If I’m a Christian, Do I Need a Christian Therapist or Counselor?

If you are a follower of Christ who is struggling or has struggled with your mental health, you may have wondered what kind of services would be best for you. You may have even asked, "Does it make a difference whether my counselor or therapist is a Christian?" Typically in Christian counseling, the difference is that the counselor and client both have a baseline understanding of what “good” is. When I counsel, I have the understanding that if something is good, or a practice is good, it is ordained by God/comes from God and that is what makes it good. The good feelings a person feels from helping others, or resting, or giving/receiving love feel good because we were designed to operate in that way.

In traditional counseling, “good” is often defined by the client, and the therapist often has to work with the client's definition. But what is the idea of “good” rooted in? What makes them feel good? What makes them likeable to others? Social morality standards like giving up your seat for the pregnant lady or holding the door open for someone?

Because of the shifting definition of what is good in traditional therapy, what is the incentive to heal or improve? This idea of “incentive” is foundational in both Christian and non-Christian counseling, but when played out can lead to purpose on one hand, or meaninglessness on the other.

Much deeper healing is able to take place when the standard of what is “good” can be agreed upon and referenced back to. We can have hope when we know that God is good, and that hope is reinforced when we experience evidence that following God is good.

Another benefit in choosing a Christian counselor over a non-Christian option is that a Christian counselor can work with the religious tenets that you may bring to the table. For example, if you are a person who is on the verge of burning out in ministry, a secular counselor likely doesn’t understand the theological nuance of this struggle. Because they do not follow God or know about him, their suggestions would probably look more like learning how to love yourself and prioritize yourself. A Christian counselor would understand that loving yourself and taking care of yourself are important, but they would also realize that these tenets are found more “between the lines” of scripture that explicitly says in several places “You must die to yourself to follow Christ”.

Ultimately, a Christian counselor or therapist can explain why things are good and important in a way that relates to how God has revealed himself to his Creation, while also working alongside the beliefs of the client. They are able to marry evidence-based techniques with a Biblically informed perspective. Looking for a Christian counselor or therapist? Check out Lane of Roses Counseling and Therapy program by clicking HERE.

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