I’ve been asked this question many times. Some Christians want to see a counsellor who shares their religious beliefs, others are worried that a Christian counsellor might be too connected in some way to their church or the issues they want to talk about. Other times a Christian might have had negative experiences of seeing a ‘Christian counsellor’ and want to see a therapist who is not a Christian. So, here are some things to consider.
- There is sometimes a difference between a Christian counsellor and a counsellor how is a Christian.
Please see this article, ‘What is Christian Counselling?’
For the rest of this article, let’s assume that you’re asking if you must see a counsellor who is a Christian.
- Ideally, you don’t ‘have’ to see a Christian counsellor.
It is widely accepted that therapy works best when a client wants to be there. Therefore, if you have a sense of, “I guess I have to be here with this Christian counsellor,” then that might hinder how well therapy goes.
Who are you going to be more comfortable with discussing your problems? A Christian or a non-Christian? If your answer is a non-Christian, then you might find therapy more helpful with a non-Christian counsellor.
- What do you want treatment for?
When friends of mine are looking for a good trauma therapist, I encourage them to look for a good trauma therapist rather than a good Christian counsellor. The key is whether they are good at healing trauma. It’s a bit like if you had a broken leg: you probably want to see a doctor who is good at healing legs, rather than a doctor who is a Christian.
However, if you want to discuss your Christian faith with your therapist, it might be beneficial to see a therapist who understands your faith.
- Which issues do you feel you need to agree on?
There are so many different types of Christians that there are bound to be some differences between yourself and a counsellor who is a Christian. Furthermore, we each have our own idea of what God is like, which varies from person to person. What are the key things you need your therapist to agree on?
For example, years ago, I was looking for a counsellor and thought I’d found one who was a Christian, but then read his blog, where he described God in such a different way from how I see God that I knew we would not be able to work well together, especially because it touched on the very issue I was seeking therapy for.
- Can you find a counsellor who respects your religious views?
If you are a Christian, whether you see a Christian or non-Christian counsellor it is worth asking them if they can work with the Churchill framework that is designed to help therapists work well with faith and spirituality. https://www.acc-uk.org/blog/reflection-on-the-churchill-framework/
I hope the above points can help you in choosing a counsellor who is the right fit for you.
By Duncan Forbes