Christian counseling is a recognized method of providing mental health support to address a variety of issues. The counseling services that Christian counseling provides are similar to traditional approaches, however, the therapy is designed to be driven by the values of the Christian faith. Therapists who practice this type of therapy use the teachings of Christ and the Bible to help guide their patients through their mental health issues.
There are a variety of practitioners who are trained in this method of mental health counseling. All therapists must be licensed in their state in order to provide counseling services, but they may also be ordained ministers, pastors or religious leaders in their organizations. Those who provide Christian based counseling may also be social workers or other behavioral health specialists who aren’t necessarily affiliated with a particular church.
Christian counseling is similar to traditional counseling in that its therapists provide a number of different mental and behavioral health services to their clients. Included in the Christian counseling services are diagnoses, therapy, group sessions and treatment plans. Patients seeking Christian therapy may have disorders such as anxiety, depression, ADHD or grief. Christian therapists also provide individual or marriage and family therapy to people from a variety of age groups.
While Christian based counselors offer many of the same techniques as traditional counselors do, a large part of the healing process is based on the Christian religion. The goal of the treatment is to help the patient connect with God through reading the Bible, and applying the fundamentals of Christianity to their daily lives. Through these teachings, patients of Christian therapies allow themselves to become a healthy, stable person again. This type of therapy is often used to help with addictions to drugs and gambling.
In order for Christian counseling to work, the patient doesn’t necessarily need to be of Christian faith, but they must be willing to accept the effectiveness and significance of the lifestyle changes being presented. For those seeking to find a stronger connection with the Christian faith, therapists will work with them to support their journey to a stronger spiritual connection. Christian counseling seeks to empower their patients to forgive themselves first, so they can become stronger as a person. Once they have gained self-acceptance through the teachings of the Bible, the therapist can work with them to resolve their mental health issues.
Christian counseling is for anyone who is looking for a better way to treat their mental health issues, marriage problems, disorders or addictions. Whether you feel lost due to grief, depression or any other health issue, or you need guidance through a difficult time, then Christian counseling could be your answer. By taking a holistic approach to healing the mind, body and soul, Christian therapy addresses the patient’s mental health issue as well as their environment.
Couples seeking marriage counseling benefit from Christian counseling as a way to renew their faith in each other and in God. Families who are going through tough times and individuals in need of therapy find value in the problem-solving methods applied through the teachings of the Bible.