Marie Hoffman, Ph.D.
Psychoanalysis and Religion
Over the last decade, sensing the deep lack of dialogue between the disciplines of psychoanalysis and religion, I have published articles on their intersection, focusing on the enrichment these disciplines can bring to each other. In 2006, I had the honor of being named Stephen Mitchell Scholar, and have been a visiting professor at Rosemead School of Psychology and Fuller Theological Seminary as well as a visiting lecturer at Wheaton Graduate School.
BOOKS
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Ever since its nascent days, psychoanalysis has enjoyed an uneasy coexistence with religion. However, in recent decades, many analysts have been more interested in the healing potential of both psychoanalytic and religious experience and have explored how their respective narrative underpinnings may be remarkably similar.
In Toward Mutual Recognition, Marie T. Hoffman takes just such an approach. Coming from a Christian perspective, she suggests that the current relational turn in psychoanalysis has been influenced by numerous theorists - analysts and philosophers alike - who were themselves shaped by an embedded Christian narrative. As a result, the redemptive concepts of incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection - central to the tenets of Christianity - can be traced to relational theories, emerging analogously in the transformative process of mutual recognition in the concepts of identification, surrender, and gratitude, a trilogy which she develops as forming the "path of recognition." Each movement on this path of recognition is given thought-provoking, in-depth attention. Chapters dedicated to theoretical perspectives utilize the thinking of Benjamin, Hegel, and Ricoeur. In her historical perspectives, she explores the personal and professional histories of analysts such as Sullivan, Fairbairn, Winnicott, Erikson, Kohut, and Ferenczi, among others, who were influenced by the Christian narrative. Uniting it all together is the clinical perspective offered in the compelling extended case history of Mandy, a young lady whose treatment embodies and exemplifies each of the steps along the path of growth in both the psychoanalytic and Christian senses. Throughout, a relational sensibility is deployed as a cooperative counterpart to the Christian narrative, working both as a consilient dialogue and a vehicle for further integrative exploration. As a result, the specter of psychoanalysis and religion as mutually exclusive gives way to the hope and redemption offered by their mutual recognition. _______________________________________________ For more than one hundred years, North American Christians have been choosing one of two stories about the gospel of Jesus Christ. One story, often referred to as the "true gospel," holds forth a narrative that this world is a "sinking ship" without possibility of redemption. For adherents to the "true gospel," human suffering in this life is mostly a distraction to be ignored, for all that truly matters is to "win souls for Jesus" so that as many as possible can be assured of eternal life. The other story, known by many as the "social gospel," holds that the gospel of Jesus promises a new beginning in this life that includes the possibility for abundant life in this present world. Followers of this story devote themselves to alleviating human suffering and working for charity and peace. Prior to the Civil War, these two stories--of salvation in this life and salvation in the life to come--were one, never to be separated, together comprising the good news of Jesus Christ. When the Roll is Called recounts the traumatic tearing asunder of this beautiful good news and offers hope for the restoration of a whole gospel. |
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
2008 Postdoctoral Certificate in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis
Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis
(Stephen A. Mitchell Scholar, 2006)
New York University
New York, NY
1989 Doctor of Philosophy
Clinical Psychology
Specialization: Psychoanalysis, Psychodrama
Union Institute
Cincinnati, OH
1985 Master of Science
Counseling and Human Relations
Villanova University
Villanova, PA
1974 Bachelor of Arts in Religion
Bob Jones University
Greenville, SC
PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE
Licensed Psychologist in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Licensed Psychologist in Florida
Licensed Psychologist in New York State (Inactive)
Certified Psychoanalyst
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Pennsylvania Psychological Association
Christian Association for Psychological Studies
Division 39, Psychoanalysis, American Psychological Association
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2015 – 2020 Editor, Psyche and Soul Book Series, Routledge Books, London, UK.
April, 2015 Visiting lecturer, Union Theological Seminary, Pamela Cooper-White interview.
January, 2015
- present Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology (Adjunct) New York
University Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and
Psychoanalysis, NY, NY
September, 2011-2019 Founder, Co-Director, Faculty, Supervisor: Brookhaven Institute for Psychoanalysis
and Christian Theology (BIPACT) ,Allentown, PA
September, 2011- 2017 Member Steering Committee, Psychology and the Other
Conference, Cambridge, MA.
April, 2008 – 2020. Christian Association for Psychological Studies,
Psychoanalysis Track founder and consultant.
January, 2007 - 2015 Adjunct Professor, Rosemead Graduate School
of Psychology, La Mirada, CA.
March, 2007 - 2020 Founder, Co-Director, Society for the Exploration of
Psychoanalytic Therapies and Theology (SEPTT)
October, 2006 – 2016 Visiting Lecture, Wheaton Graduate School
of Psychology. Wheaton, IL.
Fall, 2001 Adjunct Professor of Psychology.
Alliance Theological Seminary
New York, NY
Fall, 1992 Adjunct Professor of Psychology
Lehigh County Community College
Schnecksville, PA
1988 – Present Clinical Psychologist, Co-Director, Supervisor
Brookhaven Center for Counseling & Development
Allentown, PA 18195
SELECT PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
June, 2025 "The God Who is There: Development of the Capacity for Prayer in Therapist and
Patient. "Ology" Series. Summer 2025. The Center for Integrative Counseling and
Psychology, Dallas, TX.
2024 Monthly on-line study group: G. Atlas’ Emotional Inheritance and seminal associated
articles. Fogelsville, PA. Hoffman, M. & Hoffman, L.
2023 Faith: Through, in, and to an “Other,” EMCAPP Journal, 20, 34 - 48. [European
Movement for Christian Anthropology, Psychology, and Psychotherapy
Hoffman, M. & Hoffman, L.
2023 Monthly on-line study group: Seminal contributions from
Freud and Ferenczi to Mitchel and Aron. Fogelsville, PA. Hoffman, M. & Hoffman, L.
Spring, 2021. Christian origins of British object relations theory and
practice, Graduate psychology seminar, Lee University, Cleveland, TN.
Hoffman, M. & Hoffman, L.
March, 2020 “Transcendence and Immanence in Contemporary sychotherapies:
Trends, Tensions, and Treatment." Jour. of Psy. and Theo. 48/ 239-254
Spring, 2020 “Christianity and Psychoanalysis: Orienting View and Augmenting Modality.”
Psychoanalytic Inquiry, 40:6, 395-407.
May, 2019 “Finding Place for Religion: A Discussion of Lisa Cataldo’s ‘Where God is Between Us:
Religious Experience, Surrender, and the Third in Clinical Perspective’”,
Psychoanalytic Perspectives, 16:2,149-157.
Winter, 2019 “Born to Relate: In Trauma, In Transformation, In Transcendence. In” Crisp, T, Porter,
S, & Ten Elshof, G. Psychology and Spiritual Formation in Dialogue. Downer’s
Grove, IL IVP Academic.
August, 2018 Workshop: “Christianity and Psychoanalysis.” Society for
Christian Psychology with Marek Macek. Prague, Czech Republic.
July, 2018 Director/Organizer, Oskar Pfister Conference, Hotel Mirabeau,
Lausanne, Switzerland.
June, 2018 “Glimpses Into the Consultation Room of a Trump Country Analyst.”
IARPP conference, NY, NY.
June 2018 Brookhaven Institute Summer Intensive, Gryon, Switzerland.
Summer, 2018 With Lowell Hoffman: “The Rhythm of Redemption: On Our. Relationship with the
Holy Spirit in Clinical Work.” Emcapp Journal, No. 11, pp. 124-133. European
Movement for Christian Anthropology, Psychology, and Psychotherapy.
July, 2017 Brookhaven Institute Summer Intensive, Villabri, Fogelsville, PA.
Summer, 2017 With Lowell Hoffman: “Comment to ‘A Few Sayings on Pride.” Emcapp Journal, No.
10, pp. 122-124. European Movement for Christian Anthropology, Psychology, and
Psychotherapy.
October, 2016 When the Roll is Called: Trauma and the Soul of American Evangelicalism. Eugene,
Oregon: Cascade.
August, 2015 “Beyond Alterity: The Path to Gratitude.” In Goodman, D. & Freeman, M. (Eds).
Psychology and the Other: A Dialogue at the Crossroad of an Emerging Field.
London: Oxford.
September, 2014 “The Welcome Return of the Suppressed: Religion and Psychoanalysis in Dialogue”
. In Stavros, G. & Sandage, S. The Skillful Soul of the Psychotherapist: The Link
Between Spirituality and Clinical Excellence. New York: Rowman & Littlefield.
July, 2014 Brookhaven Institute for Psychoanalysis and Christian Theology Summer Intensive.
April, 2013 Course--NYU Postdoctoral Program: Contemporary
Psychoanalysis and the Christian Narrative. NY, NY.
February, 2013 Fuller Integration Lectures, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA
July 2012 Brookhaven Institute for Psychoanalysis and Christian Theology
Summer Intensive – July 18-26.
December, 2012 “W. R. D. Fairbairn: Religion and the Relational Turn” Book
chapter in Clarke and Scharff, Fairbairn. London: Karnac.
October, 2012 Danielson Institute Symposium on Spirituality. Respondent to
Nancy McWilliams
June 2012 International Ferenczi Conference: Faces of Trauma. “Between
Trauma and Transcendence: A historical, theoretical, and clinical
case presentation.”
March, 2012 Workshop presentation “Relational Psychoanalysis and the
Christian Narrative.” CAPS, Washington, DC.
March, 2012 Panel presentation “Between Bloopers and Blunders: Ethics
In the Consultation Room.” CAPS, Washington, DC
March, 2012 Paper Presentation “Beyond Alterity: The Path to Gratitude”.
CAPS, Washington, DC.
September, 2011 Invited Speaker: “Beyond Alterity: The Path to Gratitude.”
Psychology and the Other Conference, Cambridge, MA.
September, 2011 Seminar lecturer: “Toward Mutual Recognition: Relational
Psychoanalysis and the Christian Narrative.” Seattle School
of Psychology and Theology, Seattle, WA.
June, 2011 Visiting Lecturer, Rewley House Association, Oxford
University, Oxford, UK
June, 2011 “Meet the Author”. IARPP. Madrid, Spain.
June, 2011 “From Sacred Narrative to Intersubjectivity: Musings on
Hegel, Benjamin and Ricoeur.” IARPP, Madrid, Spain.
April, 2011 “From Calvinism to Kierkegaard: The Unformulated Role
Of Religious Narratives in the Life and Work of Sandor
Ferenczi. Paper. Division 39, American Psychological
Association Conference. New York, NY.
April, 2011 “Meet the Author.” Presenter. Division 39, American
Psychological Association Conference. New York, NY
March, 2011 “Mentors in Integration” selected speaker. Christian
Association for Psychological Studies. Indianapolis, IN
March, 2011 “On Gratitude.” Paper. Christian Association for
Psychological Studies. Indianapolis, IN
March, 2011 Plenary Address. Christian Association for Psychological
Studies. Indianapolis, IN
December, 2010 Toward Mutual Recognition: Relational Psychoanalysis
and the Christian Narrative. Routledge Publishing,
Relational Perspectives Book Series.
Summer, 2010 “The Case of Mr. P.” Jour. of Psychology and Theology.
Vol 29, (2), pp. 104-108.
Summer, 2010 “Incarnation, Crucifixion, and Resurrection in
Psychoanalytic Thought.” Jour. of Psychology and
Theology. Vol 29, (2), pp. 121-129.
Summer, 2010 “On Christianity, Psychoanalysis and the Hope of Eternal
Return.” Jour. of Psychology and Theology. Vol 29, (2), pp.
104-108.
July, 2010 Fourth annual SEPTT retreat, Fogelsville, PA
August, 2009 Third annual SEPTT retreat, Fogelsville, PA
February, 2009 Clinic symposium: “No Cultural Self-State Left Behind.” NYU
Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis
Winter, 2008 “Transformation: Religion and Psychoanalysis in Dialogue”
Special issue of Psychoanalytic Inquiry. Journal co-editor.
November, 2008.
August, 2008 Second annual SEPTT retreat, Fogelsville, PA
July, 2008 “Fairbairn and Winnicott on my mind: Counterpoints,
tensions and oscillations in the clinical setting.
Contemporary Psychoanalysis. 44(3), 454-475.
June 2008 Commencement Speaker
NYU Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy
And Psychoanalysis.
June, 2008 “The Case of Mandy” Colloquium presentation
NYU Extern class, Postdoctoral Program in
Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis.
April, 2008 “Minding Incarnation: A Step-by-Step Case Study in
Relational Psychodynamic Integration.” Panel Presenter:
“Enactment: rupture and repair.” Conference of the
Christian Association for Psychological Studies,
Phoenix, AZ.
April, 2008 “Doctor, I Had a Dream Last Night.” Pre-conference
Workshop. Conference of the Christian Association for
Psychological Studies, Phoenix, AZ.
April, 2008 “The Unfolding of Love in the Works of Kristeva and
Levinas.” Panel Discussant: “On Consilience and Its
Clinical Application.” Conference for the Christian
Association for Psychological Studies, Phoenix,
AZ.
February, 2008 “Grace and Sexuality.” Workshop Presentation to
Conference of Reformed Churches. Reading, PA.
August, 2007 First annual Society for Study of the Psychoanalytic
Therapies and Theology (SEPTT) weekend conference.
Co-Director and Presenter. Fogelsville, PA
June, 2007 Online Colloquium. Society for Study of the Psycho-
analytic Therapies and Theology (SEPTT).
Discussant of Stephen Mitchell paper “Object relations
theories and the developmental tilt.”
March, 2007 “From Libido to Love: Relational Psychoanalysis and the
Redemption of Sexuality.” Presenter. Christian
Association for Psychological Studies, Philadelphia, PA
March, 2007 “Tearing down dividing walls.” Panel Presenter. Christian
Association for Psychological Studies, Philadelphia, PA
March, 2007 “From libido to love: Relational psychoanalysis and the
redemption of sexuality.” Journal of Psychology and
Theology. 35 (1), pp. 74- 86.
April, 2006 “From Illusion to Synergy?: Psychoanalysis, Spirituality,
and Religion in Dialogue” Roundtable Discussion,
Psychoanalytic Perspectives. 4, (1), pp. 1-48.
April, 2006 “Reply to Commentaries: ‘Other-less’, ‘Other-more’,
‘Other-like’.” Psychoanalytic Perspectives. 4, (1),
pp. 83-87.
April, 2006 “Fairbairn and Winnicott on My Mind: Counterpoints,
Tensions, and Oscillations in the Clinical Setting.”
Presenter, American Psychological Association, Division
39, Philadelphia, PA.
March, 2006 “CAPS and Psychoanalysis: A Fifty Year Relationship
Reviewed and Reaffirmed.” Discussant, Christian
Association for Psychological Studies Conference
Cleveland, OH.
March, 2005 “From Enemy Combatant to Strange Bedfellow: The Role
of Religious Narratives in the Work of W.R.D. Fairbairn
and D.W. Winnicott.” Presenter, Christian Association for
Psychological Studies, Dallas, TX.
December, 2004 “From Enemy Combatant to Strange Bedfellow: The Role
of Religious Narratives in the Work of W.R.D. Fairbairn
and D.W. Winnicott”. Psychoanalytic Dialogues, 14 (6),
pp. 769-804.
April, 2004 “From Enemy Combatant to Strange Bedfellow: The Role
of Religious Narratives in the Work of W.R.D. Fairbairn
and D.W. Winnicott”. Panelist, “Religion at the
Crossroads of Culture”, American Psychological
Association Division 39, Miami, FL.
April, 2004 “On the Virtue of Agnosticism in the Treatment of
Religiously-Committed Patients”. Panelist, “Religion and
Psychoanalysis”, American Psychological Association
Division 39, Miami, FL.
March, 2004 “Religious Narratives in the Work of D.W. Winnicott”.
The Wesley Theological Society, Rochester, NY.
December, 2003 “From Enemy Combatant to Strange Bedfellow: The Role
of Religious Narratives in the Work of W.R.D. Fairbairn
and D.W. Winnicott”. American Academy of
Psychoanalysis and Dynamic Psychiatry, Chapel Hill, NC.
November, 2002 “Continuities and Discontinuities Between Psychoanalysis
and the Judeo-Christian Narrative”. New York University
Postdoctoral Weekend, panelist, seminar on “Spirituality