Promoting Healing Through the Psalms
Searching for a faith-integrated curriculum led Talitha Frankenberger to Northern California, far from her hometown of Bonn, Germany, known for its Christmas markets and as the birthplace of Ludwig van Beethoven. Experiencing God’s call to pursue the field of psychology, Frankenberger learned about Jessup while she was serving as the director of children’s ministry at Powerhouse Ministries in Sacramento. “The faith integrated curriculum was something I’d been searching for, especially in the discipline of psychology, because it was lacking throughout my education in Germany,” she said.” Coming to Jessup’s program was confirmation I was in the right place.”
Pursuing her undergraduate degree in psychology proved to be an enriching experience. She felt challenged by her coursework, was involved in University Choir and Orchestra, completed an internship and met her husband, a 13-year Air Force veteran. The couple married shortly before graduation of her final semester, one that brought a great deal of change to her life. “We had only been married for two weeks when we received a call to foster a toddler,” she said. “That was one of the most challenging times in my life.”
Navigating the constant motion, energy, unpredictability and sleepless nights characteristic to motherhood coupled with being a newlywed wasn’t easy, but Frankenberger persevered. As she finished her bachelor’s, studying for finals and completing projects and term papers became especially daunting tasks. “I had so little time and was consumed navigating big emotions, so I purposefully chose project topics that were relevant and helped to make the most efficient use of my time,” she added. One of those projects came from her Psalms course and was so well received that her professor, Scott Bayer, suggested she publish it. “It seemed like a good idea at the time, but I didn’t have the energy to pursue it,” she said.
Fast-forward four years and many things have changed for Frankenberger. The toddler she fostered and lovingly cared for is now her seven year-old daughter, she is a graduate of Jessup’s Master in Counseling Psychology program and a marriage and family therapist, providing psychotherapy in a private practice setting. She’s also the proud author of a new book, “You’re Not Alone: Learn Your Emotions and Connect to the Psalms,” the project born out of her undergraduate Psalms course.
The book serves as a parent-child guide designed to help families work through emotions with a biblically rooted and psychology-informed approach. As a practicing psychotherapist, Frankenberger is passionate about helping others connect their faith with mental health, and believes her book has the potential to make a meaningful difference for so many families. “From the time we are young children, our feelings play a significant role in how we interact with the world around us and how we remember our experiences,” she said. “This book helps caregivers and children explore their emotions together, learn to name and identify different feelings, and most importantly, find comfort and connection with their Creator in the midst of it all.”
Earning her masters at Jessup not only gave her the opportunity to connect with faculty who are experts within their discipline, it also led her to a closer relationship with Christ. “God’s hand was all over my experience,” she said. “I get emotional thinking about my time at Jessup because God opened so many doors for me.”
Proficient in Internal Family Systems Training, Frankenberger always had the dream to provide therapy that makes families more dynamic and harmonious. “All too often, we have undervalued the soul and how important it is. I love being able to help people get in touch with all their collective parts which ultimately strengthens their connections to the Lord. Seeing lives transformed and watching people go from surviving to thriving and feeling at peace is what I enjoy most.”
For more information about Frankenberger, visit: adaptIFS.com.
