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 therapist?”
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 an openly Christian therapist.
Things to Consider
I cannot speak to your specific situation or tell you what to do. However, I do believe that a trained 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.
If the way your therapist approaches spiritual things is important to you, ask them about this. Many therapists offer a short consultation prior to scheduling the first appointment. You may want to ask something like 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?”
- “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?”
What About My Work as a Counselor
One of the main areas where I offer support to folks through therapy is religious trauma and spiritual abuse, and I am a survivor of both. I do not market myself as a Christian therapist. 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 incoporate 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 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 is a licensed clinical mental health counselor providing telehealth services in the state of North Carolina. She specializes in providing support for folks who struggle with feelings of not being enough, which often stem from messages of being “too much.” She works from a trauma-informed perspective, and believes that ALL people deserve respect, compassion, and to feel heard. Learn more about Michelle by visiting www.MichelleFMoseley.com or following her on Instagram – @therapy_with_michelle