Why Christian Counseling?

Why would someone seek to do Christian counseling over traditional counseling? It's a really good question. When you were looking to find a place to talk about the hardest moments of your life, you're looking for not just a place but a person that embodies the values that you value. It's comforting to have a trained professional holds your beliefs and priorities close to their heart as well.

I went to San Diego State University for my bachelors degree in psychology, and when I was ready to pursue my masters degree in clinical psychology, I specifically chose to attend an an outwardly professing Christian university. I attended Azusa Pacific University in San Diego in the winter of 2010 because I knew that if I was going to treat somebody spirit body mind and soul that I wanted to be trained in a way that I knew how to take care of their soul. The best way that I know how to take care of a soul was with God's word.

Here are the 3 benefits to having a Christian therapist:

Alignment of Core Beliefs & Values

When you choose to do therapy with a Christian counselor or therapist, you already know that at the most basic level, the person who is guiding you through pain align with your values. It's already nerve-racking enough to walk into a therapy office, usually in a painful place in your life to then open up those wounds in front of a stranger. When you go to a Christian therapist, as a fellow believer, there's one less thing to figure out. There's a sense of comfort in the knowing that this person shares your beliefs, morals, ethics, and desire to live in a way that is honoring to God. It also allows for more candid conversation about the way that you would like your life to look and clients can expect recommendations that support a lifestyle that supports a relationship with God. The concerns of being given an intervention that opposes Gods principles is greatly reduced. The odds of getting advice that align with your values is higher when you choose someone who also cares about your spiritual health from a Christian worldview.

The Option for Prayer

The next reason that I believe Christian counseling has its advantages includes the option for believers to pray before or after a session. Many of my clients that profess to believe in God accept the option to pray at the close of a session. It is this marvelous way to bookend a session in a moment of peace, healing, and power. There's a reason that people say I'm praying for you when something bad happens. There's an internal knowing that prayer changes circumstances. Usually, when someone is pursuing therapeutic support it is because they are in a season where they need healing and power in their life. Every client has the option to decline prayer but most who believe love the option to seal the time with a peaceful and powerful prayer. It's the marvelous work that only God can do and we get to do it together in the most painful and sacred place that is therapy.

Greater Emphasis on Forgiveness & Restoration

Another benefit to seeking faith-based counseling is the greater focus on forgiveness and reconciliation. There are so many benefits to working through the concept of forgiveness and the act of forgiveness. Research shows a lot of benefits to being able to forgive oneself and others for harm s done in the past. A Christian therapist is more likely to focus on the aspects of forgiveness and restoration. While we can still make the distinction between forgiving and allowing someone back into our lives, the act of forgiveness releases us and creates a new level of internal peace. As believers, we are pointed in scripture to the importance of forgiving others so that we may experience forgiveness as well. It's an application of wound care for the heart. Forgiveness is often not a focus in traditional therapy, but can be be an emphasis in faith based counseling.

In Conclusion...

There are so many benefits to seeking Christian counseling as a believer. The opportunity to have a fellow believer with a clinical education to walk with you through a painful season is comforting. There may be a greater focus on hope, lifestyle, values, relationship restoration, and the option for other experiences, such as prayer. This may not be the right fit for everybody, and that's OK, but for those who want a faith based experience, it makes therapy feel more like home.

Let's live well!

Ashley