What is Christian Counselling?

The phrase ‘Christian counsellor’ is almost meaningless without context. Is it telling you that the therapist identified as Christian, that they have faith-specific training, or that they only deal with “spiritual issues”? There’s a continuum that Christian therapists will typically find themselves on when providing treatment, and it’s helpful for the person investigating choosing one to understand this spectrum. At one end, some Christian therapists rely solely on the Bible and Christ, foregoing any secular knowledge regarding mental health diagnoses or treatment plans. This is referred to as Nouthetic counseling. On the other extreme, the therapist will work from a secular approach such as cognitive behavior therapy, making minor use of bible verses or Christian values. The middle ground is an integrated approach that makes use of both fields. The therapist seeks to understand a person in the context of their relationship to the gospel, and the relevance of modern mental health practices. Most therapists who practice in this middle ground are members of a professional college who are licensed to provide psychotherapy, and also carry graduate-level training from a seminary in Christian counselling as well. When asked to practice as a “Christian counsellor”, I position myself in this middle ground and collaborate with the person regularly on how they wish to see their faith integrated into therapy.