Finding a Christian Therapist by Rachel Barletta, CT
So, you’re thinking about finding a counselor. If you’re a Christian, it might be very important to you to see a therapist who shares your faith. You see that some therapists label themselves as Christian counselors, others as biblical counselors, and others just advertise that they integrate spirituality into their practice. What does all this mean? The answer is complicated, because these labels aren’t standardized.
Trying to find a counselor?
If you’re a Christian, it might be very important to you to see a therapist who shares your faith.
Often counselors who call themselves biblical counselors have a different set of credentials than licensed professional counselors. They typically practice from a Scripture-first orientation, and emphasize that secular theories and techniques lack consistency with the Christian worldview. These counselors are often found in church settings. Since they may lack professional counseling qualifications (though they may be members of a biblical counseling association and hold certificates from them), they are likely not covered by insurance.
Christian counselors are a very broad class of counseling professionals. Generally, what separates Christian counselors from biblical counselors is the professional license and accredited education that Christian counselors have. Christian counselors are trained in a variety of theories and techniques, and each professional integrates their faith in unique ways. Since they are usually professionally licensed, many Christian counselors will be covered by insurance policies. If this description of Christian counseling seems a little vague, that’s because it is! A good way to find out how a therapist integrates their faith is by reading their professional biography, or simply asking them.
Now, how about counselors who simply say something about integrating spirituality? What does that mean? Taking a step back, it’s important to emphasize that counselors do not impose their worldview or values onto clients. Whether or not faith is included in therapy is up to the client, not the counselor. So, some therapists will not advertise their faith, but rather that they are comfortable including spirituality in the counseling process. You don’t know what religion (if any) they practice, but you do know that they will not shy away from faith in the counseling room.
This is a lot to take in, so let’s conclude with some highlights. Many counselors consider themselves Christians, but how they integrate their faith into practice varies widely. You can learn more about each counselor’s specific orientation by reading their biographies or asking them directly. Another way to find out what type of counselor you are seeing is by looking at the letters after their name. If you see an LPC, LPCC, LSW or PhD, they are a licensed professional with formal counseling education. Biblical counselors may not have any letters after their name, but could advertise that they are members of the ACBC – the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors. It is also helpful to keep these letters in mind as you are seeking a counselor, since some counselors will use the terms Christian counselor and biblical counselor interchangeably. Finally, we emphasize that while each counselor holds their own worldview and counseling approach, it is not ethical for any counselor to force a worldview on their clients.
Scripture is the lens we use to examine psychological practice, rather than allowing psychological practice to change our faith or view of Scripture.
At Hope Counseling, we prioritize faith in our practice. We believe in the authority of Scripture and use it as a guide for all of our counseling approaches. Scripture is the lens we use to examine psychological practice, rather than allowing psychological practice to change our faith or view of Scripture. While we will never force our views on any client, those clients looking for a Christian perspective in therapy will find welcome at Hope Counseling. Still have questions? Take a look at our statement of faith here: https://hopecounselingcs.com/worldview. Check out our website and each counselor’s biography. Feel free to give us a call or fill out an appointment form online. We are here to help!