Is a Christian counselor qualified in the same way a regular secular psychologist is? Whenever I speak to people about clinical practice and mention that I practice Christian counseling, the question people most often raise is: “Is there any difference between Christian counseling and non-spiritual or secular psychotherapy?”
It’s a good question and for a number of reasons it has direct relevance to our profession. Many mental and behavioral health professionals with considerable experience have become increasingly aware of the significance of the spiritual domain in counseling. I believe that this renewed interest in the spiritual domain is an indication that something is missing when spirituality is not included in health and wellness models. Those that have practiced spirituality-based therapy understand that when the spiritual dimension is not incorporated into care, the whole person is not being addressed—the component that has to do with giving life meaning and purpose and connecting to self, others, and a Higher Power/Ultimate/God is missing. From the perspective that spirituality is a vital component of being human, you might permit that secular psychotherapy could be overlooking the heart of what it means to be human.
Earlier in my career when I was seeing quite a few couples for marital therapy, I often addressed the issue about differences between Christian and secular counseling. Spouses are not infrequently at different levels of their spiritual journey, and often times one spouse may not be particularly faithful to their religion. It wasn’t so much that one spouse was a non-believer; rather they didn’t see how a faith-based approach to psychotherapy could be particularly advantageous for them. Little did they know what they were about to experience!
As with many innovative approaches to talk therapy, Christian counseling began to be formally adopted as a psychotherapy during the last century. This approach was quite controversial because it differed from the more popular therapy approaches of the time. But by the late 1960s and 1970s, this new form of counseling took off only to later become one of the most popular therapy options for Christians, and for those who want to include their faith in the therapy process. In 1968, the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation was formed to provide present-day and future Christian counselors with guidelines on how to properly treat those seeking a faith-based therapy approach.
Who Practices Christian Counseling?
One of the obvious and valid concerns among people seeking counseling is the qualifications of the clinicians involved in their care. People rightfully want to ensure that the mental health professional they are seeing is subject to the same educational, ethical and legal standards as their secular counterparts. Psychiatrists, Psychologists and mental health practitioners of any specialty, such as counselors, clinical social workers, reverends, religious leaders, etc. can practice Christian counseling; however, they must have a master’s degree or Ph.D./PsyD in counseling, psychology, Christian counseling, or another mental health discipline in order to treat people. They must also be licensed to practice or provide counseling to clients. An individual who would like to provide Christian counseling to others, but only has a bachelor's degree may still be able to practice by graduating from a Christian counseling certificate program. This program teaches future Christian counselors how to properly use the basic principles of the Bible in counseling sessions, the importance of family therapy, and how to help clients get the maximum benefit out of rehabilitative counseling. Except for these counselors, there are no significant differences between Christian clinicians and their secular counterparts in terms of qualifications. I consider myself a Christian counselor and a psychologist. Between the two, a conceptualization of clinical issues is identical. There may be exceptions to this, however they are very few. The goal of Christian counselors is to use faith-based principles and psychological instruction to help people better manage and/or resolve any issues in their lives. More specifically, these mental health professionals not only assess, diagnose, and treat mental illnesses, they also teach clients coping skills, consistent with Scripture whenever appropriate, so they can better adjust to any changes that may occur in their lives.
Who Should Seek Christian Counseling?
Anyone, who is experiencing psychological or health issues should seek Christian counseling. It is important to understand that Christian counseling does not center on one particular problem, concern, or mental illness, rather, the goal of this type of counseling is to address a broad range of personal, relationship, parent-child, social, and mental health issues. So, instead of seeking secular or non-religious counseling for these issues, Christian counseling uses your faith to help you resolve and heal from them. Issues for which people seek Christian counseling include:
Relationship, parent-child, or marital issues
Parenting guidance
Mental illness or psychological distress
Grief and loss
Poor goal-setting skills
Low self-esteem and self-confidence
Weak faith and/or a poor connection to God
Substance abuse or addiction
Will Christian Counseling Benefit Me?
Christian counseling may be of the greatest benefit for Christians and those who have strong faith or spirituality – although you certainly don’t have to be religious or spiritual to benefit from this therapeutic counseling approach. I have heard Christian authors contend that those who are not spiritually convicted in Christianity do not benefit from Christian counseling, or at least they don't benefit to the degree Christians do. I do not necessarily agree with this position. While someone who is not a believer is not likely to find the identical value in counseling from a Christian standpoint, once they become acquainted with Christian principles, many nonbelievers are astounded to discover that these principles and values make a great deal of sense. I have seen many individuals who did not see themselves as particularly spiritual at the onset of therapy. They may have began therapy with a negative and/or pessimistic perception of teaching and healing through the Scripture. This author has had numerous experiences in which the “non-believing” spouse or family member, upon partaking in Christian counseling, has come out of the therapy with a new appreciation of the soundness of Scriptural wisdom.
Particularly, these secular-minded individuals were open-minded enough to realize the wisdom and brilliant insights offered by Scripture. This is not to say that a Christian counselor has a fundamental objective to make believers from nonbelievers; however it is remarkable to witness when it occurs naturally and without coercion or force. In addition, if you come into a Christian therapeutic alliance with a strong faith and belief in God, this type of therapy will most likely offer the greatest benefits as it centers on biblical teachings. The hope is that by sharpening your knowledge of the Bible, strengthening your connection with God, and understanding God’s commandments, you will be able to turn your life around and conquer your problems. Just as with secular counseling, you may also benefit from Christian counseling if you experience the following:
Anxiety that prevents you from completing everyday tasks
Panic attacks
Insomnia or being unable to fall asleep and/or stay asleep all night long
Social isolation or avoiding spending time with friends and family
Sudden extreme weight loss or weight gain
Feeling hopeless, helpless, and/or overwhelmed, or feeling unable to manage your problems on your own
Out-of-control, irrational anger
A loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy
Feeling disconnected to your faith or God
What to Expect from Christian Counseling?
Christian counseling pulls from a variety of counseling methods – one of which is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). One of the main differences between Christian counseling and some of the more secular counseling approaches is that Christian counselors use a wide range of materials, tools, resources, and psychological techniques, including prayer, scripture, affirmation, bible study, self-auditing or self-evaluation to help you combat your “demons” (problems).
Contrary to most secular counselors and therapists, Christian counselors do not believe that secular counseling approaches adequately cover the range of issues a person may be experiencing. As a result, these counselors combine your spiritual health with your mental health. In other words, Christian counseling focuses on your spiritual health, personal relationship with God, and the belief that, with therapy, personal problems, mental health issues, and emotional distress can be replaced with increased self-worth and spiritual fulfillment. Some of the things you should expect from Christian counseling include:
Prayer, scripture, and other supplementary materials during the session and as homework assignments
Family education & support
Learning how to cope with serious life events like death or illness
Learning how to make good judgement calls and decisions
Referrals to other specialists – i.e. psychiatrists, social workers, and/or physicians, if needed
Ceremonial preparations for couples who plan to get married and funeral services for families who have lost a loved one
What is Spiritual Health?
The truth is, spirituality goes beyond your religious beliefs. In fact, it involves a deep connection to a Higher Power – with the understanding that something bigger and better than yourself exists – something that is influencing and/or controlling what is happening on Earth. It is important to understand that you don’t have to belong to a religious affiliation to be spiritual. In fact, you can be agnostic (believing in a Higher Power, but not necessarily God) and still be spiritual. How is that? Well, it’s your faith, morals, values, and principles that define your spirituality.
Spiritual health is often characterized by the following:
A capacity to love others and the ability to accept love from others
Forgiveness
A commitment to community service
Personal satisfaction
Empathy
Ability to care for others – without expecting something back in return
An ability to experience happiness & spread joy
The ability to perform self-care
The ability to self-reflect or recognize how “sinful acts” play a role in your thought processes and behaviors
The importance of providing services to others
As part of a person’s spiritual journey, one will inevitably experience challenges and hardships along the way. This is a universal experience; no one is immune to life’s difficult times. When a person is in sync with their spiritual health, he/she/they is open to receiving guidance from their faith – guidance that helps them to handle tough situations with love, empathy, compassion, forgiveness, and self-acceptance. Spirituality therapy can help individuals reconnect to their purpose in life.
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