Areas of Expertise
Religious Trauma
Pastoral Theology
Counseling and Pastoral Care
Faith, Wellness and Mental Health
Education
B.A., Hope College
M.Div., Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
LPC, Center for Religion and Psychotherapy
Ph.D., Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary
Biography
Dr. Petersen has been an auxiliary faculty member and guest lecturer at LSTC since 2017. She has also taught at McCormick Theological Seminary and New Brunswick Theological Seminary and has been a guest lecturer at North Park University and Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary.
Petersen received a PhD in pastoral theology, personality and culture from Garrett in 2017, writing a dissertation entitled “Religious Estrangement and Return in the Experience of Queer Persons” which specifically highlights the impact of religious trauma on queer persons. She is a psychotherapist at The Spiritual Life Center in Chicago and a volunteer therapist for Porchlight Counseling Services: Serving Victims of Sexual Abuse.