Faith at the Center: What Sets a Christian Counselor Apart
What is a Christian counselor?
The term “Christian Counselor” can be a catch-all for many different types of people who provide counseling from a Biblical worldview; some who may be licensed by a state board, and some who may not. The term “counselor” or “counseling” can also denote a myriad of services that apply to fields other than mental health. Typically, in the world of mental health, “counseling services” and “psychotherapy services” can be used interchangeably.
Examples of licensed professionals who can provide counseling or psychotherapy:
Licensed Psychologists: These are usually individuals with education at the doctoral level (PhD or PsyD) and align with the American Psychological Association (APA). The designation for independently licensed psychologists is Licensed Psychologist (LP) and is protected by law.
Psychiatrists are licensed medical doctors (MD) who complete a four-year psychiatry residency. Their license allows them to practice medicine, and some may also provide psychotherapy along with management of medication related to mental health concerns.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW): The independent license for social workers allows for the provision of psychotherapy services. These providers usually hold master’s degrees, but can also hold doctorates.
Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC): The term “professional counselor” is legally protected by state laws and regulations. These providers usually hold master’s degrees, but can also hold doctorates.
Weren’t we talking about Christian counselors?
Yes! All of the above practitioners may also have their own beliefs that make them Christians. Does that make them a Christian Counselor? Maybe!
When you think of a Christian Counselor, you may be thinking of your pastor who provides some counseling from time to time, or Biblical counselors who may be unlicensed and offer ministry to the church.
What it really comes down to is the scope of competence, area(s) of expertise, and relevant training.
Would you go to a dermatologist if you needed help with heart problems? What you really may need is a cardiologist in this case. Both providers may be Medical Doctors, but their specialty areas and relevant training allow them to hone in on the specific issue that you may be experiencing.
Do I need a Christian Counselor?
It may not come as a surprise that two factors: strong religious commitment and wanting to discuss faith in therapy are primary motivations of Christians who pursue Christian psychotherapy (Prout, et. al., 2020).
The simple fact that a therapist is willing to explore faith issues with you (and has been trained to do so) may be good enough for you. The rest of their training will come from their respective fields above.
You may also be interested to know that a recent meta-analysis of treatments tailored to clients’ religious and spiritual beliefs and values demonstrated that religious/spiritual-adapted treatments were equal to or better than standard psychotherapies (Captari et al., 2018).
The research indicates that a Christian counselor may be aware of and facilitate dialogue around areas like:
Our relationship with God can sometimes present unique challenges. The research indicates that a belief that “God is punishing me” can be related to anxiety and depression.
Hope and dread are two sides of the same coin: We may have “holy discontent” around our reach for God, and the times when we don’t feel like we are hearing from Him or that He is active
Forgiveness: Our beliefs can help us and cause some problems here as well. This is a deep process that requires empathy, but also a person who understands the faith dynamics involved.
These are just three areas among many that Christian counselors can help with. Spirituality can be nuanced and there are both positive and negative coping mechanisms that follow our faith. Some things may be very helpful, such as prayer, leaning on our church community, and understanding concepts like grace, but they can also be areas that are hard to navigate through. That’s where both a psychological and a theological perspective, and counseling may help.
Where can I find a Christian counselor?
There are many great counselors out there who will invite faith into the process. At Hope Healing Counseling, Christian Counseling is an area of specialization for us. If you’d like to explore if we can be a fit, you can reach out for a free 15-minute consultation.
Captari, L. E., Hook, J. N., Hoyt, W., Davis, D. E., McElroy-Heltzel, S. E., & Worthington, E. L., Jr. (2018). Integrating clients’ religion and spirituality within psychotherapy: A comprehensive metaanalysis. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 74, 1938–1951. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jclp.22681
Prout, T. A., Magaldi, D., Kim, E. E., & Cha, J. (2020, September 14). Christian Therapists and Their Clients. Spirituality in Clinical Practice. Advance online publication. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/scp0000238
