Christians and Counseling: Incompatible or Complementary?

It is no secret that humans have long wrestled with the complexity of our design. Are we mostly spiritual with physical bodies? Mostly physical with eternal spirits? While the answer may not be black and white, the conclusion we come to will shape how we approach this important question: can Christians go to counseling? In a world where mental health concerns are increasingly acknowledged but often not addressed effectively, it’s crucial for believers to have a solid understanding of how faith and counseling can work in harmony rather than creating more confusion and division.

Complex Beings: Body, Mind, and Soul

As Christians, we recognize that we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)—every part of us! When we reduce our existence to any one dimension, be it spiritual, physical, or psychological, we deny God’s handiwork and the purposeful complexity of His design. And we handicap ourselves even as we seek to understand and support our loved ones. Understanding as much as we can about human nature should never weaken our faith—rather it should give us greater glimpses of His glory and goodness. What a creative Creator and good Father we have! He is not threatened by what we know or how we come to know it, and neither should we fear the intricacies of the human mind, body, and soul. 

Psychology and the Sovereignty of God: A Balanced Perspective

Psychology is not a threat to the sovereignty of God. After all, because He is sovereign He can use anyone and anything to heal and restore His people. Counseling is one tool that can help us to navigate the complexities of our minds—our experiences, reactions, emotions, and memories. Acknowledging our struggles is the first step toward healing, and asking for help—from a friend, a pastor, a mentor, or a professional counselor (or all of the above!)—is often a good next step. We were not designed to exist in a vacuum. We need each other and we need to be able to ask for help. God, in his goodness and sovereignty, created us this way.

Dispelling Stigmas: Language Matters

As we learn to navigate the mental health system and begin to see people from a holistic perspective, it’s crucial to use appropriate language. We need to properly understand what mental health struggles look like, use correct verbiage, and be prepared to support individuals mind, body, and soul. Mental health struggles are not always indicative of spiritual deficiency, and assuming so can inadvertently result in shame and despair. This is not to say there are not also sin issues at play (this is often the case!), but assuming this is the only problem can do more harm than good. When we lead with compassion and a genuine desire to understand the whole picture, then we can begin to pave the way for a more supportive, informed, and healing community.

Community Support and Professional Counsel: A Dual Approach

We need pastoral and community support and we often need sound counsel from professionals as we heal from physical and emotional wounds—results of living in a broken world. As Ed Stetzer noted, “Scripture and medication and/or counseling are neither enemies nor mutually-exclusive. Scriptural authority is not challenged by the efficacy of medical science." The reality is, our struggles are not often one-dimensional; they are usually as complex as we are. “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14). We were never meant to struggle alone, and while the word “therapy” is not in the Bible, the reality is that modern therapy is a way to seek wise counsel and acknowledge the complexity of our suffering, trusting that God can use psychology and evidence-based practices to help us solve problems and heal wounds in a God-honoring way. It is an instrument of healing at our disposal—not the only one, but an invaluable one. It’s not wrong to seek help—it’s wise. Our faith is not devoid of action!

In the delicate but necessary dance between faith and mental health, our hope is that as believers we can learn to find a healthy, God-honoring rhythm, and that we can stop stepping on each other’s toes! Let’s go ahead and refute the notion that counseling is incompatible with Christianity, and instead seek to reconcile and work toward healing and wholeness as much as we can this side of eternity. As we support one another physically, emotionally, and spiritually, may we embody the heart of Christ in our love, in our counsel, in our support, in our collaboration, and in our pursuit of truth and healing for God’s people in a broken world. 

Author: Kalie Moore, MA, LCMHC. Clinical Therapist. Co-Founder of Dwell Ministry, PC.

More Resources:

How to Support Those Struggling with Mental Health in the Church - DWELL

The Church and Mental Illness - Ed Stetzer, Church Leaders

Should Christians Go to Therapy? What Does the Bible Say? - Neami Tervil, Christian Mental Health Initiative

Necessary Conversations: The Church, Suicide, and Mental Health - Ed Stetzer, Church Leaders

Can Christians Go to Counseling? - Jeremy Smith, Church and Mental Health