Monsignor James Shea Unveils New Catholic Therapy Education Program in Phoenix to Empower Counselors and Honor Human Dignity

This fall, Arizona will see the opening of a unique Catholic counseling education center designed to integrate faith with mental health training.

The Photina Center for Catholic Counseling is a collaborative initiative between the University of Mary in North Dakota and the Diocese of Phoenix.

Its goal: to provide counselors with tools rooted in Catholic understanding while addressing modern mental health challenges.

Courses Designed to Merge Faith and Counseling

The center will offer in-person courses tied to the University of Mary’s Catholic Anthropology Certificate, select master’s level counseling courses, and professional development opportunities for practicing therapists.

Monsignor James Shea, president of the University of Mary, emphasizes the importance of recognizing the spiritual dimension of human life in counseling.

“The challenge with much of today’s secular mental health training is that it often sees people through a very limited lens—sometimes even hostile to Christian understandings of the human person,” Shea explained.

He added that incorporating Catholic anthropology into training allows therapists to better serve individuals by honoring their inherent dignity as beings created in God’s image.

Strengthening Arizona’s Access to Faith-Based Mental Health

This center builds on existing partnerships between the Diocese of Phoenix and the University of Mary, which already provides courses at the new Nazareth Seminary and operates Mary College on the campus of Arizona State University.

Shea highlighted that the collaboration reflects Bishop John Dolan’s commitment to expanding access to Catholic mental health resources, a mission shaped by Dolan’s personal losses to suicide.

“Catholic universities exist to serve the Church,” Shea said.

“This partnership is a clear example of that mission in action.”

Honoring the Legacy of St. Photina

The center takes its name from St. Photina, believed in Eastern Christian tradition to be the Samaritan woman Jesus met at the well in John 4:4-42.

According to the University of Mary, her encounter with Christ is the longest recorded conversation Jesus has with anyone in the New Testament.

“In Photina, we find a model of truth, healing, and courage,” the press release noted.

“Her name, meaning ‘light,’ reflects our hope to illuminate paths of hope and healing for individuals, families, and communities.”

Why Catholic Therapy Matters

Shea stressed that effective therapy must account for the spiritual aspect of the human person.

“If therapy does not recognize that each individual is created in the image of God, it cannot fully support their well-being,” he said.

The center aims to train therapists who can serve the whole person—body, mind, and spirit.

Open House Invitation

The University of Mary and the Diocese of Phoenix will host an open house for interested students and community members on March 29, from 1 to 3 p.m., at 400 E. Monroe St., Phoenix.

This event will provide a closer look at the center’s programs and mission.

Impact and Consequences

• Offers Catholic-based counseling education at a time when mental health resources are in high demand.
• Provides therapists with a holistic framework for addressing mental, emotional, and spiritual needs.
• Strengthens collaboration between educational institutions and diocesan initiatives in mental health advocacy.

What’s Next?

• Enrollment for courses will begin ahead of the fall launch.
• The center plans to expand offerings and professional development opportunities in coming years.
• Future partnerships with other dioceses and Catholic institutions may be explored to replicate the model nationwide.

Summary

The Photina Center for Catholic Counseling marks a significant step in blending faith with mental health education.

Through its programs, the University of Mary and the Diocese of Phoenix aim to form therapists who honor the full dignity of every human person while addressing their mental and spiritual well-being.

Bulleted Takeaways

• Monsignor James Shea leads the University of Mary in developing a Catholic counseling formation center in Phoenix.
• The Photina Center offers courses in Catholic Anthropology and counseling with professional development opportunities.
• Bishop John Dolan’s personal experience with suicide shaped the diocese’s mental health advocacy.
• The center is named after St. Photina, the Samaritan woman at the well, symbolizing light, healing, and hope.
• Open house scheduled for March 29 to introduce the community to the center and its mission.