Dr. Shank grew up in Broadway and Harrisonburg and returned to this area in 2011 to join Commonwealth Psychological Services. He attended Messiah College (B.S. Psychology, 1977) and worked at Prairie View Mental Health Center (Newton, Kansas) before enrolling at Fuller Graduate School of Psychology [Fuller Theological Seminary], in Pasadena, California. At Fuller Seminary Dr. Shank earned an M.A. in Theology (1983) and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology (1984). He completed two pre-doctoral internships, the first at Kaiser-Permanente Medical Center (Los Angeles) and the second at Philhaven Hospital (Mt. Gretna, PA). After graduation from Fuller Dr. Shank was employed as a staff psychologist at Philhaven, until 1989, when he joined Behavioral Healthcare Consultants (BHC), a group private practice in Lancaster, PA. He has been a Partner at BHC since 1993, and has twenty-five years of varied experience in the practice of Clinical Psychology.
Dr. Shank has special interests and training in the following areas:
The relationship between spirituality/faith beliefs and psychology, and the integration of client’s faith understanding into the process of therapy and counseling
Marital and Couples Therapy
Premarital counseling/therapy
Treatment of depression and anxiety, and other forms of mood disorder
Assessment and treatment of Adult ADD/ADHD
Consultations with clergy and churches, at both the congregational and denominational level, including the provision of therapy, recommendations, and systemic interventions with pastors and congregations
Vocational and Career assessment and counseling
Treatment of trauma, including PTSD, Complex PTSD, and related disorders
Psychopharmacology
Grief Counseling
Personality assessment and the treatment of interpersonal/relationship problems, in general
The relationship between recent/emerging neuroscience research, and the practice of psychotherapy
Professional Involvements, Affiliations/Memberships, and Continuing Education:
American Psychological Association (Member since 1985)
Pennsylvania Psychological Association
Lebanon-Lancaster Psychological Association
National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology
1986 to present: approximately 1000 hours of APA-approved Continuing Education Seminars and Trainings
2011—enrollment in “Core Skills Training” for Emotion-Focused Therapy for couples, at Philhaven, Mt. Gretna, PA—on-going training in EFT
Former Adjunct Professor at Eastern Mennonite University, Lancaster Campus (1991-1995)
