“I often have prospective clients ask me what Christian counseling really means. Is it using Bible verses for every issue? Is it addressing every problem only from a spiritual perspective? What if they don’t want to talk about Jesus?”

From time to time, I will get asked by a client or a prospective client: can we do biweekly sessions? When asked this, I will always push for weekly therapy. And it’s not just to line my pocket. Why counseling once a week? The best answer to this question is the shortest one: Because it works.

Living in isolation increases the risk for premature mortality by nearly a third, while strong, close social relationships are one of the most reliable long-term predictors of mental and physical health. But today, when there are more resources available than ever before—friends, family, partners, and even AI chatbots—why would someone bother seeking out counseling at all?