You have decided to talk with a mental health professional about your concerns, but now you’re wondering, “Do I need to find a Christian counselor?”
Maybe your Christian faith is very important to you and you want to ensure you work with a therapist who will not try to change that. Maybe you’re used to seeking support from your pastor or other church leaders, and are a little uncertain about talking with someone outside the church. Maybe you want some support around your own faith journey or experience, and want to be sure your therapist can “speak your language” in relation to spiritual topics.
These are just some of the reasons a person may question if they should seek out a Christian counselor.
I’m Michelle F. Moseley, LCMHC, a licensed mental health counselor in North Carolina who has experience working/serving within evangelical Christian contexts. I have also been working in clinical settings since 2016, providing support to many individuals who are navigating their experience of both faith and mental health.
Things to Consider
I cannot speak to your specific situation or tell you what to do. However, I do believe that a trained, ethical therapist who is open to allowing spirituality into the sessions as the client prefers will be able to provide the support you need regardless of whether or not the therapist advertises as a “Christian therapist.”
There are some therapists who are clear in their marketing that they do not work with religion and/or spirituality. There are also therapists who are clear that they do not identify as Christian and that they do not incorporate a Christian framework into their therapeutic work. These folks may be great therapists, and they may not be the therapist for you if you’re looking for support within a Christian worldview.
There are other therapists who openly market themselves as Christian, and who may even provide services within some type of Christian church or ministry. These folks can be an excellent source of support for some. However, I advise looking for someone who has training in therapy or counseling and is a licensed professional (LPC, LCMHC, LCSW, LMFT, etc) in addition to their identity as a Christian. This helps ensure the therapist can incorporate both a Christian worldview and a strong clinical understanding of mental health into your work together.
As a side note, there are some people and organizations who promote themselves as “Christian counselors” and their services as “Christian counseling.” Often, these organizations and the people providing these services have little to no training related to mental health. They may have participated in a few hours of education focused on applying Bible verses or concepts to common life situations. It is important to know the background, training, and credentials of someone when seeking mental health support. In the US, look for someone with a professional license (LPC, LCMHC, LCSW, LMFT, etc.) to practice therapy. These individuals have at minimum a Master’s degree focused on mental health, and have completed 3000-6000 hours of additional training in understanding and supporting mental health concerns.
How Can I Know?
You can ask a potential therapist about their education and training, as well as about the way they approach spiritual beliefs in practice. Many therapists offer a short consultation prior to scheduling the first appointment. You may want to ask questions similar to the following, depending on the situation:
- “I see that you call yourself a Christian counselor on your website. Can you tell me how that influences your work with clients?”
- “What is your educational background? What is your licensure or credentials to be providing counseling? Where can I verify this information?”
- “I couldn’t find anything about spirituality in your marketing. Do you incorporate spirituality or religion into your therapy sessions?”
- “I realize we are located in the Bible Belt, but I am not a Christian and do not want that to be part of therapy. How can I be sure you will respect that?”
- “I may want to talk about my spiritual beliefs in therapy, but I don’t want that to be the focus. How will you honor that preference?”
My Approach as a Licensed Counselor
A lot of my work as a therapist involves supporting those who have experienced religious trauma and spiritual abuse. I also have lived experience of both. I do not market myself as a Christian therapist. I approach my work as a therapist in a way that is spiritually inclusive.
I am trained and willing to incorporate spirituality and religion (not only Christianity) into sessions with clients who desire that. I studied World Religions in undergrad and have continued to learn about the various ways people find meaning in life through spirituality and religion. I spent more than a decade serving in volunteer and/or vocational Christian ministry. I am able to understand the important role of spiritual things in folks’ lives and to incorporate that into our therapeutic work, when a client desires that.
I am also happy to provide therapeutic support to those who don’t have spiritual beliefs and/or don’t want them to be a part of therapy. I view my role as a counselor to be supportive and to help my clients make the changes they are seeking. Sometimes that includes talking about and utilizing spiritual principles in our work. Other times that means helping clients come to terms with harm caused within religion. And sometimes the work of therapy doesn’t include spirituality at all. In other words, the if and when of how religion/spirituality may show up in therapy with me is client-dependent.
If this sounds like it may be a good fit for you, and you’re located in North Carolina, please feel free to contact me so we can chat about the possibility of working together in therapy. No matter your spiritual beliefs, or the absence of, I’d be honored to support you in creating the change you want to see in your life.
Michelle F. Moseley (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in NC (#12491). She believes ALL people deserve respect, compassion, and access to mental and physical healthcare. Michelle specializes in working with survivors of religious trauma, and with those who have body image concerns, finding there is frequent overlap in these areas. She also frequently supports late-identified neurodivergent individuals as they navigate the grief and relief of a new understanding of self. You can learn more about Michelle by visiting her website at MichelleFMoseley.com or following her on Instagram – @therapy_with_michelle
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