The Missouri attorney general and state Committee of Psychologists will soon have to decide what a Christian psychologist can and cannot do in practice. In 1985, the state committee gave Springfield psychologist Thomas DeVol sanction to advertise himself as a "Christian psychologist." DeVol is a member of the Assemblies of God, and sought to define himself for clients. A June 1985 letter from the committee said, "In response to your questions regarding your advertising that you are a Christian psychologist and accept the Bible as the moral standard of behavior, the Committee agreed that you may state this in advertisements."
Now DeVol finds himself facing charges of attempting "to convince (a client) that demon possession existed and there were demons in her family." This conduct, Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon claims, "fails to meet the standard of care for providing professional psychological services."
Nixon claims such behavior violates a statute requiring psychologists to "maintain competency ... in the areas in which s/he practices ... in conformance with current standards of scientific and professional knowledge."
Nixon's suit also charges DeVol with improper billing practices and release of confidential patient information, incompetent use of psychological assessment techniques and charging excessive fees, among other charges. Any of them may cause him to lose his license in his November hearing.
But it is DeVol's belief in demonic possession that has area Christians watching this case. In other states, psychologists have lost their licenses because of casting out demons.
Scott Holste, Nixon's press liaison, said the office will have no comment. "I think the charges speak for themselves."
DeVol says his training as a Christian therapist led him to the casting out of demons. He said one of the complainants to the state came to him for 137 sessions and didn't find a problem with the treatment before she acknowledged a life situation she had kept secret, and didn't want to be confronted with that problem. "And it's sad for her, because she really is in the possession of this demon, and she won't get the treatment she needs."
The question before the state is, what is a licensed "Christian" therapist allowed to practice?
In the Bible, Jesus cast out demons and told his followers to do the same. Some Christians believe in the "laying on of hands." Jesus told followers to lay hands on one another and pray for one another. Others believe in speaking in "tongues" — languages most cannot understand.
Are any or all of these practices something a client going to a Christian psychologist might expect? I don't think the committee put any thought into this 18 years ago before issuing its imprimatur to advertise oneself as a "Christian psychologist." Now it wants to slap DeVol's hand for practicing the kind of Christianity he learned in the Bible.
If a state committee of professionals licenses psychologists based on training and professional standards, why don't they stick with those criteria? What's next, they give permission for licensed psychologists to advertise themselves as "Wiccan counselors"?
A state committee should stick to what it knows. If it wants to license religious counselors, it should work through religious colleges and understand what it's licensing.
Or, perhaps, stay out of the business altogether?