Allen Eric Bergin (born in Spokane, Washington, August 4, 1934) is a clinical

psychologist A psychologist is a professional who practices psychology and studies mental states, perceptual, cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior. Their work often involves the experimentation, observation, and interpretation of how ...

known for his research on psychotherapy outcomes and on integrating psychotherapy and religion. His 1980 article on theistic values was groundbreaking in the field and elicited over 1,000 responses and requests for reprints, and including those from

Carl Rogers Carl Ransom Rogers (January 8, 1902 – February 4, 1987) was an American psychologist and among the founders of the humanistic approach (and client-centered approach) in psychology. Rogers is widely considered one of the founding fathers of p ...

and

Albert Bandura Albert Bandura (; December 4, 1925 – July 26, 2021) was a Canadian-American psychologist who was the David Starr Jordan Professor in Psychology at Stanford University. Bandura was responsible for contributions to the field of education and to ...

. Bergin is also noted for his interchanges with probabilistic atheist

Albert Ellis Albert Ellis (September 27, 1913 – July 24, 2007) was an American psychologist and psychotherapist who founded rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). He held MA and PhD degrees in clinical psychology from Columbia University, and was cert ...

. Bergin was raised in a family that did not actively attend any religious services. He went to high school in

Spokane, Washington Spokane ( ) is the largest city and county seat of Spokane County, Washington, United States. It is in eastern Washington, along the Spokane River, adjacent to the Selkirk Mountains, and west of the Rocky Mountain foothills, south of the ...

, and began college at

Massachusetts Institute of Technology The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a Private university, private Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Established in 1861, MIT has played a key role in the development of modern t ...

. He then transferred to

Reed College Reed College is a private university, private liberal arts college in Portland, Oregon. Founded in 1908, Reed is a residential college with a campus in the Eastmoreland, Portland, Oregon, Eastmoreland neighborhood, with Tudor style architecture ...

. The school had four Latter-day Saints in its student body that year, one of whom was Bergin's roommate and another of whom, Marian Shafer, he began dating. The following year Shafer decided to transfer to

Brigham Young University Brigham Young University (BYU, sometimes referred to colloquially as The Y) is a private research university in Provo, Utah. It was founded in 1875 by religious leader Brigham Young and is sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ...

(BYU), and Bergin decided to do the same. Through interactions with BYU professor and Reed alumnus Robert K. Thomas, Bergin learned more about Mormonism and in March 1955 was baptized a member of

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a nontrinitarian Christian church that considers itself to be the restoration of the original church founded by Jesus Christ. The ...

(LDS Church) by Thomas. After this, Bergin married Marian Shafer. He attributes much of his life success and satisfaction to Marian's transcendent influence. Bergin eventually earned a master's degree from BYU and then a Ph.D. from Stanford University under

, followed by post-doctoral research at the

University of Wisconsin A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase ''universitas magistrorum et scholarium'', which ...

under

. He then became a professor in the clinical psychology program at

Teachers College, Columbia University Teachers College, Columbia University (TC), is the graduate school of education, health, and psychology of Columbia University, a private research university in New York City. Founded in 1887, it has served as one of the official faculties a ...

. While on the Columbia faculty, Bergin lived in

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York (state), New York; on the ea ...

and served as a bishop for the LDS church and later as a counselor in the Eastern States Mission Presidency. It was also while at Columbia that Bergin co-edited the ''

Handbook of Psychotherapy and Behavior Change A handbook is a type of reference work, or other collection of instructions, that is intended to provide ready reference. The term originally applied to a small or portable book containing information useful for its owner, but the ''Oxford Engl ...

'' with Sol Garfield; the book was named a social science citation classic.Ken Shelton
"Allen Bergin: 'The Gospel is a Continuing Revolution against the Standards of the World'"
''

Ensign An ensign is the national flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality. The ensign is the largest flag, generally flown at the stern (rear) of the ship while in port. The naval ensign (also known as war ensign), used on warships, may be diff ...

'', September 1983, p. 34. In 1972 Bergin joined the faculty of BYU in part as a result of the encouragement of Thomas. During his years there, he also served in LDS Church positions as a Bishop, a Stake President, and member of the Church-wide Sunday School General Board. He and his wife, Marian, later served a Church Education Mission at the Lajolla, CA. Institute of Religion for students at the University of California-San Diego. Bergin served as president of the

Society for Psychotherapy Research A society is a group of individuals involved in persistent social interaction, or a large social group sharing the same spatial or social territory, typically subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations. Soc ...

in 1974–75. He also served as president of the

Association of Mormon Counselors and Psychotherapists The Association of Latter-day Saint Counselors and Psychotherapists (AMCAP) is a professional society founded in 1975 supporting professionals who want to provide counseling services supportive of teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Lat ...

in 1980. He received the "Distinguished Professional Contribution to Knowledge Award" from the

American Psychological Association The American Psychological Association (APA) is the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States, with over 133,000 members, including scientists, educators, clinicians, consultants, and students. It has ...

in 1989, the "Oskar Pfister Award in Religion and Mental Health" from the American Psychiatric Association in 1998, and the "William James Award in the Psychology of Religion" from Division 36 of the

in 1990. He has acknowledged the significant influence of colleagues who have collaborated with him, particularly Sol Garfield, Hans Strupp, Michael Lambert, and Scott Richards. Dr.

Eric Swedin Eric G. Swedin is an American author of science fiction and academic nonfiction works. He is a professor of history at Weber State University in Utah. Swedin is the 2010 long form winner of the Sidewise Award for his alternate history novel ' ...

wrote, "The American Psychological Association awarded him the prestigious Distinguished Professional Contributions to Knowledge award in 1989, citing him as a 'leading expert in psychotherapy research' and for challenging 'psychological orthodoxy to emphasize the importance of values and religion in therapy.'" Bergin also has a special place in the history of psychologists and researchers who are members of the LDS Church, who traditionally work hard to harmonize scholarship and religion and to reconcile any differences between the truths discovered in science with the truths they believe to be revealed by God.

Ezra Taft Benson Ezra Taft Benson (August 4, 1899 – May 30, 1994) was an American farmer, government official, and religious leader who served as the 15th United States Secretary of Agriculture during both President of the United States, presidential term ...

“Your Charge: To Increase in Wisdom and Favor with God and Man,”
'' New Era'', September 1979, p. 40. Allen and Marian Bergin are the parents of nine children, and have eighteen grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren. Marian

Important publications

Bergin, A.E., & Garfield, S.L. (1971). ''Handbook of psychotherapy and behavior change: An empirical analysis.'' New York: Wiley.
Bergin, A.E., & Strupp, H.H. (1972). ''Changing frontiers in the science of psychotherapy.'' Chicago: Aldine-Atherton.
Garfield, S.L., & Bergin, A.E. (1978). ''Handbook of psychotherapy and behavior change: An empirical analysis'' 2nd edition. New York: Wiley.
Bergin, A. E. (1980). Psychotherapy and religious values. ''Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 48'', 95-105
Garfield, S.L., & Bergin, A.E. (1986). ''Handbook of psychotherapy and behavior change'' 3rd edition. New York: Wiley.
Bergin, A.E., & Garfield, S.L. (1994). ''Handbook of psychotherapy and behavior change'' 4th edition. New York: Wiley.
Bergin, A.E. (1996)."Life and Testimony of an Academic Clinical Psychologist." In S.E. Black (Ed.) Expressions of Faith. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1996. Richards, P.S., & Bergin, A.E. (1997). ''A spiritual strategy for counseling and psychotherapy.'' Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Richards, P.S., & Bergin, A.E. (2000). ''Handbook of psychotherapy and religious diversity.'' Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Bergin, A.E. (2002). ''Eternal values and personal growth: A guide on your journey to spiritual, emotional, and social wellness.'' Provo, Utah: BYU Studies. Richards, P.S., & Bergin, A.E. (2004). ''Casebook for a spiritual strategy in counseling and psychotherapy.'' Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Richards, P.S., & Bergin, A.E. (2005). ''A spiritual strategy for counseling and psychotherapy'' 2nd. edition. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Castonguay, L.G., et al. (2010). "Bringing psychotherapy research to life" Wash, DC: American Psychological Assn.
Lambert, M.J. (2004,& 2013). "Bergin and Garfield's Handbook of Psychotherapy and Behavior Change" 5th & 6th editions. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Richards, P.S. & Bergin, A.E. (2014). "Handbook of Psychotherapy and Religious Diversity" 2nd. edition. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Sternberg, R.J. (2003). "The Anatomy of Impact: What Makes The Great Works of Psychology Great." American Psychological Assn., 2003. Swedin, E.G. (2003). "Healing souls: Psychotherapy in the Latter-day Saint Community." Urbana: University of Illinois Press.

References

External links

Allen Bergin: Encounters with B.F. Skinner, Carl Rogers, and Albert Ellis

Mormon Scholars Testify: Allen Bergin

Life and Testimony of an Academic Clinical Psychologist: Allen Bergin

Allen E. Bergin, "Letter to Editors", ''Open Theology'' vol. 2016
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bergin, Allen Living people 1934 births 21st-century American psychologists Psychologists of religion Converts to Mormonism American leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Massachusetts Institute of Technology alumni Reed College alumni Brigham Young University alumni Stanford University alumni Teachers College, Columbia University faculty Brigham Young University faculty Latter Day Saints from Washington (state) Latter Day Saints from New Jersey 20th-century American psychologists