Byzantine Catholic Family Matters

About Thomas P. Shubeck, PhD
Family Psychologist

Dr. Shubeck brings nearly twenty years experience to his practice of individual, marital and family therapy. A licensed psychologist (NJ License No. 3169), he is a graduate of the doctoral program in marriage and family therapy of Purdue University and of the masters program in counseling psychology at Loyola College in Maryland. Dr. Shubeck has worked in hospital based settings as well as in private practice. For several years Dr. Shubeck was an adjunct lecturer at Caldwell College. Presently, Dr. Shubeck serves as consulting psychologist to St. Andrew's College Seminary at Seton Hall University.

Dr. Shubeck helps clients with a wide range of problems - marital conflict and other relationship issues, depression, anxiety, parenting, life transitions, and loss. Since working as a consultant to a physical rehab department at a hospital in the early 1990s, Dr. Shubeck developed an interest in working with families confronted with serious physical illness and disability. Dr. Shubeck's infant son Paul was diagnosed with Leigh's subacute necrotizing encephalopathy in 1997, a debilitating and life-shortening mitochondrial disorder. After a valiant fight, Paul passed into eternal rest on June 15, 2004. He lived a joy-filled life with his parents Tom and Caroline and sister Adriana but did not live to meet his adoptive brother John. Dr. Shubeck and his family continue their work for the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation. Dr. Shubeck continues his special interest in working with families who are attempting to live with serious, chronic illnesses in their midst.

In addition, Dr. Shubeck has seen the importance of his Byzantine Catholic faith in living with serious illness...and now with the loss of his son Paul. When their religious faith plays a role in their lives, Dr. Shubeck helps his clients integrate their spiritual and psychological well being. Dr. Shubeck also writes his column Byzantine Catholic Family Matters in the Eastern Catholic Life and Horizons eparchial (diocesan) newspapers.

Dr. Shubeck maintains an office in Madison, New Jersey. As many people seeking his services live some distance from northern New Jersey, Dr. Shubeck offers counseling services by telephone for persons with issues amenable to telephone consultation.