Christian Counseling

What Is Christian Counseling?

When you are in the midst of troubling life events like the death of a loved one or pet, the loss of a job, declining health, financial problems, or relationship issues, your faith can be an important source of comfort and strength.

One goal of Christian counseling is to help clients identify behaviors that are inconsistent with God’s teachings, so they can become more accepting of God’s will, even when it’s not their own. Many Christian counselors view the Bible as an important guide on how people, especially Christians, should think and behave.

In practice, faith can show up in counseling in several ways:

• Prayer: opening or closing a session with prayer, if you want that.
• Scripture: passages that speak to what you are facing, discussed in session or read at home.
• Christian themes: ideas such as forgiveness, grace, hope and identity, used to look at a problem in a new way.
• Evidence-based methods: approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), adapted to fit your beliefs.
• Faith-based homework: Bible reading, journaling or prayer alongside the skills you practice between sessions.

You decide how much faith is part of your sessions, from prayer and scripture every week to simply working with a counselor who understands your beliefs. A good Christian counselor asks about this in the first session and checks in again as therapy goes on, because what you want can change.

How Is Christian Counseling Different from Regular Therapy?

Christian counseling and secular therapy often use the same evidence-based methods, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The difference is the framework. A Christian counselor invites your faith into sessions if you want that, for example through prayer, scripture, or Christian ideas about forgiveness, grace and hope. A secular therapist does not bring a religious framework, but should still respect your beliefs (American Psychological Association [APA], 2017).

Many therapists receive little formal training in religious and spiritual issues (Vieten & Lukoff, 2022), so whichever kind of counselor you choose, it is fair to ask how they would include your faith. If you are looking at spirituality more broadly, beyond Christianity, see spiritual therapy.

How Did Christian Counseling Begin?

The root of Christian counseling lies within biblical accounts. Jay E. Adams, the founder of the Biblical Counseling Movement, described this faith-based approach to emotional, relationship and mental health problems in his 1970 book, Competent to Counsel (Institute for Nouthetic Studies, n.d.).

This approach was quite controversial because it rejected the popular secular therapy approaches of the time. By the 1970s, this new form of counseling took off and later became one of the most popular therapy options for Christians and others who want to include their faith in the therapy process. In 1968, the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (founded by Adams and John Bettler) was formed to train Christian counselors in this approach (Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation, n.d.). Today, the term Christian counseling covers both this biblical counseling tradition and licensed therapists who integrate Christian faith with mainstream psychology.

It is important to keep in mind that licensed Christian counselors not only draw on the values and beliefs of the Bible, but also follow state law, their profession’s ethics code (APA, 2017) and current diagnostic guidelines such as the DSM-5-TR.

Who Can Practice Christian Counseling?

Psychologists, counselors, clinical social workers, pastors and other religious leaders can practice Christian counseling, but their training and credentials differ. The two main groups are licensed Christian counselors and pastoral or biblical counselors.

Licensed Christian Counselors and Therapists

Licensed Christian counselors have a master’s degree or Ph.D. in counseling, psychology, social work or another mental health discipline, and they must be licensed by their state to provide counseling to clients.

Common licenses include licensed professional counselor (LPC), licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and psychologist. A licensed Christian counselor brings faith into therapy when a client wants that, while following the same laws, ethics code and treatment standards as any other licensed clinician (APA, 2017).

Pastoral and Biblical Counselors

Pastors, chaplains and biblical counselors often offer Christian counseling through a church or ministry. Some have seminary training; others, including people with a bachelor’s degree, complete a Christian or biblical counseling certificate program. These programs teach how to use biblical principles in counseling sessions.

Certification from a Christian counseling organization is not a state license. Licensing laws in some states exempt clergy who counsel as part of their ministry; California’s professional counselor law, for example, does not apply to a priest, rabbi or minister doing this kind of counseling (Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 4999.22). If you are dealing with a mental health condition such as depression, trauma or an eating disorder, or you want to use insurance, look for a licensed clinician, who can also integrate your faith.

What Issues Do Christian Counselors Address?

The goal of Christian counselors is to use faith-based principles and psychological instruction to help people better manage or resolve any issues in their lives. More specifically, licensed Christian counselors assess, diagnose and treat mental health conditions, and Christian counselors of all kinds teach coping skills that help clients adjust to any changes that may occur in their lives.

Christian Marriage Counseling

Christian counseling places a great deal of value on marriage. When a couple enters a marriage, they are making a commitment to love and honor one another for life. Many Christian traditions view divorce as a last resort, so couples are often encouraged to work through any problems together in marital counseling, rather than giving up on their marriages.

Some common marital issues include infidelity, communication problems, loss of intimacy, addiction, and conflicts. Christian marriage counseling helps couples repair and strengthen their relationship. If there is abuse in the relationship, couples counseling is not recommended; abuse is not a relationship problem, and individual support and safety planning come first (National Domestic Violence Hotline, 2022).

Christian counselors also help with:

• Depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions: Living with a mental health condition is hard enough without dealing with it alone. Counseling offers support, and faith can be a source of comfort and self-acceptance alongside treatment for depression, anxiety, PTSD or OCD.
• Grief and loss: When grief feels too deep, or you feel “stuck” in the grieving process, a counselor can help you accept the loss, honor your loved one and lean on your faith.
• Substance use and addiction: A Christian counselor supports your recovery, helps you look at deeper issues such as trauma or low self-esteem, and teaches ways to turn toward your faith instead of substances when life feels overwhelming.
• Parenting challenges: Guidance and practical techniques for the pressures of parenting, with a referral to a specialist for concerns such as a child’s mental illness, learning disabilities or eating disorders.
• Self-esteem: Help with low self-esteem and self-worth, often grounded in the belief that you are valued by God.
• Faith struggles: Support when you feel distant from God, or when the daily pressures of life push your faith to the side.

Is Christian Counseling Evidence-Based?

Research on faith-adapted therapy is encouraging, though still growing. A meta-analysis of 97 studies found that therapies adapted to clients’ religious or spiritual beliefs reduced psychological distress about as well as standard secular therapies, and led to greater gains in spiritual well-being (Captari et al., 2018). A 2024 review of 23 randomized trials found that religiously and spiritually integrated therapy was moderately more effective than standard treatment for people with a strong religious or spiritual affiliation (Bouwhuis-van Keulen et al., 2024).

Religiously integrated cognitive behavioral therapy (RCBT) is one example. In a pilot trial of 132 adults with major depression and a chronic medical illness, RCBT and conventional CBT worked equally well overall, and RCBT was slightly more effective for participants who were more religious (Koenig et al., 2015).

In other words, Christian counseling is not better than secular therapy for everyone. Its main advantage is fit: for people whose faith matters to them, therapy that respects and uses that faith may feel more natural. Religious involvement is often a source of strength, though it can sometimes complicate treatment, which is one more reason training matters (Koenig et al., 2020).

What Happens During a Christian Counseling Session?

In the first session or two, your counselor will get to know you through an intake interview and a conversation about what brings you in, including how much you want faith to be part of counseling.

Next, you and your counselor will agree on goals and the steps to reach them.

In later sessions, you may be assigned biblical homework and tasks, and you will discuss the results in the next session. You may also have Bible passages to read at home that strengthen your faith in God and His plan.

Your counselor may use these passages to help you look at whether your thoughts and behaviors fit your faith and values. Some biblical counselors believe that for people to truly heal from trauma, psychological distress or mental illness, they must turn to the Bible.

Some also believe that mental health conditions often stem from sin. Many licensed Christian counselors do not see it that way: conditions such as depression, anxiety and PTSD have biological, psychological and social causes, and faith is more often a source of support than a cause (Koenig et al., 2020). If a counselor’s approach leaves you feeling more shame, it is fine to look for someone else.

Is Christian Counseling Right for You?

Christian counseling may be a good fit if you want your Christian faith to be part of counseling, whether you are working through a relationship problem, grief, a mental health concern or a season of doubt. If you would rather keep faith out of therapy, a secular therapist who respects your beliefs is an equally valid choice.

Not sure whether you need counseling at all? Read about signs it may be time to talk to someone. If symptoms are severe or getting in the way of daily life, choose a licensed clinician, who can also integrate your faith, and talk with your doctor.

How to Find a Christian Counselor

Look for the same things you would in any therapist, plus a good fit with your faith:

• Credentials: For a mental health condition, or to use insurance, choose a licensed clinician and check their license on your state licensing board’s website. Ask a pastoral or biblical counselor what training and supervision they have.
• How they include faith: Ask how they bring faith into sessions and whether their beliefs and approach fit yours. A counselor should respect your faith, not try to change your mind about it.
• Fit: A good counselor-client relationship matters more than any single method. If it doesn’t feel right after a few sessions, it’s fine to keep looking.

Referrals from your doctor, pastor or friends can help. On TherapyTribe, you can search for therapists who list Christian counseling, in person or online, and read each profile for their license and how they include faith. For more on comparing therapists, see how to choose a psychotherapist.

Christian Counseling FAQs

Is Christian counseling the same as biblical counseling?

Not always. Biblical (or nouthetic) counseling grew out of Jay Adams’s work, relies mainly on scripture and is often offered by pastors or certified lay counselors (Institute for Nouthetic Studies, n.d.). Christian counseling is a broader term that also includes licensed therapists who combine Christian faith with evidence-based therapy.

Do I have to be a Christian to see a Christian counselor?

No. Anyone can see a Christian counselor. Tell the counselor how much, or how little, you want faith to be part of your sessions.

Is it wrong for a Christian to go to therapy?

Many Christians worry that needing therapy means their faith is weak. Seeking help for a mental health concern is not a failure of faith, and many people find that faith and therapy work well together.

Does insurance cover Christian counseling?

Insurance may cover sessions with a licensed Christian counselor who is in your network, the same as any licensed therapist. Counseling from a pastor or a certified biblical counselor who is not licensed is usually not covered. Ask your insurer and the counselor before your first session.

Can I do Christian counseling online?

Yes. Many licensed Christian counselors offer video sessions, usually to clients in the states where they are licensed.

If you are in crisis or thinking about suicide, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) in the U.S., or see our crisis helplines. If you are experiencing abuse, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233.

Find a Christian counselor: Search TherapyTribe for licensed therapists who bring Christian faith into counseling, in person or online. Find a Christian counselor

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for advice from a licensed mental health professional.

References

American Psychological Association. (2017). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct (2002, amended effective June 1, 2010, and January 1, 2017). https://www.apa.org/ethics/code

Bouwhuis-van Keulen, A. J., Koelen, J., Eurelings-Bontekoe, L., Hoekstra-Oomen, C., & Glas, G. (2024). The evaluation of religious and spirituality-based therapy compared to standard treatment in mental health care: A multi-level meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Psychotherapy Research, 34(3), 339–352. https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2023.2241626

Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 4999.22. https://california.public.law/codes/ca_bus_and_prof_code_section_4999.22

Captari, L. E., Hook, J. N., Hoyt, W., Davis, D. E., McElroy-Heltzel, S. E., & Worthington, E. L., Jr. (2018). Integrating clients’ religion and spirituality within psychotherapy: A comprehensive meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 74(11), 1938–1951. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.22681

Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation. (n.d.). Beliefs and history. https://www.ccef.org/about/beliefs-and-history

Institute for Nouthetic Studies. (n.d.). Jay Adams. https://nouthetic.org/about/jay-adams/

Koenig, H. G., Al-Zaben, F., & VanderWeele, T. J. (2020). Religion and psychiatry: Recent developments in research. BJPsych Advances, 26(5), 262–272. https://doi.org/10.1192/bja.2019.81

Koenig, H. G., Pearce, M. J., Nelson, B., Shaw, S. F., Robins, C. J., Daher, N. S., Cohen, H. J., Berk, L. S., Bellinger, D. L., Pargament, K. I., Rosmarin, D. H., Vasegh, S., Kristeller, J., Juthani, N., Nies, D., & King, M. B. (2015). Religious vs. conventional cognitive behavioral therapy for major depression in persons with chronic medical illness: A pilot randomized trial. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 203(4), 243–251. https://doi.org/10.1097/NMD.0000000000000273

National Domestic Violence Hotline. (2022). Should I go to couples therapy with my abusive partner? https://www.thehotline.org/resources/should-i-go-to-couples-therapy-with-my-abusive-partner/

Vieten, C., & Lukoff, D. (2022). Spiritual and religious competencies in psychology. American Psychologist, 77(1), 26–38. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000821