In the world of counseling, there are lots of words that seem interchangeable. Therapist and counselor. Therapy and counseling. Both often mean about the same thing (someone with a master’s degree in a counseling-related field). But, what if someone calls him-/herself a Christian counselor or Christian therapist? What does that really mean?
For many clients, talking about their belief in Christ is necessary for describing who they are, how they see their problems, and what type of support system exists that will support change in their lives. Many clients who are Christians need a therapist to understand why they may turn to prayer or Bible reading during difficult times as a way to cope.
The word “Christian” itself is very broad. Many people can define themselves as Christian, but, one person’s idea of what this means can be very different from another. Christians usually belong to a particular type of religion and each religion defines itself by sets of beliefs. Some religions have outlines of behaviors its members will or will not engage in. These standards are what we use to differentiate one from another corporately and, often times, individually. When trying to find a therapist who shares your beliefs, you will need to ask specific questions about the way the therapist views the issues with which your struggling. If you are seeking help with your marriage, you need to ask your potential therapist their views on marriage, infidelity, separation, and divorce. If those beliefs do not line up to your own, you may want to consider a different therapist.
Some who advertise themselves as Christian counselors may mean they are open to talking about issues about the Christian faith with their clients. They are counselors who are willing to discuss such things in the counseling office.
There are others who are Christians who happen to be counselors. For these folks, they profess to be Christians first and live it out in their daily lives. They have first-hand knowledge of what it means to be a Christian because they practice the disciplines of the Christian faith on one level or another every day. These counselors will often weave discussions about faith into treatment planning and each session in a way that is as comfortable as talking about how getting adequate sleep and nutrition will help solve some client issues.
Some may be Biblical counselors. These folks often do not have a master’s degree or formal training. There are some organizations that train Christians and give them certifications in Biblical counseling. These certifications require a certain number of courses, but these courses usually focus on Biblical explanations for life’s difficulties and are not formal classes in counseling techniques or psychological theories. These folks may make their livings being accountants, teachers, or bankers and volunteer their time at their church doing Biblical counseling. They serve a valuable roll for people who may not want to see or be able to afford a professional counselor. However, one caveat is there are problems that are not solved with Biblical counseling that need a trained professional due to severity or depth of the issues with which the person is dealing. (This is not to say that God cannot use a Biblical counselor to help someone with a severe mental illness. God can heal a person from mental illness in a moment if He chooses to. However, often times He uses the knowledge and tools of professionals in the field to help folks with mental illness through the healing process; similar to how He works through physicians to heal someone of cancer through chemotherapy and radiation treatments.)
If having a Christian counselor or therapist is important to you, the key is to ask the right questions. Be honest about what you’re looking for and if the therapist shares your religious beliefs. Interview your potential therapist like you would someone you were looking to hire. Let them know what you want and ask them the skills and experiences they have that will help get you there. Does this mean that a Christian can’t have a non-Christian therapist. No. But, it does mean that there may be things about which you disagree or problems in which you see things differently or do not have a common understanding. Open and honest communication is always the key in any therapy relationship.