Are you considering Christian counselling?

What do you need from counselling? When people consider going to counselling, there will be questions that they ask themselves that will help them discern if a Counsellor is the right one for them. If a person is Christian, or has a history that has been impacted by the Christian faith, this could be something they would like to reflect on in counselling.

Some questions you might ask may include:

• Can I talk about faith with a Counsellor?
• Will a Counsellor judge me or dismiss any reflections about faith?
• Can I talk with a Counsellor about how I am finding my faith difficult as I work through the challenges of life?
• Is there anything I am not allowed to talk about?

The therapeutic relationship

The foundation of the therapeutic work is the therapeutic relationship. This will honour your dignity and intrinsic worth. It is also important to ensure that the counsellor is qualified and experienced in working with the difficulties that you would like to reflect on. That's why it's important to talk with a potential counsellor before making an appointment. Some counsellors invite potential clients to have a brief phone conversation so that they can both see if they feel that they would like to work together.

If the counsellor is Christian will they impose their faith on me?

A Christian counsellor will not impose their faith or indeed anything else on a client - to do so would be unethical.

Who chooses what we will talk about?

Part of the collaborative work of therapy is to empower clients. This means that the counsellor will only work with what you want to reflect on. Sometimes it can be helpful to work with a professional who is trained in Christian counselling and integrates this into the psychological aspects of their work. Counselling is principally about psychology. Psychology recognises the importance of people's worldview and life and lived experience.

Faith can play an important part in people's worldviews. This influences how they see God, themselves (self-esteem), other people and the world. It can also have an influence on how people cope when they are facing difficulties such as relationship challenges, grief, loss, depression, anxiety, trauma, stress and much more.

Sometimes a crisis of faith can happen when people find themselves facing challenging circumstances. All of this and more can be reflected on with a Christian Counsellor if the client would like to. It may also be that the difficulties deepen the clients' faith and that this is a comfort to them whilst acknowledging the very real pain of their distress.

What makes Christian counselling different?

In Christian counselling, it is clear from the outset that it will be possible to talk freely about faith with a professional who has been trained in and is experienced in a psychological theoretical model of counselling that includes faith. 

Psychology and Christianity

There are many psychological models and ways of working with clients. The 'best' model is the one that works for the client. It is the counsellor's job to tailor the way that they work to best meet the needs of their clients. They will do this in collaboration with their clients.

The counsellor will meet you at your point of need. It is a safe place to express how you feel about faith - what you have been taught, its impact on you and what you believe in the here and now.

Conflict and exclusion

It may be that being a Christian causes conflict in the family, with friends or at work. This can happen if other people either have no faith or are of a different faith.

Lost or questioning faith?

It may be that faith has been lost and a client does not want to talk about God but would like to speak with a counsellor who is familiar with the Christian faith. There are many ways of expressing the Christian faith and the Counsellor will be interested in the clients' experience of this.

Meaning making

Faith can be a place where people find meaning and some answers to some of their questions. This can answer questions including 'Why am I here?' 'Do I matter? 'Is there a purpose to my life?'

Faith can also be part of our cultural experience and help us to find a place where we feel we belong and are accepted.

Integrating the Christian faith into a psychological model

A Christian counsellor will not take your faith in isolation. They will consider this as part of your sense of self and way of being in the world. They will be able and willing to reflect with you on your experience.

Can Christian counsellors work with people of no faith or other faiths?

Absolutely yes - the Counsellor will have been trained in several theoretical models that enable them to tailor their way of working to what best suits the client and their needs. 

Do I need to see a Christian counsellor if I am Christian?

No, you don't - the most important thing is a collaborative therapeutic relationship in which you are respected and treated with dignity. This means that you feel able to talk about anything without feeling judged or dismissed by the Counsellor. 

Do check if your counsellor is working within an ethical framework such as BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) or ACC (Association of Christian Counsellors). 

Hopefully, this article will have given an overview of what Christian counselling could be like. It is important that you work with the counsellor who is just right for you. There are many counsellors on Counselling Directory working in different ways. Their profiles will give you a starting point in seeking the professional support you need.