Can Christians Go to Therapy?
The stigma toward seeking mental health services is quickly declining in the secular world. While the same is slowly happening in Christian culture, many believers still express shame for struggling with their mental health. After all, if they really trusted God, they wouldn’t need help, right?
Unfortunately, the belief that Christians who “actually” trust God are exempt from mental health struggles has led many believers to suffer needlessly and silently. Therapy services are more accessible than ever, but many Christians are hesitant to utilize them, questioning if it’s even okay to go to therapy.
As a Christian who was trained in secular therapy, I’ll be the first to admit that there are some wacky ideas out there. However, it’s important not to completely dismiss the usefulness of mental health services altogether. When combined with Biblical wisdom, therapy can be a welcome relief to believers experiencing mental health struggles.
My hope is that this article reaches believers who are struggling with their mental health and are questioning if it’s okay to get help. What follows are three reasons why I believe Christians can go to therapy.
Reason #1: Many mental health disorders have biological causes
Most Christians are familiar with 2 Timothy 3:16-17 – “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
I wholeheartedly agree with this verse. I love Scripture and have seen it change my life in countless ways.
Nevertheless, the Bible wouldn’t be the first place I turned if I was having a heart attack. Instead, I’d rush to the nearest ER and ask them to use secular medicine to save my life (while asking for prayer, of course!).
It’s no secret that we live in broken bodies. Every bump and bruise remind us that our bodies are mortal and fragile. Just like the rest of the body, the brain experiences consequences of the Fall, making it vulnerable to a host of illnesses.
Take, for example, schizophrenia. While the exact cause of schizophrenia is unknown, scientists agree that changes in brain structure and neurotransmitters create this illness. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) also has biological roots, with an overactive nervous system accounting for many symptoms of this disorder. Research shows that hyperthyroidism is associated with clinical depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is likely caused by malfunctions in brain structure and function.
Trying to treat any biological illness using the Bible is largely ineffective and can cause the sufferer to feel discouraged when their symptoms fail to improve. Unfortunately, this is the approach the Church often takes when serving those with mental health struggles.
For example, I’ve worked with many clients who feel ashamed for struggling with anxiety after reading Matthew 6:25-34. Christ’s command not to worry about the necessities of life because of God’s provision is good and true, and it’s a command Christians should practice daily.
However, these verses are not a command for someone with OCD to turn off their anxiety-provoking intrusive thoughts, nor is it a demand for someone with arachnophobia to suddenly stop fearing spiders.
Imagine if someone with cancer sought advice from a pastor about how to manage their illness. Although well-meaning in his approach, it would be naive of this pastor to suggest that memorizing Scripture would cure this congregant’s illness.
Similarly, trying to correct the brain abnormalities from schizophrenia with Scripture is comparable to trying to cast a broken arm using a Bible passage. Most people would agree that the best approach to treating hyperthyroidism is through secular medicine, and mindfulness skills can help someone suffering from PTSD learn how to manage their symptoms effectively.
Encouraging people struggling with mental illness to seek effective treatment is one of the best ways the Church can help. Oftentimes, these treatments are found in secular therapy interventions, like EMDR, CBT, and medication.
Does that mean faith should be absent from therapy? Absolutely not. For many people in therapy, the truths found in Scripture are what encourage their heart when battling a mental illness. I’m not advocating for Christ to be absent from therapy – I’m simply advocating for effective solutions to mental illness.
Reason #2: Therapy can help Christians identify the source of their suffering
When was the last time you felt nauseous? Almost everyone will experience this dizzying, stomach-churning symptom at some point in their life.
Because of its frequency, the causes of nausea are endless. A bad Chipotle burrito, nerves before a big speech, or the first trimester of pregnancy are all common reasons people clutch their stomachs and feel queasy.
We were all created with a body, soul, and spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:23, Hebrews 4:12, Genesis 2:7), each one unique in its characteristics and function. Under different circumstances, any of these parts can create distress that mimics common mental health struggles.
For example, take anxiety. Caffeine-rich coffee, financial worries, or a faith crisis are all reasons people feel anxious.
In this scenario, each type of anxiety correlates with the body (caffeine), soul (financial worries), or spirit (faith crisis). Because the cause of anxiety is different in each of these situations, the way to resolve this anxiety varies as well.
Trying to identify the source of mental health struggles can feel like trying to find the end of a hopelessly tangled ball of yarn. One way a therapist can help is by working with the client to find the source of their struggle. Is it biological? Emotional? Spiritual?
Once you have the answer, you can begin taking steps to work through the symptom effectively. However, misidentifying the source can lead to even more distress.
For example, scrupulosity is a common sub-type of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) characterized by anxiety about faith, religion, and morality. Christians suffering with this type of OCD may doubt their salvation, involuntarily think blasphemous thoughts, or worry that they’ve committed the unforgivable sin.
Understandably so, many people approach scrupulosity as a spiritual issue and attempt to treat it using prayer or Scripture. However, this approach commonly exasperates scrupulosity’s symptoms because it’s not targeting the actual cause – a brain ravaged by OCD. What often follows is debilitating anxiety despite the person’s honest attempts to get better.
In contrast, secular therapy techniques, like exposure therapy and medication, could treat the person’s OCD, freeing them to enjoy God instead of worrying about their faith. An accurate diagnosis of a person’s suffering is crucial in getting them the help they need.
Reason #3: Therapy can help believers become more like Christ
In 2014, Proven Men ministries conducted a nationwide survey about pornography use. Around two-thirds of the Christian men who took part in this survey reported that they view pornography at least once a month; only 3% said they have never viewed pornography in their lifetime.
As a male, Christian therapist, I’ve worked with many other Christian men struggling with pornography use. Sometimes pornography use is the reason they seek therapy, and other times it comes to light organically. Almost always, these men are plagued with shame and question if they are truly following Jesus.
For these men, accountability groups, prayer, and internet filters have done little to cure their porn habit. They’re all repentant, expressing a desire to stop viewing porn because of their faith in Christ.
So why do most of them struggle to find freedom?
In his book “Unwanted: How Sexual Brokenness Reveals Our Way to Healing,” counselor Jay Stringer suggests that freedom from unwanted sexual behaviors can be found when the heart of the problem is addressed. Be it childhood sexual abuse, overly protective parents, or a plethora of other factors, many of these behaviors begin with a wound which needs to be healed.
Through therapy, believers can identify these wounds, bring them to the light, and experience healing. In doing so, they can kick their sinful behaviors to the curb, becoming more like Christ in the process.
Unwanted sexual behavior is only one example of how the Holy Spirit can use therapy to help sanctify believers. Several years ago, I was working with a client who had debilitating anxiety and panic attacks. His desire was to work in ministry, but his symptoms made it almost impossible to leave home, let alone minister to others.
He felt loads of shame for his anxiety, citing verses like Matthew 6:25 as evidence that he “wasn’t really trusting Jesus.”
After several sessions, it became clear that his anxiety was the result of a work-related accident he witnessed several years ago. As is often the case, he didn’t begin experiencing symptoms until much time had passed, making it difficult to pinpoint the origin of his anxiety.
Through secular therapy techniques, like EMDR and exposure therapy, we were able to process his trauma. Now, he’s enrolled in seminary classes and serves in his local church. In our closing session, he expressed that therapy helped him experience peace and become more compassionate toward others who are struggling with anxiety.
In short, God used therapy to help him become more like Christ.
Step Out in Faith
Mental health services will never take the place of Christ’s work in our lives. However, therapy can be a means by which Christians experience relief from their symptoms and become more like Christ.
If you’re struggling with your mental health, I encourage you to get help. Many churches keep a referral list of trusted therapists in the community, and your insurance company should have a list of in-network providers as well. You can also click here to learn more about the therapy services available at my practice.
