Thomas Douce M.A. ’24, Ph.D. ’27

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Thomas Douce M.A. ’24, Ph.D. ’27

Thomas Douce M.A. ’24, Ph.D. ’27, has always had a curiosity about life’s complexities, including faith and the human mind and body. His journey has taken him from cutting-edge immunology and cancer research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, to graduate studies in theology, and now to Wheaton’s doctoral program for clinical psychology.

Raised in Ecuador by missionary parents, Douce saw firsthand how faith and culture intertwine. In college, he had his own struggles with doubt and moral questions. Ultimately, he deepened his commitment to affectionate persistence in following Christ. An early interest in biology and aptitude in academic pursuits led to a career in biomedical and cancer research, including several years at an integrative cancer research lab at MIT.

But he felt called to something further. “I saw lots of work to be done to understand and help people through biomedical science, but I felt drawn to learn how to cultivate flourishing in additional ways, particularly in the psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions of life,” he said.

He then attended Regent College in Vancouver, earning a master’s degree in theology and pastoral training, while applying to doctoral programs. He was looking for a program that would integrate his academic interests with an application to helping people navigate the intersection of faith and psychology. Douce found a natural home in the Wheaton College Graduate School.

Now in his fourth year of Ph.D. work, Douce is focused on gaining experience through practicum hours, while working on his dissertation which examines spiritual and religious struggles— doubts, moral conflicts, and existential crises. His research is aimed at how therapists integrate their clients’s religion and spirituality in therapy.

Beyond academia, Douce’s life is full. He and his wife, a professor in Milwaukee, are navigating the joys and challenges of raising their new daughter. Balancing fatherhood, clinical training, and research is no small feat, but Douce is committed to following his calling and curiosity to help others. Douce envisions himself helping underserved communities and those wrestling with spiritual and psychological challenges.

“I have a passionate affection for Jesus Christ, and I want to contribute to people’s deep thrivings,” Douce said. “As a psychologist, my primary role is attending to their psychological health, which at its best is a way of collaborating with God’s work in people, even when that is beyond my understanding.”