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5/17 - How Faith and Therapy Work Together in the Healing Process

 


How Faith & Therapy Work Together 

in the Healing Process

Why This Matters

As a Christian and faith-based counselor, I am often asked about the integration of faith and therapy.  This question is becoming more and more important in our current age.  This question matters because studies show that mental health needs are increasing with each passing day.  More and more people are suffering from anxiety or depression, social anxiety, or other significant mental health issues.  Yet, within the Christian church, people are often unsure of where to turn for help.  They find themselves asking, "Do I go and talk to my pastor?" or "Do I reach out to a professional therapist?"  And I would say neither answer is 100% correct.  Really, it all depends on what each person is dealing with.

Historically, there is a sort of tension between Psychology and Theology.  In the past, many church leaders believed that psychology and theology could not coexist.  But it is now becoming more common to find Christian counselors who integrate the Christian faith with psychology, to provide wholistic care for people.  Treatment that includes mind, body, and spirit. 

The Biblical Basis for Counseling

There are so many place in Scripture that show us the value of counseling.  And it shows us that Christ Himself points toward the importance of counseling.  I think of Proverbs 11:14, where it says, "In the multitude of counselors there is safety."  And Galatians 6:2, where Jesus tells us to "Bear one another's burdens..."  As a Christian therapist, I consider that my calling, to bear the burdens of others, to help them through difficult times and provide support.  And finally, in Isaiah 9:6, even Jesus is referred to a the Wonderful Counselor.  I don't think He would use that reference or description if He did find value in counseling.  In fact, we are told throughout the Bible that God gives us spiritual gifts and equips us for the work He calls us to do.  And I believe he equips Christian counselors with the skills needed to provide faith-based, biblically sound counseling to His people.

How Psychology Supports Christian Counseling

Psychology doesn't have to operate outside of our Christian beliefs.  In fact, I have found that the clinical knowledge and skills of Psychology, pairs well with the spiritual beliefs of Christians.  
  • Psychology uses clinical frameworks to validate our emotional experiences, including grief, trauma, and anxiety.  Psychology provides information on the biological or neurological reasoning behind our emotions, actions, and behaviors.
  • Psychology gives us practical, evidence-based tools to use when we feel overwhelmed, in addition to our faith and prayer.  These tools provide concrete ways to manage our difficult emotions in the moment, while still allowing us to maintain our faith and trust in Christi.  As humans, sometimes we need that tangible "fix" in the moment, to get us through a rough patch, AND we still continue to trust in God for His ultimate response.
  • Through Christian counselors, psychology can provide additional understanding of our behaviors and relationships.  Because of their extensive training, counselors can help you identify patterns of behavior and root causes of those patterns or the causes of other suffering.  Christian counselors can assist further by integrating your faith into the healing process.
  • And Psychology helps you increase your own self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and reliance on Christ.  It can help you develop confidence in who you are in Christ and develop skills to maximize who God created you to be.

Faith's Unique Role in Healing

Faith is a powerful healing force. It provides purpose in pain, strength for trials, and a framework for forgiveness and grace that psychology alone can’t offer.
  • Hope in Christ fuels your own internal resilience, the kind of resilience only Christ can provide through a relationship Him.
  • Scripture guides our values and choices. This coupled with a clinical understanding of your mental health struggles, allows for a fuller, faith-based, wholistic approach to healing.
  • As a Christian, you should feel that all the parts of who you are, are welcome and involved in your counseling sessions. By including faith in your mental health journey, you can comfortable inviting Christ into your counseling sessions through prayer. This allows for His divine presence to be involved directly in your healing process.
  • Biblical principles of forgiveness, grace, and redemption are reinforced with therapeutic skills and tools. These principles are not looked down upon, but instead they are deemed as essential and talked about in the joint context of mental health and faith.

What Integrated Counseling Looks Like

  • Integrated counseling about clinical excellence with Christ at the center. It is the intersection of your Christian worldview and psychological/clinical knowledge & experience.
  • Integrated counseling combines biblical truth with evidence-based tools. Integrated counseling uses Scripture alongside cognitive-behavioral or trauma-informed approaches, as well as many other therapeutic approaches and interventions.
  • Integrated counseling acknowledges the importance of and makes space for the use of prayer and spritual disciplines during the counseling sessions.
  • Integrated counseling also involves collaboration between clergy and Christian counselors. This is an essential component in the wholistic approach to care & healing.

Your Faith Does Not Have to Exist Separately From Your Mental Health!


If you'd like to see any of my previous blog posts, please click here or visit the Blog tab on my website.

If you're interested in couples or individual counseling, please visit my website and schedule a free 15 minute consultation - www.mustardseedchristiancounseling.com.

I provide online individual and couples counseling throughout California, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Florida.


Website - www.mustardseedchristiancounseling.com

Instagram - @brittaniedmillslmft
Phone - (925) 335-6122


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