A Christian counselor is trained to use evidence-based counseling techniques that are infused with God’s Word. Christian counseling strives not only to help the individual overcome their mental health challenges but also to help them heal spiritually. Through Christian counseling, clients may feel empowered to strengthen their relationship and communication with God and to address their challenges through a biblical lens.
Christians turn to their faith for solace and hope during dark times. Their faith can be a source of strength, but that doesn’t mean that Christians can’t also suffer from mental health disorders. In fact, according to Anthem of Hope, about 23% of pastors surveyed acknowledge that they themselves have experienced a mental illness, such as depression or anxiety disorders.1
Christians who are suffering from mental illness have options for reaching out for help. Secular therapy is widely available and welcomes people of all faiths as well as those of no faith. Yet, for some Christians, it may sometimes be more helpful to find a counselor who shares their own biblical beliefs and principles.
Christian counselors tend to focus primarily on Christian clients, although they may sometimes serve clients of different faiths, as well as atheists. When working with non-Christian clients, it’s advisable for Christian counselors to reserve religious judgment and focus on secular therapeutic techniques.
Aside from the biblical lens of therapy, a Christian counselor can expect to perform the same tasks as a secular counselor, such as the following:
- Build a professional rapport with new clients
- Evaluate the mental health and behavioral patterns of new clients and discuss therapeutic approaches and techniques while developing a treatment plan
- Implement therapeutic techniques, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, to help clients overcome challenges and turn negative behavioral patterns into positive ones
- Work with clients’ family members, including spouses, parents or siblings to help them understand their loved one’s difficulties and how best to be supportive
- Refer clients to outside resources when necessary, such as inpatient addiction treatment programs, if appropriate
In everything that a Christian counselor does, they must keep in mind the best interests and needs of their clients. Therapeutic approaches and techniques must be adapted to meet the client’s needs.
Some clients, for example, respond well to reading Bible verses together with their Christian counselor and discussing how they might be applied to the client’s situation. Christian counselors might also pray together with their clients and lead their clients in spiritual meditation techniques.
The terms Christian counseling and Christian-based therapy may be used interchangeably, but there are some subtle differences between therapy and counseling. Christian counseling tends to be more goal-oriented, focusing on helping clients overcome specific challenges in life, such as marital problems, grief and substance use. In contrast, therapy tends to take place over a longer period of time, using an exploratory approach to treat mental illness.2
A Christian counselor and a Christian therapist will both use a biblical lens and a spiritual approach when working with clients. However, the goals of the sessions may be different, and the providers have different credentials.2
Typically, a counselor may be credentialed as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) or a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). In contrast, a therapist is a clinician who may be credentialed as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) or a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).2
