Dr. Jared Kass is a social scientist, educator, and mental health clinician. His prevention-oriented research focuses on methods to mentor psychospiritual maturation in emerging adults. The underlying purpose of this research is to strengthen a culture of health, social justice, and peace on our university campuses and in society.
His research demonstrates that a person-centered approach to psychospiritual maturation can help young adults develop psychological resilience and culturally-inclusive community-building skills.
Current Professional Positions:
- Director, Institute for Psychospiritual Maturation, Greenhouse: A Human Development Resource Center, MA
- Professor, Division of Counseling and Psychology, Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences, Lesley University, MA
- Visiting Scholar, Benson-Henry Institute for Mind-Body Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA
Previous Visiting and Consulting Appointments:
- Staff Member with Dr. Carl Rogers, Person-Centered Approach Project, Center for Studies of the Person, CA
- Visiting Lecturer on Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Section on Behavioral Medicine, Beth Israel and New England Deaconess Hospitals (conducting research with Dr. Herbert Benson), MA
- Center Associate, Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Prevention (funded by USDOE), MA
- Fellow, Center for Contemplative Mind in Society, MA
- Visiting Scholar, Danielsen Institute, Boston University, MA
- Visiting Scholar, Episcopal Divinity School, MA
- Coordinator, Boston Clergy and Religious Leaders Group for Interfaith Dialogue, MA
During four decades of work as a psychotherapist, teacher, and social scientist, Dr. Kass has built conceptual and methodological bridges between the fields of mental health practice, prevention-oriented behavioral medicine, social justice pedagogy, higher education, and spirituality/religion.
As a faculty member and clinical supervisor, Dr. Kass teaches an integrative reformulation of humanistic psychology that helps professionals develop person-centered, culturally-competent, trauma-informed, mind-body-spirit approaches to behavioral health. This integration includes contributions from feminist, multicultural, cognitive-behavioral, existential, somatic, and attachment-oriented psychodynamic approaches in psychotherapy.
Dr. Kass has developed research and assessment instruments for use in health psychology, positive psychology, and contemplative psychology:
- Inventory of Positive Psychological Attitudes (IPPA) measuring a resilient worldview, Confidence in Life and Self
- Index of Core Spiritual Experiences (INSPIRIT) measuring subjectively-meaningful experiences commonly reported by meditators (novice-to-advanced)
Selected publications:
Books, Chapters, and Monographs:
Kass, J. (2017) A person-centered approach to psychospiritual maturation: Mentoring psychological resilience and inclusive community in higher education. New York, NY: Palgrave MacMillan
Kass, J. & Trantham, S. (2014) Perspectives from clinical neuroscience: Mindfulness and the therapeutic use of the arts. In, L. Rappaport (Ed.) Mindfulness and the creative arts therapies: Theory and practice. London, UK: Jessica Kingsley.
Kass, J. (2007) God images as indwelling spirit and core foundation of self. In, P. Hegy (Ed.) What do we imagine God to be? The function of “God images” in our lives. Lampeter, Wales, UK: Edwin Mellen Press.
Kass, J. & Lennox, S. (2005) Emerging models of spiritual development: A foundation for mature, moral, and health-promoting behavior. In, W.R. Miller & H.D. Delaney (Eds.) Judeo-Christian perspectives on psychology: Human nature, motivation and change. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.
Kass, J., Kass, L., (2000). Manual for the Spirituality and Resilience Assessment Packet. Behavioral Health Initiative Monograph. Cambridge, MA: Greenhouse Psychotherapy Associates.
Kass, J. (1998). The Inventory of Positive Psychological Attitudes: Measuring attitudes that buffer stress and facilitate primary prevention using constructs responsive to diverse cultural worldviews. In, C. Zalaquett & R. Wood (Ed.) Evaluating stress: A book of resources, Volume 2. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press/University Press of America.
Kass, J. (1995). Contributions of religious experience to psychological and physical well-being: Research evidence and an explanatory model. In, L. VandeCreek (Ed.), Spiritual needs and pastoral services: Readings in research. Decatur, GA: Journal of Pastoral Care Publications.
Professional Journals:
Kass, J., Baxter, J., Lennox, S. (2015) Mentoring person-centered spiritual maturation: A quasi-experimental, mixed methods study of a contemplative self-inquiry curriculum. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 55(4): 474-503.
Kass, J. (2015) Person-centered spiritual maturation: A multidimensional model. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 55(1): 53-76.
Aldinger, C., Zhang, X.W., Liu, L.Q., Pan, X.D., Yu, S.H., Jones, J., Kass, J. (2008) Changes in attitudes, knowledge and behavior associated with implementing a comprehensive school health program in a province of China. Health Education Research. doi: 10.1093/her/cyn022
Kass, J. (2007) Spiritual maturation: A developmental resource for resilience, well-being, and peace. Journal of Pedagogy, Pluralism, and Practice, Summer, 3(4): 1-19.
Hoshmand, L., Kass, J. (2003) Conceptual and action frameworks for peace. International Journal for the Advancement of Counseling, 25 (4): 205-213.
Kass, J. (1996). Coping with life-threatening illnesses using a logotherapeutic approach, Stage II: Clinical mental health counseling. International Forum for Logotherapy, 19(2): 113-118.
Kass, J. (1996). Coping with life-threatening illnesses using a logotherapeutic approach, Stage I: Health care team interventions. International Forum for Logotherapy, 19(1): 15-19.
Kass, J., Friedman, R., Leserman, J., Caudill, M., Zuttermeister, P., Benson, H. (l991). An inventory of positive psychological attitudes with potential relevance to health outcomes: Validation and preliminary testing. Behavioral Medicine, Fall, 17(3):121-129.
Kass, J., Friedman, R., Leserman, J., Zuttermeister, P., Benson, H. (l991). Health outcomes and a new measure of spiritual experience. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 30(2): 203-211.
Kass, J., (1985). The use of person-centered expressive therapies in the health professions. Brennpunkt, Schweizerische Gesellschaft fur Gesprachspsychotherapie und person-zentrierte Beratung, (Switzerland) 24:20-33.
Rogers, C.R., Bowen, M., Justyn, J., Kass, J., Miller, M., Rogers, N., Wood, J. (1978). Evolving aspects of person-centered workshops. Self and Society (Great Britain), 6:2, 43-49.
Educational Background:
- Amherst College, B.A. magna cum laude, Independent Scholar (1969)
- Union for Experimenting Colleges and Universities, Ph.D. Psychology and Education (1975)
- Danforth Foundation Fellowship for Graduate Studies
- Woodrow Wilson Foundation Fellowship for Graduate Studies (Designate)
Member:
- Phi Beta Kappa Society
- Association for Contemplative Mind in Higher Education
- American Psychological Association
- American Mental Health Counselors Association
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