The interesting thing about therapy is that it gets scrutinized in a
way that no other field does. Christians may ask if someone is a Christian
architect but I doubt they would ask if someone does Christian architecture.
Also, do we believe that a Christian Architect is a better architect or is a
Christian Lawyer a better lawyer? Will the Christian lawyer be able to argue
better, know the law better, or get a better outcome? The assumption is that a
Christian therapist will provide better service, perhaps, as some have
suggested, because God will guide him or her. But my experience has been that
Christians don’t fare any better than those who aren’t Christians in the work
force. I have also met very bad therapists who are very devout Christians. I
have also met exceptional therapists who were not Christians.
The other assumption is that Christian therapy is the only therapy that will work. All of
the evidence disproves this assumption quite quickly. People get better through
secular counseling all the time. And there really is no consensus on what
“Christian therapy” would be. The bible does not outline a protocol for therapy.
It does not state how to help someone with Autism, Schizophrenia,
Hypochondriasis, Panic Attacks or Depression. How do we help someone who is
struggling with anxiety? We could point to the bible and state that this person
should believe the scripture and pray, but what if they are still struggling?
How can we advocate that as the only solution if many find relief from their
anxiety without scripture and prayer? Some would get anxious at this thought
and suggest that it is a turning away from God, but many are able to embrace
God more fully after working through their anxiety.
So if the idea of a particular Christian flavored therapy is an
illusion, and Christian therapists are not necessarily more effective, what
difference does God make? And why should anyone bother going to a Christian
therapist? I think the answers are much more subtle and yet much more profound
than we tend to realize.
I think the value of God is not in the therapist but in the client. The
client who has a relationship with God has access to love, hope, and grace.
Finding comfort in unconditional love, drawing from the faith and hope that God
provides can never be underestimated. When we can connect to a loving Heavenly
Father there is tremendous support, encouragement, and healing. That is the
value of God in therapy. In my opinion, God does not seem to be more inclined to
miraculously heal Christians than he is for those who are not Christians, but we can
never underestimate the value of a relationship with Him.
Why a Christian therapist then? Honestly, if you have a choice
between a mediocre Christian therapist and a good secular one, take the secular
one. You can get biblical advice and prayer from your pastor, but you need a
trained healing relationship from your therapist. But, all things being equal,
it really helps to know that your therapist believes what you do. I do not think
that people need to be in agreement on all points to enter into a therapeutic
relationship but I do think it can be hard for someone to talk about their
relationship with God, knowing that the other person doesn’t get it. Having
someone who is familiar with the Christian “culture” can provide a level of
security that can be helpful. Having a therapist who believes in the value of a
real relationship with a loving God, not just as hypothetical but as reality,
can make the therapeutic process much easier. There may also be practical opportunities to
bring God into the session or discuss God's involvement that would be difficult or
impossible with a secular therapist.
way that no other field does. Christians may ask if someone is a Christian
architect but I doubt they would ask if someone does Christian architecture.
Also, do we believe that a Christian Architect is a better architect or is a
Christian Lawyer a better lawyer? Will the Christian lawyer be able to argue
better, know the law better, or get a better outcome? The assumption is that a
Christian therapist will provide better service, perhaps, as some have
suggested, because God will guide him or her. But my experience has been that
Christians don’t fare any better than those who aren’t Christians in the work
force. I have also met very bad therapists who are very devout Christians. I
have also met exceptional therapists who were not Christians.
The other assumption is that Christian therapy is the only therapy that will work. All of
the evidence disproves this assumption quite quickly. People get better through
secular counseling all the time. And there really is no consensus on what
“Christian therapy” would be. The bible does not outline a protocol for therapy.
It does not state how to help someone with Autism, Schizophrenia,
Hypochondriasis, Panic Attacks or Depression. How do we help someone who is
struggling with anxiety? We could point to the bible and state that this person
should believe the scripture and pray, but what if they are still struggling?
How can we advocate that as the only solution if many find relief from their
anxiety without scripture and prayer? Some would get anxious at this thought
and suggest that it is a turning away from God, but many are able to embrace
God more fully after working through their anxiety.
So if the idea of a particular Christian flavored therapy is an
illusion, and Christian therapists are not necessarily more effective, what
difference does God make? And why should anyone bother going to a Christian
therapist? I think the answers are much more subtle and yet much more profound
than we tend to realize.
I think the value of God is not in the therapist but in the client. The
client who has a relationship with God has access to love, hope, and grace.
Finding comfort in unconditional love, drawing from the faith and hope that God
provides can never be underestimated. When we can connect to a loving Heavenly
Father there is tremendous support, encouragement, and healing. That is the
value of God in therapy. In my opinion, God does not seem to be more inclined to
miraculously heal Christians than he is for those who are not Christians, but we can
never underestimate the value of a relationship with Him.
Why a Christian therapist then? Honestly, if you have a choice
between a mediocre Christian therapist and a good secular one, take the secular
one. You can get biblical advice and prayer from your pastor, but you need a
trained healing relationship from your therapist. But, all things being equal,
it really helps to know that your therapist believes what you do. I do not think
that people need to be in agreement on all points to enter into a therapeutic
relationship but I do think it can be hard for someone to talk about their
relationship with God, knowing that the other person doesn’t get it. Having
someone who is familiar with the Christian “culture” can provide a level of
security that can be helpful. Having a therapist who believes in the value of a
real relationship with a loving God, not just as hypothetical but as reality,
can make the therapeutic process much easier. There may also be practical opportunities to
bring God into the session or discuss God's involvement that would be difficult or
impossible with a secular therapist.