Activating Faith in Therapy

It’s a common question for a Christian counseling center. How do Christianity and psychology fit together? 

The idea that faith and therapy are not diametrically opposed is relatively new. There was essentially no formal intersection of the two before the 1980s. Subsequently, many Christians still have hesitance about undergoing or “needing” therapy. What does it say about my relationship with God if I seek therapy? Am I supposed to just trust God or the church to fix my problem? What does it mean to have faith and need therapy?

Is Therapy a Sign of Weakness? 

For many, choosing therapy feels like a sign of weakness or even failure. Church leaders are at an even greater disadvantage than the average parishioner when it comes to seeking help; often, they have grown accustomed to being on the giving rather than receiving end of service. But anyone firmly rooted in faith practice may struggle to seek therapy. This stigma has plagued the Christian community for far too long. 

Consequently, many suffer in silence while mental health symptoms worsen or lead to larger problems due to a lack of needed care. For example, in my work, I regularly see how relationships deteriorate and hopelessness sets in before people even consider seeking professional help. Therapy is considered a last resort—when things are really bad. As it turns out, this can make therapy take longer and be more difficult.

We Are Never Without Hope

The good news is that we are never without hope. By the biblical definition, faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. This lets us know that we can move in the direction of the healing we hope for by activating our faith.

Seeking professional help when we need it is an act of faith. James teaches that faith comes alive when it is put into action. The sooner we take action, the better. Faith in our ability to find healing and wellness resides in our willingness to acknowledge that we need intervention and to take new, different steps to do whatever it takes to get better. Activating faith in the therapeutic process sets us up for success in treating the whole person and creating lasting change.

The Role of Humans in God’s Will

Since the beginning of creation, it has always been God’s way to use human beings to accomplish His will. Acknowledging this can put our minds at ease and help us understand that, by God’s design, clinicians are equipped and used to assist those in need of care. Just as there is a need for doctors and nurses, judges and lawyers, teachers and bus drivers, cooks and farmers, pilots and truck drivers, etc., mental health professionals serve a great purpose in providing their services to those in need. There is no shame in utilizing the provisions God has provided according to his purpose. On the other hand, we may suffer needlessly when we do not take advantage of those provisions.

Activating Faith and the Process of Therapy

At CCCRD, we believe activating faith will be beneficial to the healing process. This is why we undergo a comprehensive overview of each client’s life and inquire about their belief systems and religious practices. By understanding a person’s life story, we see more clearly how the problems that brought them to counseling may have developed. Then, with all the information gathered during the assessment process, we can better determine how various factors contribute to and maintain the problem. 

Activating faith might also look like working in cooperation with clients to develop spiritual interventions as part of our treatment planning process. Therapy will likely incorporate things like prayer, scripture, discussion of biblical concepts and examples, and an in-depth examination of the human heart, all according to each individual client’s comfort level. Studies have shown that the use of religious and spiritual interventions can be beneficial in treating mental health concerns. 

We are triune beings (body, soul, spirit) made in the image of God. Therefore, we need to consider the whole person—including the spiritual factors of our mental/emotional health. Faith is a key component of the spiritual part of our being. It is what connects us to our Heavenly Father and allows us to seek help in Him. Find transformation and begin your healing journey by activating faith in therapy.