Why It’s Ok to Have Jesus and a Therapist Too
When I’m meeting people for the first time, I often get that familiar question, “what do you do?” When I tell them I’m a therapist, I hear a wide range of responses. Most are intrigued. Some ask if I’m analyzing them as we are speaking. A few even cross their arms or excuse themselves. But the most interesting response I sometimes get is in church settings: How can you be a therapist as a Christian?
I have a coffee mug that has written in bold letters across its surface, “It’s OK to have Jesus and a therapist too!” Admittedly, I’m a little biased since I’m a Christian and a therapist, but it’s true. Having faith in God, and needing help from an expert on this side of eternity, aren’t incompatible.
Help and healing in Scripture
In Scripture, we see many instances of healing: Job, lepers, the blind, the woman who touched Jesus’ robe, the centurion’s son, Hezekiah, and many, many more. Most of the time, someone had to step out in faith and take action to go somewhere, see someone, or ask for something in order for that moment of healing to take place.
Seeking help from someone else doesn’t have to be a choice “over” God. It can be God working through that person and with you in the healing process!
The prevalence of mental health concerns
1 in 5 people in the US experiences mental health problems like depression or anxiety [1, 2, 3]. Around a third of adults (34%) reported that stress is completely overwhelming most days [4]. 76% said they have experienced physical and mental health impacts due to stress [4]. About 1 in 7 people have a substance abuse disorder [5]. 40% of marriages end in divorce [6].
What do these statistics suggest? Mental health concerns are common and widespread. Being Christian doesn’t mean we are immune to suffering, relationship and family problems, stress, anxiety, or even addiction. Followers of Christ can (and likely will) face these problems too.
God and your primary care physician
Here’s a question: Have you been to a doctor in the last year? If not, would you go if you were having a life-threatening emergency? I hope your answer is a resounding, “Yes, of course!” When we have physical health concerns, we trust those who have studied the human body, health, and wellness to advise us on getting better.
So, how is going to a medical professional any different from a mental health professional? God works through everything and everyone, including therapists. Just like he would guide the hand of a surgeon, he can work in the therapy process and give insight and wisdom to your therapist.
Can’t my pastor counsel me?
What about your pastor? Those anointed by God have a tremendous amount of wisdom, and a good pastor is a true blessing in times of trouble. And yet pastors are not always equipped to deal with mental health issues. They don’t have the training, professional licensure, liability, and credentials to effectively help someone navigate these unique kinds of situations. In fact, here at CCCRD, many of our referrals come from pastors and churches in our area. We seek to work in partnership with the local church, offering our specific specialties for the relational and mental health needs faced by church-goers and non-Christians alike.
The Bible’s call to seek counsel
It is not against our faith as Christians to go to counseling. In fact, it is biblically sound to seek counsel. Let’s see what the Bible says:
Without consultation, plans are frustrated, But with many counselors they succeed. – Proverbs 15:22
Through insolence comes nothing but strife, But wisdom is with those who receive counsel. – Proverbs 13:10
Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. – Proverbs 11:14
God doesn’t just tell us it’s OK to seek counsel—he even suggests it! When seeking a counselor as a Christian, it’s important to seek a licensed therapist who is at a Christian practice, since they can incorporate your shared faith in the therapy process. Mental health and personal development offer us invitations to grow deeper in faith and knowledge of who God is.
Here at CCCRD, our Christian therapists won’t just provide excellent therapy but they will also look at your problems and solutions through the lens of Scripture, invite God into the session, and pray with you too! Learn more about what therapy could offer here.
[1] Mental Health By the Numbers | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness
[2] Mental Illness | NIHM: National Institute of Mental Health
[3] About Mental Health (cdc.gov)
[4] Stress in America 2022: Concerned for the future, beset by inflation (apa.org)
[5] Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) | Disease or Condition of the Week | CDC