Jun 4, 2019
Gluttony, sloth, dejection, pride… these are just some of the vices that can hijack our thoughts and poison our souls. On this week’s podcast, Cynthia speaks with Fr. Joseph Longofono, Ph.D. about ways to heal and overcome our negative thoughts using tools from from the toolboxes of both mental health professionals and the Church Fathers.
Father Joseph Longofono is both a priest and a licensed clinical psychologist who currently serves as pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church in Topeka, Kansas. Fr Joseph holds a B.S. in Psychology from Trinity College (1979) and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Case Western Reserve University (1983, 1985). Following a year at St Raphael Hospital, New Haven, Ct, Fr Joseph was commissioned in the US Air Force, where he spent 22 years, half on active duty and half as a reservist. His duties as a clinical psychologist included testing, psychotherapy, crisis intervention, security clearance determinations, consultation with military commanders, child advocacy, clinical supervision and health psychology (e.g., tobacco cessation, sleep hygiene, and anger and stress management). He retired in 2009 with the rank of Colonel.
While stationed in Greece in the late 1980s, Fr Joseph was fascinated by Orthodoxy, and strove to learn more about the ancient Christian faith. He was received into the Orthodox Church in 1991. After he resigned his active duty commission in 1994, he received a blessing to attend seminary from Metropolitan Philip of the Antiochian Archdiocese. Fr Joseph attended Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, from which he graduated in 1997. After his ordination to the priesthood in 1996, he served parishes in the Antiochian Archdiocese while working also as a reservist psychologist.
Fr Joseph’s life took an unexpected turn in late 2001, when he was involuntarily returned to active duty for one year after the 9/11 bombings. He temporarily left his parish in Danbury, CT to serve his country again on a full time basis, and was stationed in Washington, D.C., at Bolling Air Force Base. His duties there included those mentioned above, as well as counseling military members and family members affected by the Pentagon bombing. In November of 2002, Fr Joseph returned to full time parish ministry, while continuing to serve as a reservist psychologist until his retirement from the military. He has also held part time positions as a psychologist in the civilian world.
Fr Joseph has brought together the fruits of his training and experience in psychology and theology to give retreats and lectures to both Orthodox and Catholic audiences. He also has explored the connection between military life and Orthodox Christianity, especially as it pertains to Orthodox military saints. He is very much interested in investigating the connections between the healing of minds as practiced by mental health professionals, and the healing of souls as is seen in patristic literature and the lives of the church fathers. He recently completed an interview with Cynthia Damaskos on the My Beautiful Lent website regarding examination of thoughts from the cognitive and patristic perspectives.
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