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Chicago | Director of Clinical Training and Professor, Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.)

Paul Cantz, Psy.D., ABPP

Overview

Overview

As Director of Clinical Training and Full Professor, I place a strong emphasis on developing and maintaining high-impact clinical training partnerships, providing guidance and mentorship to students as they navigate their sequence of clinical practicum and internship experiences, as well as serve on the Department Leadership Team to promote the overall mission and success of Adler’s Psy.D. program.

For the past decade I have also been serving as the faculty advisor for Adler’s Jewish Student Association (JSA).

With regards to my scholarship and research activities, I have published refereed journal articles, book chapters, and one academic monograph that have covered a range of topics including: the philosophical foundations of modern psychiatry, the psychology of religious conversion, death anxiety, cross cultural concepts of femininity, the psychodynamics of music, the historical uniqueness of baseball, the connection between misogyny and Antisemitism, suicide prevention, the bio-ethical ramifications of the anti-aging movement, and most recently on the existential considerations in rise in popularity of dystopian myths, particularly zombie media.

In addition to being core faculty at Adler University, I am Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, as well as part-time faculty at Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership. I participate in several community-based advisory groups and proudly serve on the Board of Trustees of the Associated Talmud Torahs of Chicago (ATT), Akiba-Schecter Jewish Day School, as well as Nefesh-Chicago, and formally served on the executive board of the Association of Chicagoland Externship and Practicum Training (ACEPT).

I have had the honor of serving on the Ethics Committee of the Illinois Psychological Association (IPA), as well as on the Faith-Based Task Force for the National Alliance for Suicide Prevention.

I have been maintaining an independent psychoanalytic psychotherapy practice in the Loop and in the Skokie/Northshore area as well as Telehealth since 2011. I also occasionally provide expert clinical consultation and assessments in civil and criminal legal cases.

Click here to view my personal website for additional information about my professional activities.

Please email or call 312.662.4216 if you have questions or would like more information about me.

Education

Education

  • Ph.D. Candidate, Religious Studies, University of Aberdeen
  • Psy.D., Clinical Psychology, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
  • M.A., Clinical Psychology, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
  • B.S., Psychology, Bradley University
  • B.S., Religious Studies, Bradley University
Licensure & Certifications

Licensure & Certifications

  • Licensed Clinical Psychologist (LCP) (IL)
  • Board-Certified in Clinical Psychology (ABPP)
  • Certificate in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, Chicago Center for Psychoanalysis
Professional Memberships

Professional Memberships

  • American Psychological Association (APA)
    • Division 36: Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality
    • Division 39: Psychoanalytic Psychology
  • American Academy of Religion
  • Illinois Psychological Association (IPA)
  • Chicago Center for Psychoanalysis
  • Nefesh International
Select Publications

Select Publications

  • Cantz, P. (2022). L’Dor v’Dor: The Intergenerational Style of Hebraic “Immortality”. In: D. Leichty (Ed.), Facing up to Mortality: Interfaith and Interreligious Explorations. Lexington. pp. 59-72.
  • Cantz, P. (2018). Apocalyptic exceptionalism and existential particularity: The rise in popularity of dystopian myths and our immortal other. In. E Severson & D. Goodman (Eds.), Memories and Monsters: Psychology, Trauma and Narrative. Routledge. (Ch. 1)
  • Kaplan, K. J. & Cantz, P. (2017). Biblical Psychotherapy: Reclaiming Biblical Scripture for Positive Psychology and Suicide Prevention. Lexington.
  • Cantz, P. & Kaplan, K. J. (2017). Utilizing biblical narratives for positive psychology and suicide prevention: An evidence supported approach. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 8, 654-678.
  • Cantz, P., Kaplan, D. L & Kaplan, K. J (2016). The Pastime Past Time: The Uniqueness of Baseball as an American Sport – A Psycho-Biblical Analysis. International Journal of Science, Culture, and Sport, 4, 367-380.
  • Cantz, P. (2015). Suspicious circumcisions: A psychoanalytic exploration of the connection between Antisemitism and Misogyny. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 18, 354-367.
  • Kaplan, K. J. & Cantz, P. (2014). Israel – “occupier” or “occupied”?: The psycho-political projection of Christian and post-Christian supersessionism. Israel Affairs, 1, 40-61.
  • Cantz, P. & Castle, M. (2013). A psycho-biblical response to death anxiety: Separation and individuation dynamics in the Babel narrative. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 41, 327-339.
  • Cantz, P. & Kaplan, K. J. (2013). Cross Cultural Reflections on the Feminine “Other”: Hebraism and Hellenism Redux. Pastoral Psychology, 62, 485-496.
  • Cantz, P. (2013). A psychodynamic inquiry into the spiritually-evocative potential of music. International Forum of Psychoanalysis, 22, 69-81
  • Cantz, P. (2013). The slaughter of Isaac: Oedipal themes in the akedah narrative revisited. In Myth, Literature & the Unconscious. (eds.  Leon Burnett, Sanja Bahun Robert. Maine). London: Karnac
  • Cantz, P. (2012). Towards a biblical psychoanalysis: A Second look at the first book. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 15, 779-797.
  • Kaplan, K. J., Dolev, S., Galatzer, T. & Cantz, P. (2012). Individuation and attachment in Israel and Thailand: Secular versus religious Jews and Buddhists. The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 22, 93-105.
  • Cantz, P. (2013). Foreword. In. K. J. Kaplan. Living biblically: Ten guides for fulfillment and happiness.  Eugene, OR:  WIPF and STOCK.
Select Presentations

Select Presentations

  • Cantz, P. & Huberman, J. (2016, November). The “Black Prince of the Revolution”: Revisiting Tupac Shakur’s Career & Legacy as a Misunderstood Poet and Performance Artist. Presented at Bradley University, Slane College of Communications & Fine Arts, Burbank Campus, Burbank, CA.
  • Buckley, P., Cantz, P., Sauer, A., Sivan, A., Zoline, S. (2016, November). The lies we tell ourselves: Ethical pitfalls in clinical practice. IPA Ethics Committee, Presented at Illinois Psychological Association’s Annual Convention, Oak Park, IL.
  • Cantz, P. (2016, April). Everything you Always Wanted to Know About the Zombie Apocalypse* But Didn’t Know to Ask: Psychoanalytic and Existential Aspects of the Contemporary Rise of Dystopian Myths. Paper presented at the University of La Vern, Departments of Communications & Psychology, La Verne, CA.
  • Cantz, P. (2015, October). It’s the End of the World as We Know It (…but No Worries): The Rise in Popularity of Dystopian Myths and our Immortal “Other”. Paper presented at the Psychology and the Other conference, Cambridge, MA.
  • Cantz, P. (2014, December). The Binding of Freud: Oedipus vs. Isaac & the Mythopoeic Underpinnings of Psychoanalysis. Paper presented at the The Centre for the Study of Myth at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK.
  • Cantz, P., Kim, E., Battista, P., Osten-Garner, K. (2015, January). A Renewed Call for the Elimination of the Postdoctoral Requirement as a Condition for Licensure in Clinical Psychology: Social Justice Meets Best Practices. Poster presented at the National Council of Schools and Programs of Professional Psychology (NCSPP) Mid-Winter Conference, San Diego, CA.
  • Kaplan, K. J., Schwartz, M. B., Cantz, P., & Kaplan, D. L. & (2014, May). The Dreyfus(s) Boys: Devil’s Island versus The World Series (The Jewish Experience in Europe versus America). Paper presented at the 26th Cooperstown Symposium on Baseball and American Culture. Cooperstown, NY.
  • Cantz, P. (2014, March). A Biblical Response to the Pathologizing of Aging: Scientific, Medical, & Ethical Considerations. Paper presented at the 3rd Annual Conference of Medicine and Religion. University of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
  • Cantz, P. (2013, October). Is Anti-Semitism the “Other” Misogony? A Psychodynamic Exploration of Genetic Commonalities. Paper presented at the Psychology & the Other conference, Cambridge, MA.
  • Cantz, P., Kaplan, D. L. & Kaplan, K. J. (2013, May). The Uniqueness of Baseball as an American Sport: A Psycho-Biblical Analysis. 25th Cooperstown Symposium on Baseball and American Culture. Cooperstown, NY.
  • Cantz, P. & Castle, M. A biblical response to death anxiety: Notes on the Babel narrative. 7th Annual Research Conference for Health, Religion, and Spirituality. Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN November 2012.
  • Kaplan, K. J. & Cantz, P. Increasing Hopefulness, Purpose and Resiliency: Applying the Biblical Conception of Time and Development. 7th Annual Research Conference for Health, Religion, and Spirituality. Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN, November 2012.
  • Kaplan, K. J. & Cantz, P., Exline, J. J. & Grubs, J. Relating to God/Authority: Historical and Empirical Dimensions of Rebellion, Submission & Dialogue. Paper presented at APA Division 36 Mid-Year Conference, Baltimore, MD, March 30, 2012.
  • Cantz, P. & Kaplan, K. J. Cross Cultural Reflections on the Feminine “Other”: Hebraism and Hellenism Redux. Paper presented at the Psychology and the Other Conference, Cambridge, MA, Oct. 3, 2011.
  • Kaplan, K. J. & Cantz, P. Suicide Prevention and Life Promotion: A Biblical Way of Dealing with Life’s Darkest Times. Presented to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) panel on Suicide Prevention, Alexandria, VA, Sept. 8, 2011.
  • Cantz, P. Approaching self-authenticity: A psychodynamic inquiry into the spiritually-evocative potential of music. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of APA Division 32: Society for Humanistic Psychology, Chicago, IL, April 17, 2011.
  • Cantz, P. The Slaughter of Isaac: Oedipal Themes in the Akedah Narrative Revisited. Paper presented at the Myth, Literature and the Unconscious Conference, University of Essex, Colchester, England, Sept. 2010.
Awards

Awards

  • 2016 Double Chai in the Chi – Chicago’s 36 under 36, Jewish Federation of Chicago, Young Leadership Division (YLD) and Oy!Chicago
  • 2014 Early Career Achievement Award, American Psychological Association (APA),
  • 2014 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

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