Does My Psychologist Need to Be Christian?

6 Sept

Written by Madeleine Grace Scholefield, Australia

I sat in the plush chair, legs crossed, my fingernails clenched tightly in my palm. On the far wall a clock ticked ominously, and I scanned my eyes over the corner bookshelf hosting a jumbled assortment of diagnostic manuals, psychology textbooks and the odd memoir.

The psychologist watched me, quietly.

“I’m a believer,” I continued, telling her more about myself.

I thought for a second, and then looked up at her: “Are you?”

I didn’t think it was rude to ask, not when I knew that the owner of this psychology practice was Christian. That’s half of the reason I’d chosen to come here; so I could have a psychologist who understood how important my faith was to me and my mental health. I expected she’d chuckle and say “Of course I am!”.

She didn’t. “No, I’m not,” was her answer. “Does that bother you?”

She could probably tell from my look of surprise that it did. Seeing a psychologist already felt like a taboo thing for my 16 year old self to be doing, so seeing one that wouldn’t understand my faith felt downright sacrilegious.

What if she tells me things that go against the Bible? What if she thinks my beliefs are part of the problem?

We still had another 40 minutes of our session together left, so I decided I’d give her a chance and could always decline to book again if it didn’t feel right.

After that first appointment, I booked with her again. And again. Over the next few sessions, the psychologist helped me learn to identify and confront some of my destructive thought patterns. Rather than offering out life advice that went against my beliefs, as I’d feared, she focused on helping me be mentally well so I could be the person I wanted to be.

In the 9 years since that first appointment, I’ve seen countless psychologists, counsellors, prayer therapists, and even a psychiatrist. I’ve seen men and women, Christian and non-Christian, and they’ve each had a part to play in my journey towards better understanding myself and the way my mind works (and all the ways it doesn’t!).

My fears about seeking mental health support from someone who wasn’t a fellow believer dissipated when I realised that you don’t have to be a Christian to understand how the mind works; in the same way that the secular world doesn’t need to believe God created all things in order to hold an appreciation for nature.

The more I work in this mental health space, though (now here at Anxious Faith!), the more I’ve come across people who believe what I once did; that secular psychology/counselling goes against our faith as Christians. But, if I may, I’d love to share with you some of the things I’ve come to understand that help me reconcile tensions I had between faith and ‘secular’ psychology.

1. Psychology Isn’t Trying to Deny Our Faith

The aim of psychology isn’t to replace or change our beliefs in God, it’s to help us understand ourselves and our minds better so that we can live a more fulfilling life. That sounds like something Jesus wants for us, right?

As he said to His disciples in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

In almost a decade of consistent visits to mental health professionals, I’ve yet to come across a counsellor or psychologist who wants to challenge my personal beliefs or tell me to give up my faith in God.

In fact, most of them–non-Christians included–have recognised the importance of God in my life, and have encouraged me to keep pursuing my relationship with Him and to keep being part of a church community, because they can appreciate the benefits those things have to my mental health.

This isn’t to say that secular psychologists won’t ever try to steer us away from faith. So how do we make sure we’re not unknowingly being fed ideas that go against God’s Word?

2. We Can Use the Bible As Our Source of Truth

Our minds aren’t just empty vessels waiting to receive information and be corrupted by the wrong ideas. Even if our psychologist/counsellor happened to say something that didn’t align with our faith, we don’t have to accept it. And if we’re unsure if what we’re being taught lines up with God’s Word, we can go to the Bible and find out for ourselves.

For example, if you’re being told there is no right or wrong, you only need to look to the Bible to know that sin is very real and present; 1 John 1:8 says that “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.”

If your psychologist wants you to believe that there is no absolute truth, just your version of the truth, you can smile and nod while still being assured that only Jesus is “the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6).

If your therapist suggests that your morals are too restrictive and that you should “follow your heart” instead, you can remind yourself that Jeremiah 17:9 says “The heart is deceitful above all things”, and that Proverbs 21:2 says “A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart.”

So you see, it’s okay to not share the same worldview as your psychologist. As long as you hold firmly to what you know to be true and of God, they can’t steer you away from Him. And if you’re ever unsure, speak to your pastor or a friend who has a strong understanding of the Bible. Finally, remember that the vast majority of counsellors and psychologists just want to help you, and they will work with your Christian beliefs, not against them.

3. We’re All Created In the Image of God

There are all kinds of wonderfully-talented people in the world who don’t know God. Just like there are plenty of wise people who haven’t yet believed in the Good News. Just because someone isn’t a believer doesn’t mean that God can’t use them and their skills to help us.

Genesis 1:27 tells us that “God created mankind in his own image”. Would it not then follow that whether someone knows God yet or not, parts of His image are reflected in that person? Their curiosity, creativity, and perhaps the intellect or compassion that makes them good in their field?

Biblical Counselling Australia, an organisation that advocates for Christians and churches leading the way in helping people, acknowledges that secular psychology can be a helpful guide for research and teaching. “We believe in God’s common grace to all humanity,” they say on their website, “and therefore we can learn from those who do not espouse a Christian worldview.”

Something I’ve found interesting over years of therapy is that much of what a psychologist will tell you is good for you is found in biblical principles. Getting good rest? That’s called sabbath. Setting boundaries? That’s called discernment. Doing something that you’re passionate about? The Bible talks about using our gifts to glorify God. Being part of a community and investing in healthy friendships? The Bible talks about the need to live in unity and vulnerability with others a lot.

4. Psychology/Counselling Is Just One Tool to Help Our Mental Health

If, like me, you’ve ever struggled with your mental health, you’ll know that rarely is there a one-stop solution to recovery or ongoing management (you can read more of my story in My Healing From Depression Came Slowly).

While psychology and counselling have been a huge help in my journey, they are not the answer; rather, they’re one tool of the many that I’ve used to tackle my mental health struggles, alongside my faith.

A holistic approach is recognising that there are different things we can use to help us on the journey. Other things you can do to help your mental health are to live a healthy lifestyle, nurture vulnerability in your friendships, practise self-care, and meditate on God’s Word.

But, Are There Benefits to Seeing a Christian?

I won’t deny that I’ve seen benefits from going to a Christian therapist.

There have been times where they’ve encouraged me to talk to God about a particular issue I’m having, and even where they’ve led me in guided prayer around a memory or perceived trauma.

That being said, most of my mental health struggles (Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Adjustment Disorder and Depression, to name a few) have had little to do with my faith and much more to do with my brain itself. I know that I am heart (body), soul, and mind (Mark 12:30), and sometimes, my mental struggles have more to do with my physical body than they do my soul.

Finding the Right Support

Over the years, I’ve come to learn how beneficial it is to take a holistic approach to my mental health, by taking care of my body, getting out in nature, spending time with God, planting myself in healthy community, doing the things I enjoy, taking medication when I’ve needed it, and seeking professional help.

In each instance where I have to find a new therapist to see (whether that’s because I’ve moved away, they’ve retired or gone on maternity leave), I trust that God will lead me to the right person to help me in that season – fellow believer or not.

If you struggle with your mental health, our team here would strongly encourage you to speak to a professional – and, as I hope you’ve seen, they don’t necessarily have to be a Christian. As long as you’re praying for wisdom and filtering what you’re taught through the lens of Scripture, there is so much to be gained through seeing a mental health professional – Christian or not.

What do you think? What have your experiences been like with psychologists or counsellors? Have you got any questions?

The Anxious Faith team and I would love to continue this conversation with you and hear your thoughts! Let us know what you think in the comments below, on our social channels, or send us an email via the contact page.

If you’re unsure of how to get started in finding a psychologist, we suggest that you speak to your doctor about your mental health concerns. If you’re in Australia, they can help you get on a ‘Mental Health Care Plan’, which makes accessing psychology more affordable. To find out about what that doctor’s visit is like, check out this short video from Dr Sarah called ‘What Does a First Visit to a GP Look Like?’

Do you follow us on socials? We share prayer reels, short video snippets from the podcast, quotes from our guests, and plenty more! Check out what psychiatrist Kuruvilla George recently had to say on the topic of seeing a non-Christian mental health professional in this short video.