Is it Okay for A Christian to See a Counselor?

Are you thinking about seeing a Christian counselor in Raleigh, NC but feel ashamed because you see this as a sign that something is off about your faith? As Christians, we know that we should rely on Jesus, and we believe that He can help us get through anything. We might see our inability to weather life’s storms as a sign of weak faith, and we might fear that turning to others for help is somehow offensive to God. 

For many, the question isn’t whether counseling itself is beneficial—but whether it is morally acceptable for a Christian. If you or someone you love is struggling in this way, then it can help if we understand the following ideas using scripture:

• The Purpose of Christian Counseling
• The Role of a Christian Counselor
• How Christian Counseling Can Help Grow Faith, not Hinder It

The Purpose of Christian Counseling

We know why people go to therapy. They have difficulty dealing with mental, emotional, and relational issues, and they are looking for professional insights to help them find a solution. Why do people go to Christian counseling, specifically? 

Christian counseling is made by people of the faith for people of the faith—or for those who are interested in a faith-based approach to counseling. The reason why many choose Christian counseling over traditional counseling is because they can gain the benefits of professional therapy along with the benefits of finding support from someone of the Christian faith.

For Christians, we often see mental, emotional, and relational health as a spiritual problem. Therefore, we need someone who can meet us on our terms. 

This is the purpose of Christian Counseling—to provide sound therapeutic services that do not clash with Christian views and values, but rather encourages them.

Are you wondering what the Bible has to say? While these scriptures aren’t about counseling, the meaning can be applied to Christian counseling as a way to find guidance and support through our fellow servants in Jesus Christ:

• Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! – Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
•  As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace. – 1 Peter 4:10
• If all were a single member, where would the body be?  As it is, there are many parts, yet one body…If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. – 1 Corinthians 12

The Role of a Christian Counselor

Is seeing a Christian therapist offensive to God? Does the Christian therapist stand in the place of Jesus or the Holy Spirit? While each person should follow his or her own conscience about whether to talk to a therapist or not, a good Christian therapist does not see him or herself as a substitute for the work of God, but rather, as one who walks alongside you on a path of healing in Him. 

Here are some scriptures that can be applied to how your Christian counselor might view their role in service to you and Jesus Christ:

• Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. – Galatians 6:2
• Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too – 2 Corinthians 1:3-5
• Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. – Proverbs 27:17

How Seeing Christian Therapists in Raleigh, NC Can Help Your Faith

Going to Christian counseling in Raleigh doesn’t have to impede your faith or signify weak faith. Rather, communing with your fellow servants in Christ who strive to serve you and help you along in the faith can be a rewarding and enriching experience. This experience not only leads you on a path of dealing with the problems that brought you to therapy, but also arms you spiritually to face life challenges now and in the future through a stronger relationship with Jesus Christ.

You also might wonder if Christian counselors provide real therapy. 

Christian therapists in Raleigh, NC are licensed professionals that provide a variety of resources for dealing with things like depression, trauma, anxiety, family conflict, and more. This can include EMDR therapy, CBT therapy, talk therapy, and others. In addition, they implement the faith through application of scripture, prayer, and discussion of faith-based ideas, to name a few.Are you looking for a Raleigh “Christian counselor near me?” who can answer your questions about Christian counseling? Sojourner Counseling is more than happy to talk with you, so you can make a decision that’s right for you.