351690.2015.987599
  • Poston, J. M., Hanson, W. E., & Schwiebert, V. (2012). The relationship between episodic and dispositional forgiveness, psychosocial development, and counseling. Counseling and Values, 57, 181-198.
  • Hanson, W. E., & Poston, J. M. (2011). Building confidence in psychological assessment as a therapeutic intervention: An empirically based reply to Lilienfeld, Garb, and Wood (2011). Psychological Assessment, 23, 1056-1062.
  • Merker, B. M., Hanson, W. E., & Poston, J. M. (2010). National survey of psychologists’ training and practice in breaking bad news: A mixed methods study of the MUM Effect. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 17, 211-219.
  • Poston, J. M., & Hanson, W. E. (2010). Meta-analysis of psychological assessment as a therapeutic intervention. Psychological Assessment, 22, 203-212.

Presentations

Selected Presentations

  • Poston, J. M., Bland, E., & Edwards, K. (2019, August). Research and clinical perspectives on using progress monitoring measures in psychoanalytic therapy. Presented at the APA Annual Convention (Division 39 - Psychoanalysis), Chicago, IL.
  • Skonhovd, C. M., Poston, J. M., & Wang, D. C. (2019, August). Childhood experiences in church of origin as predictors of adult attachment to God. Poster session presented at the APA Annual Convention (Division 36 - Religion and Spirituality), Chicago, IL.
  • She, K. T., Wang, D. C., Canada, A. L., & Poston, J. M. (2018, August). God attachment as a moderator of the relationship between financial stress and depression and anxiety among graduate students in seminary. Poster session presented at the APA Annual Convention (Division 36 - Religion and Spirituality), San Francisco, CA.
  • Bland, E., & Poston, J. M. (2016, November). Defining psychoanalytic psychotherapy competence: Challenges, opportunities, and recent developments. Plenary session presented at the Austen Riggs Center Working Conference on Psychodynamic Clinical Training, Stockbridge, MA.
  • Bland, E., & Poston, J. M. (2016, August). Implementing psychoanalytic competencies in psychology graduate programs. Presented at the APA Annual Convention (Division 39 – Psychoanalysis), Denver, CO.
  • Wang, A., Wang, D.C., Edwards, K. J., & Poston, J. (2016, August). The role of spiritual struggle and attachment in emerging adults’ adjustment to parental divorce. Poster session presented at the APA Annual Convention (Division 36 – Religion and Spirituality), Denver, CO.
  • Poston, J. M., & Hanson, W. E. (2010, August). Meta-analysis of psychological assessment as a therapeutic intervention. Poster session presented at the national conference of the American Psychological Association, San Diego, CA.
  • Poston, J. M., Hanson, W. E., & Schwiebert, V. (2010, August). The role of episodic and dispositional forgiveness in psychotherapy and psychosocial development. Poster session presented at the national conference of the American Psychological Association, San Diego, CA.
  • Poston, J. M., & Hanson, W. E. (2009, March). Psychological assessment as a therapeutic intervention: An integrated literature review. Poster session presented at the Great Lakes Conference for the Society of Counseling Psychology, Muncie, IN.
  • Poston, J. M. (2007, November). Forgiveness: Current research and counseling implications. Presented at the National Assessment Conference for the Association for Assessment in Counseling and Education (AACE), Atlanta, GA.

Research Interests

  • Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
  • Psychological Assessment
  • Integration of Psychology & Theology

Courses

  • Measurement and Assessment III: Rorschach
  • History of Psychoanalytic Thought
  • Evidence Based Practice: Beyond Treatment Manuals
  • Theories of Personality

Areas of Expertise for Media Interviews

  • Counseling
  • Mental Disorders
  • Psychology
  • Psychotherapy
  • Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy
  • Rorschach Inkblot Method
  • God Image
  • Attachment to God
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