ANSWER:
Great question! Maybe you are working through life challenges, trauma, grief, anger, marriage conflict, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, or other issues. Or maybe someone you know is struggling. Either way, finding a Christian counselor who has strong credentials and solid faith is critical when taking steps toward healing and wholeness.
Still, the number of available therapists can seem overwhelming, especially when you don’t know who to trust and how to find a right fit. Or maybe you’re not sure what to expect from Christian-based counseling. You might feel embarrassed about asking for help. You may worry about cost or feel afraid that therapy won’t work. On the other hand, you might not have any hesitations and are ready to start as soon as possible!
We’re going to cover all of it here, including important background for folks who aren’t sure if Christian counseling is right for them. No matter where you are in your journey, we’re glad to offer practical suggestions as you (or your loved ones!) decide the best way to move forward.
- Focus on the Family’s Christian Counselors Network
- How do I know if I need counseling?
- Why should I consider Christian counseling?
- How do I find a good Christian counselor?
- What spiritual questions should I ask?
- What professional questions should I ask?
- What practical questions should I ask?
- How do I know if counseling is working?
Focus on the Family’s Christian Counselors Network
If you’re ready to find a Christian counselor, we’re ready to help! Our licensed and pastoral counselors here at Focus on the Family and through our Christian Counselors Network provide services solely based on a practical Christian worldview. We make every effort to be sure that the counseling we give is thoroughly biblical as well as scientifically sound.
Call us for a free one-time phone consultation at 1-855-771-HELP (4357). You can also fill out our online form to request a callback. (Please know that Focus on the Family won’t call another person on your behalf. And all phone consultations are kept confidential except in those few situations that licensed counselors are not legally able to do so.)
For ongoing support, check out our Christian Counselors Network (CCN). You’ll find a nationwide referral system of qualified and reputable counselors working in your region who can provide in-depth, long-term help.
We don’t know all the CCN counselors personally, but each is licensed as a mental health professional in the state where they practice and has completed an extensive application reviewed by our staff. (Contact their office directly to determine whether their Christian beliefs align with yours and for fee and insurance information.)
How do I know if I need counseling?
Some people easily reach out for help. They’ve had the benefit of caring, wise counsel among their circle of trusted friends and mentors. They’ve also learned that navigating life experiences sometimes takes the expertise of a professional.
Other people actively avoid counseling — and that’s understandable! Pain of any kind can be scary to deal with, and counseling isn’t a quick fix. But trained counselors can effectively help you sort through any issue that’s hurting you.
Think about it like this: If you had stomach pain that lasted more than a day or two, you’d probably see a doctor. In the same way, your emotional and mental health is just as important.
If you’re not sure whether you need to talk with a counselor, ask yourself the questions below. (Remember, too, that you can start with a call to one of our licensed or pastoral counselors.)
Questions to ask yourself:
- Have I spent a lot of time during the past few weeks thinking and worrying about an issue? Am I unable to get it off my mind?
- Have I experienced sudden weight loss or gain? Loss of appetite? Trouble sleeping?
- Have I had trouble concentrating? Is it hard to focus on the task at hand?
- Have I had lasting feelings of hopelessness and despair?
- Have I started to use alcohol or drugs, maybe to self-medicate?
- Have I noticed a decrease in my patience and ability to manage frustration?
- Have I seen an increase in the frequency and intensity of anger?
- Do behavior changes in my spouse or other close family members worry me?
If you answered yes to any of the questions, you might benefit from speaking with a Christian counselor.
Why should I consider Christian counseling?
God designed human beings as physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual beings. When it comes to mental health, we don’t advocate one treatment method over another. But we do believe that a healthy spiritual life is essential to long-term recovery—and we approach life and its struggles from a Christian worldview.
Secular psychology doesn’t support traditional Christian teachings. Instead, it often makes the person the center of their decisions. In other words, secular psychology doesn’t acknowledge a sovereign God who loves us and asks us to trust and obey His wisdom and authority. That’s why we strongly recommend that believers receive therapy only from practitioners who share their Christian faith.
As we mentioned earlier, staff counselors here at Focus on the Family and through our Christian Counselors Network offer services framed by a practical Christian worldview. This includes praying for clients (before, during, and after treatment) and working with biblical concepts, principles, and references.
But even if you’re not a follower of Jesus Christ, don’t let that stop you from meeting with a Christian counselor! Counselors are obligated to not impose their own beliefs on their clients. It may be worth talking with the counselor to determine if they can provide relevant help.
How do I find a good Christian counselor?
Choosing a Christian counselor can be difficult. Each person, each family is unique. One size doesn’t fit all!
Start with prayer
Ask the Lord to give you insight to make this important decision with wisdom and discernment. The counselor you choose should be trained, qualified, and highly skilled. And they should also be a match for you in terms of personality, temperament, values, and basic beliefs. The Lord knows your situation, and He can lead you to the person who can best help you. Ultimately, it’s not the wisdom of man but the work of the Holy Spirit that heals.
Dig deeper
Choose a therapist with three basic categories in mind: spiritual, professional, and practical. When you understand the importance of each one and ask relevant follow-up questions, you’ll be on your way to a worthwhile experience.
What spiritual questions should I ask a potential counselor?
As you can imagine, there are all kinds of therapists who represent almost every belief system and worldview under the sun. So, while it would be easy to select a counselor because they were the first name you came across, dig deeper to make an informed choice.
As we said earlier, you need to find a counselor whose outlook on life is compatible with yours. If you’re a Christian, it’s essential that your counselor share your faith. Look for one who does four things:
- Integrates biblical and psychological principles.
- Filters all treatment through the lens of Scripture.
- Follows the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
- Prays for you.
How will you know? Ask a potential therapist the following questions:
Are you a Christian?
Most healthcare providers, Christian or not, are in the profession because they want to serve others. So asking this question doesn’t imply that non-Christian professionals have some sort of agenda to harm Christian clients. Keep in mind, though, that Christian counseling and secular counseling are worlds apart.
How does being a Christian impact your counseling? Do you pray with clients? Do you reference Scripture?
Christian therapists often have personal testimonies that reveal their life experiences. They can share these stories with you to build empathy or to simply assure you of their faith experience.
What professional questions should I ask a potential counselor?
The credentials of mental health professionals and their ethical codes can be confusing. As an overview, there are three basic levels of assistance: psychiatrist, psychologist, and counselor.
Psychiatrist
Psychiatrists have M.D. after their names and are medical doctors or physicians. In addition to psychotherapy, they are trained and licensed to prescribe medicine. (In most states, psychiatrists are the only mental health professionals allowed to do so.)
Psychologist
These individuals may have one of several credentials, including Ph.D. (doctorate in philosophy), Psy.D. (doctorate in psychology), or Ed.D. (doctorate in education). In most cases, these mental health professionals provide counseling and psychological testing. Most states don’t allow psychologists to prescribe medications.
Counselor
Counselors most often have a master’s degree in one or more fields of study, including psychology, counseling, and social work. Some of the credentials are LPC (state-licensed professional counselor), NCC (national certified counselor), and LCSW (state-licensed clinical social worker). These therapists provide counseling, and many are trained to provide psychological testing.
Questions to ask a potential counselor about their training and expertise:
What are your degrees and major fields of study?
The descriptions we just talked about will help you understand a counselor’s answers.
Are you state-licensed? What license do you currently hold?
In most cases, a state license is necessary for a mental health professional to practice independently.
Are you trained or specialized in certain areas?
Specialization may not be an advantage if you don’t need it (specialized treatment might also cost more than seeing a general counselor). Consider your need, and ask your therapist if your difficulties require a specialist.
How many clients have you treated with my type of challenges?
Therapists should be able to give prospective clients an accurate view of how familiar they are with particular issues. Ethical counselors are aware of and acknowledge their limitations, and they should offer referrals to other professionals if they lack the experience a client needs.
How do you define successful treatment?
Successful treatment might be difficult to define, and no counselor can guarantee improvement. However, both the therapist and the client can set measurable therapeutic goals.
At the same time, don’t believe a counselor who automatically tells you that you need years of treatment. Sadly, there are some counselors — Christians among them — who will try to convince you to become dependent on them or something other than God. These practitioners may string you along for months or years to hang on to your business. Some might even lead you to believe that they doubt the possibility of your full healing (for example, assuming once an addict, always an addict).
But we don’t believe that this mindset lines up with what the Bible says. It’s true that therapy must be thorough and comprehensive — and that recovery is a process, not a magical event. Still, the message of the Gospel is that we can be a new creation in Christ. God tells us that He can restore the years consumed by the locust if we place ourselves fully in His hands.
What theoretical approaches do you follow in therapy?
Mental health professionals use many therapeutic approaches. If you are a Christian, your primary need is to determine if any of them involve strategies or content that contradict your beliefs and theological convictions.
You also want to be sure that a counselor’s approaches integrate the whole person: body, mind, and spirit. This kind of comprehensive method addresses behaviors, thoughts, emotions, and your relationship with Christ.
Have you ever been in therapy?
This question may surprise you. But a counselor who has gone through therapy will, in many cases, be better able to come alongside you. Every person in this world is wounded in some way. Would you rather trust your care to someone who has gone through this healing process — or someone who hasn’t?
What practical questions should I ask a potential counselor?
These last few questions cover logistics and the overarching importance of trust.
What is your hourly rate? Are your services typically reimbursed by insurance?
Hourly rates vary based on academic training, licensure, specialty, experience, and location. Outpatient services don’t typically require pre-certification, but check your insurance policy to be on the safe side.
The cost of healthcare, including mental healthcare, worries almost everyone. But when your well-being is at risk, don’t let fears about expense keep you from getting help. Make sure you understand your insurance benefits and a potential counselor’s rates. Then, if the balance only causes more anxiety, consider finding a different counselor — or ask if they’re willing to set up a payment plan that works for your budget.
How often should we meet?
Ask about frequency as well as office hours. You may be able to find a counselor who works weekends and evenings. Location is also a variable. Because of the importance of your concerns and what you hope to accomplish with counseling, you may have to give up some conveniences to find the right therapist. However, many counselors offer the option of remote (telehealth) appointments.
Does this counselor seem like a good fit?
During the first few sessions, you should be able to form a basic impression of the therapist. Ask yourself the following questions about the counselor. If you don’t like the answers, keep looking for a professional who can meet your needs:
- Do they put me on edge, or do they make me feel comfortable?
- Is the therapist asking questions to learn more about me?
- Do they listen to what I say or try to pigeonhole me into an assessment I’m not comfortable with?
- Do I trust them? (A lot of qualities contribute to a healthy counseling experience, but the most important one is trust. If you don’t trust the counselor, they likely won’t be able to help you in the long run.)
How do I know if counseling is working?
Counseling can be extremely valuable if you’re willing to be honest with yourself and your therapist — and do the hard work of facing and working through life’s problems.
To evaluate your experience and decide whether you might need to meet with a different counselor, ask yourself:
- Have I made measurable progress in every goal set during the therapeutic process?
- Have the day-to-day coping strategies I’ve learned grown to offset personal distress and clinical symptoms?
We know that navigating the counseling process can be complicated and sensitive. As a starting point, remember that our offer stands to call our licensed or pastoral counselors for a free one-time phone consultation at 1-855-771-HELP (4357). They’d welcome the chance to talk with you more.
Articles for further reading
How to Know When Your Marriage Is in Trouble
How Do You Find a Good Marriage Counselor?
How Do I Know If This Counselor Is Right for Me?
