Many kinds of therapy exist in the world: physical therapy, occupational therapy, marriage therapy, and more. The same goes for counseling. Credit counseling, financial counseling, mental health counseling, relationship counseling, and more exist. There are various types of counseling, based on counseling theory. Then there is counseling based in different philosophies and faiths, like Christian mental health counseling. What even is that?
The term Christian mental health counseling can mean many things. It can mean that the counselor identifies as a Christian (Psychology Today Staff, 2022). That is to say, the counselor has a personal Christian faith and a Christian worldview (Focus on the Family, 2022; Live Beyond Counseling and Coaching, n.d.; Riley, 2022). It can also mean that the counselor brings Christianity into the session, for example through faith, prayer, and/or Bible reading (Christian Counseling Alliance, n.d.; Flourish Christian Counseling, n.d.; Psychology Today Staff). It can also mean that the counselor integrates the client’s faith into the counseling process (Heer and Russell, December 20). Integrating faith into the counseling process does not mean that Christian mental health counselors are not professional. By virtue of their licensure and counseling ethics codes, they must be.
So what does it look like to see an ethical professional counselor who is a Christian and incorporates elements of personal and client faith in session? It can look like the trained therapist (masters’ degree level or higher) using aspects of faith alongside evidence-based interventions (Psychology Today, 2022). For example, a cognitive behavioral therapist may practice reframing a negative thought through use of a Bible verse as a positive resource (Cromer, 2024). The counselor may address emotional and psychological needs, as well as spiritual needs (Heer & Russel, December 20). This is not to say that the counselor is spiritually advising the client or dispersing theological training. This is more the job of a pastor or Biblical counselor, with whom a professional Christian counselor may collaborate (Miley, 2020). Christian counselors are trained in psychological and sociological sciences. Pastoral and Biblical counselors are trained in theology. Christian counselors only practice within their scope of practice, which is mental health.
At Arizona Family Counseling, a ministry of Christian Family Care, therapists offer Christian counseling. They offer Christian counseling first because as employees of Christian Family Care, they sign a statement of faith (Christian Family Care, n.d.). They offer Christian counseling because they incorporate faith-based activities such as prayer and scripture reading into session, when clients request this service through signing the consent for treatment. Christian counselors can discuss struggles and successes with clients from a Christian worldview. This may benefit clients who subscribe to the Christian faith.
Do all clients of Arizona Family Counseling have to participate in Christian counseling? No. By virtue of working at Christian Family Care, a client’s therapist will be a Christian, but that therapist does not have to include faith in the client’s mental health counseling. Rather, the professional can apply their skills in attachment, trauma processing, and more to help bring hope and healing to the client.
Christian mental health counseling is a service that clients can choose. Ultimately, it is just that, a choice. For clients who want to choose Christian mental health services for themselves or their families, Arizona Family Counseling or another Christian counseling center is a great place to start.
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