Should Christians Go to Counseling?

In the United States, institutions and public figures are struggling like never before.  This loss of permanence coupled with a near daily stream of messaging about being better than you are is pushing many people into looking for help.  One of the ways many people look for help is through a counselor, specifically a therapist utilizing talk therapy.  The general premise of talk therapy is that by saying how you feel out loud to a trusted person, you have the potential to improve your situation.  Therapists often give feedback to the client, helping them find peace or happiness when it seems elusive.

So, should Christians use this type of help?

The field of psychology is relatively new and is still ironing out some kinks.  So that question is very difficult to answer in a simple yes or no way.  Generally, I believe it is permissible for Christians to go to counseling and in many cases, very beneficial to someone struggling with past events or experiences. 

That being said, there are times in which it may not be wise to participate in counseling.  I personally have been to non-Christian counselors and at times, have had to end the arrangement due to theological or philosophical differences that made the care provided untenable for me as a follower of Christ.  If you are a Christian and you do work with a non-Christian counselor, be honest with yourself about your ability to discern ungodly counsel from good counsel.  This could be difficult for some Christians and that is OK. 

It is usually a good idea to seek counseling from someone who shares your core convictions.  If you believe that Christ is your Lord and Savior, a counselor who agrees with you will often be working with you in your journey, rather than working against your core convictions.

All in all, counseling can be very beneficial for people, including Christians, wrestling with past events that become a problem for them today.

Fr. Gavin Pate

Photo by Zoltan Tasi on Unsplash