During the course of my career, I have worked at various Employee Assistance Programs, as well as within direct care. In these roles, I often will get requests for help in finding a Christian counselor. I noticed a while ago that when I ask for more clarity on what exactly people are hoping to find, the answers are usually inconsistent. Generally, I believe it is the hope to find a counselor with shared spiritual beliefs or that may aid in a personal journey on a specific spiritual pathway. However, a lot of the time when I ask individuals for more detail on what they are hoping to find with a Christian counselor, there is a definite degree of uncertainty in regards to what they are looking for:

"I want someone who has moral compass."

 

"I'm hoping to find someone I can relate to, who sees things as I do."

 

"My faith is a big part of my life and I want someone who respects that."

 

"I want a therapist who identifies in their personal life as being a Christian."

 

"I'm looking for someone who can help me get back on my spiritual path because I feel like my problems may relate to having strayed from this."

So what exactly even is Christian counseling?

The answer to this is not exactly clear in either how a therapist may be Christian based in their approach, but also in what clients are hoping to find in seeking a Christian counselor. To give a few examples, a counselor who identifies as being Christian in their personal life may also define themselves as being a Christian counselor, but may use the same clinical approaches as other (non-Christian based) counselors do. Other times, a Christian counselor may assign specific Biblical or other spiritual approaches as an aspect of the therapeutic process. Pastoral counseling (which also falls under the umbrella of Christian counseling) may also involve the incorporation of relevant spiritual readings into the sessions, but this type of counseling is generally not clinical in nature and is done by someone who may identify as being a "counselor" while not being licensed as a counselor. Sometimes, a Christian counselor is a counselor who will focus on incorporating spirituality beyond the scope of Christianity into the therapeutic sessions. Needless to say, Christian counseling may look pretty different from counselor to counselor, and while we can help individuals in connecting with a Christian counselor, it is important to consider that not all Christian counselors may have the same approach to counseling.

In the end, if you are looking for a Christian counselor, it’s important to approach finding one in the same ways that you would for a non-Christian based counselor. For starters, if you are seeing a counselor for a specific concern regarding your mental health, always check to make sure that the counselor has experience in working with the concerns you are experiencing. Also, make sure the counselor has a license in the state you are within. It can also be helpful to consider the importance of “fit” with the counselor. You should feel comfortable with the counselor and like you are able to speak openly about what is going on that you'd like to address, free from judgment. If you feel as if you aren't being understood, uncomfortable, or that your goals aren't being focused on, it is always an option to switch to a different counselor. Of course, it can be beneficial to first discuss this with the counselor directly prior to discontinuing your work with them, especially if you feel like you have made some progress in the sessions. Christian or not, counselors are all different and not everyone will have the same experience in going to the same counselor. Some counselors may just not be a good fit for you, even if someone has recommended them to you.

Finding a counselor can be challenging at times, but do remember that you can always call us 24/7 at the EAP and we can help ease some of the stress that may be felt in that process.