معرفی
Paul Cantz is a licensed and board-certified Clinical Psychologist serving as Professor and Director of Clinical Training at Adler University in Chicago. He co-founded Orchard Wellness, PLLC, maintains a private psychoanalytic practice across Chicago and Northshore, and holds leadership roles including Vice-President of Nefesh-Chicago alongside board positions at Akiba Schechter Jewish Day School and Associated Talmud Torahs.
His academic credentials include a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology (2009) and M.A. in Clinical Psychology (2006) from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, a B.A. in Psychology and Religious Studies from Bradley University (2004), and a Certificate in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy from the Chicago Center for Psychoanalysis (2015). He holds clinical licenses in Illinois (2011-present) and New York (2024-present), is ABPP board-certified (2013-present), and participates in PSYPACT for mobility (2020-present).
Dr. Cantz's research spans psychoanalysis, clinical training, antisemitism, comparative mythology, death anxiety, religious conversion, gender studies, music psychology, and dystopian mythology. His work uniquely integrates Jewish studies with psychological theory, examining biblical narratives through psychoanalytic frameworks to address contemporary existential issues. He explores how cultural myths shape collective identity while investigating the psychological dimensions of religious texts and practices.
His scholarly output reveals a distinct interdisciplinary trajectory centered on psychology's intersection with religion and cultural studies. He consistently examines how biblical narratives inform psychological concepts in suicide prevention, positive psychology, and mortality understanding. His publications on dystopian mythology and antisemitism demonstrate rigorous engagement with societal anxieties through psychoanalytic and existential lenses, often collaborating with scholars like Kenneth Kaplan to bridge theological and psychological perspectives.
Dr. Cantz has received significant recognition including:
- Double Chai in the Chi (36 under 36) from Fédération juive de Chicago (2016)
- Early Career Achievement Award from the American Psychological Association (2014)
- Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award from Chicago School of Professional Psychology (2014)
As Director of Clinical Training, he oversees Adler University's clinical education programs while maintaining active roles in professional organizations including the Association of Jewish Psychologists, Illinois Psychological Association (2006-2023), and Nefesh International. His leadership extends to serving as an APA/CoA site visitor since 2013, evaluating doctoral programs nationwide. Though specific grant funding isn't detailed in available materials, his extensive publication record and conference presentations indicate substantial scholarly engagement.
Dr. Cantz co-founded Orchard Wellness, PLLC to deliver clinical services, and drives Nefesh-Chicago's mission to integrate mental health with Jewish communal life. His collaborative research network, particularly with Kenneth Kaplan, produces innovative work at psychology's intersection with religious studies, demonstrating consistent team-oriented scholarship across biblical psychotherapy, mythological analysis, and cultural dynamics.
