Should a Christian see a psychologist / psychiatrist?
Psychologists and psychiatrists are professionals who work in the field of mental health. People
often confuse their roles or mix them up with other mental health professionals such as
psychotherapists, psychoanalysts, or mental health counselors. There are many variations of
mental health professionals that require several different educational paths and use many
treatment methods. Psychologists must attain a Ph.D. in psychology and focus primarily on
doing research, teaching on a college level, and maintaining private counseling practices. They
can administer testing for many cognitive and emotional assessments as well. Prescription
privileges were made available to psychologists in New Mexico in 2002, and various
psychologist groups are working to gain such privileges in other states. A psychiatrist is actually
a medical doctor who specializes in mental disorders. Psychiatrists are highly trained in
pharmacological treatments for mental health and are the primary mental health professionals to
prescribe medications. General practitioners (medical doctors) and nurse practitioners are also
able to prescribe psychological medications.
When people feel the need for services such as testing for dyslexia or counseling, they may
consider going to a psychologist. Typically, people see a psychologist or other counseling
professional before they are referred to a psychiatrist. Some psychiatrists practice counseling, but
others only administer and monitor medications while partnering with other professionals who
perform the therapy. As in any vocation, some psychologists/psychiatrists will be Christians, and
others will not.
Christians usually want to know how the Bible relates to these professions. The truth is that
neither psychology nor psychiatry is wrong in a sinful sense. They both serve valid and helpful
purposes. None of the mental health professionals have the ability to fully understand how God
made man, how the mind works, why we feel and act the way we do. While there is an
abundance of worldly, man-centered theory about mental and emotional issues, there are also
many godly people involved in these professions seeking to understand the human mind from a
biblical perspective. For Christians, it is best to seek a professional who professes to be a
believer, can express knowledge of Scripture, and exhibits godly character. Any counsel we
receive must be filtered through Scripture so that, as with everything in the world, we can discern
what is true and what is false.
Seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist is not wrong. However, mental health professionals come
from many different beliefs and backgrounds. Even Christian psychologists and psychiatrists will
be unable to give perfect answers, or they may be weak in some area of their biblical knowledge.
Remember that the Word of God is our first answer to all that ails us. Arming ourselves with the
truth is essential to discerning what is helpful and what is leading us astray (Ephesians 6:11-17; 1
Corinthians 2:15-16). Every believer is personally responsible for studying the Bible for his own
personal growth and discernment. The Holy Spirit will use the Word to transform us into the
image of Jesus Christ, which is the ultimate goal for all Christians (Ephesians 5:1-2; Colossians
3:3).
Why You Can Talk to God and a Therapist
When people practice their religion seriously and believe in the healing power of God or other
divine forces, it can be hard to accept the idea of a therapist providing mental enlightenment in
addition to what they receive from their faith-based communities. There might be stigma in their
community regarding therapy and mental illness as well as people who explicitly tell them not to
see a therapist. If you are religious and interested in seeing a therapist, know faith and therapy
are not mutually exclusive. There are millions of people who are involved in religious
communities and see a therapist, finding happiness in both spaces and without feeling they are
compromising any belief. Understanding religious criticisms of therapy and how these people
moved past the stigma could be your first step toward finding an extra source of happiness and
an unexpected place to deepen your faith.
Why Some People Believe You Can’t Practice Religion Seriously and Talk to a Therapist
They Think Therapy is a Rejection of God and the Power of Prayer/Belief
When people believe only God should heal the mind and soul, they worry therapy is a rejection
of God and the therapist will become a replacement. If their prayers are not sufficiently
comforting and healing them, they equate looking for additional support with spiritual failure.
“Some people believe prayer is the only answer to worldly pain,” saidAWendy Patrick, an
ordained Christian minister and president of the New York Christian Legal Society. “Among
people of faith, this perceived stigma can be enhanced by the perception that seeking help from
man instead of God is a sign of spiritual weakness.”
Therapy Seems Like a Conflicting Belief System
People of faith who are hesitant to see a therapist sometimes say, “I don’t believe in therapy.”
This implies therapy embodies a belief system that clashes with religion. Subscribing to it would
be a betrayal of religious beliefs. Sometimes this attitude is linked to a skepticism of the validity
of mental illness and disabilities.AAuthor Nancy VirdenA— who has discussed her struggles with
major depressive episodes — is Christian and believes nothing about biblical teachings conflicts
with her seeing a therapist and taking medication. She has, however, encountered members of
her community who do not agree. Because the stigma of mental illness and therapy are linked,
religious people who are considering therapy often face double the obstacles.
Being in a Small, Close Community and Fearing People Will Find Out and Judge
In certain religious communities, people worry their lives will change for the worse if
community or family members discover they are seeing a therapist. They are constantly
surrounded by people they have known their whole lives, so meeting a therapist at all seems
risky. Therapist Tamar Gordon, Ph.D., sees several Orthodox Jewish clients who live in
communities where people fear admitting they have problems. If people in these communities
learn someone they know is in therapy or deals with a mental illness, they might spread the
knowledge around. This can make clients feel as if they will be unable to marry someone within
the community and have dishonored their families, Gordon said. The stigma is similar in other
close communities such as small Christian or Muslim towns.
There is Some Bad Blood in the History of Religion and Therapy
Therapy developed around the same time as 19th Century Liberalism, a practice that threatened
conservative religious groups and gave rise to fundamentalism, according toAProfessor Emeritus
of Religion Bob Minor. Because therapy aligned more with liberalism, religious conservatives
opposed it in a way that still impacts religious communities. Then there’s Sigmund Freud — the
father of modern psychology — who harshly criticized religion. Freud also made arguments that
upset people of faith such as saying the image of God was a projection of the ideal father figure.
The origin of therapy and its higher rate of endorsement among liberals also led to the next issue
that makes religious people hesitant to see a therapist.
People Assume Any Therapist Will Be Too Liberal or Secular
Because people who are serious about their religious beliefs tend to have more conservative
values, they worry they will wind up with a liberal or secular therapist who will criticize or
attempt to change these values. But — liberal, conservative, religious or secular — no good
therapist will interfere with religious beliefs. Therapists are actually not supposed to tell clients
what to do, psychologistABart RossiAtold Talkspace.
What Can Religious People Do to Overcome the Stigma and See a Therapist Without Compromising
Faith or Their Role in a Religious Community?
If you want additional support in living a happier life by seeing a therapist but are worried about
how therapy conflicts with your religious values, much of the solution lies in adopting new ways
of thinking. There are also ways to see therapists without any risk of community or family
members finding out. Like faith, mental health is only your business unless you choose to share
it with people.
New Way of Thinking #1: You Can Talk to a Therapist and God — It Does Not Mean You
Are Weak
People who see a therapist and pray such asAauthor Darren PierreAbelieve faith and therapy work
together and should not be mutually exclusive. “For me, it is not different than faith and medical
health,” Pierre said. “Yes, prayer is a strong tool for change, but to activate that prayer and faith,
attention from a medical professional is necessary.”
Relying on prayer and therapy also does not need to mean you are spiritually weak. Pierre
believes a greater strength than handling problems with faith alone is the ability to cast aside
pride and ask for help. There isn’t a correct point of view, but Pierre said his current attitude has
helped him more than when he relied only on faith. It might help you too.
New Way of Thinking #2: Therapy is a Supplement or Complement to Religion, Not a
Replacement
When people experience tragedy or loss, they need as much support as possible to heal.AGrief
Recovery InstituteAExecutive Director Russell Friedman recommends people of faith see therapy
and similar methods as additional coping tools for managing their emotions, especially during
times of grief and hardship. Pierre adopted this attitude so he could better learn to forgive and
cope with trauma. “I have recognized how faith and God alone are not enough to reconcile and
heal the wounds of the past,” Pierre said. Because Pierre needed help with different issues, he
needed faith and therapy. This need had nothing to do with the strength of his faith.
New Way of Thinking #3: God Works Through Everything and Everyone, Including
Therapists
If you believe in God, you know he works through every being in the world. This includes
therapists. When you see a therapist, you are receiving God’s healing in the form of therapy.
Again, God works through everyone. He does not take exception to therapists. Another person
God works through is you.ATherapist Darren D. MooreAsometimes reminds clients of this when
they feel unsure about committing to therapy. “Maybe God is actually the person who sent you
here,” Moore said, describing conversations he has with religious clients. “Maybe God placed
this therapist in my life to help me.”
People Can Interpret Religious Texts in a Way That Meshes with Therapy
One of the greatest parts of being religious and studying religious texts is the ability to interpret
the text as you wish. Depending on your interpretations, many passages will support mentally
healthy ideas therapists encourage such as forgiveness and generosity.
Religious Leaders Refer People to Therapists All the Time!
Some religious leaders tell people not to see a therapist. Others embrace therapy and refer
members of their religious community to therapists. If you have the latter, receiving the benefits
of faith and therapy will be much easier. When members of a church talk to pastors about issues
not related to faith, the pastor might think it’s best to refer them to a therapist. Moore receives
many of these referrals, particularly couples who have issues they can’t resolve within their
religious community. Religious leaders attend therapy as well. “I also work a lot with pastoral
leaders as clients,” Moore said.
Therapist Monique PrinceAalso raised the issue of religious leaders referring people to therapists.
Sometimes it happens because leaders feel they do not have time to successfully maintain their
institution and see all of the community members who have issues. Some would prefer to guide
everyone through their problems, but they trust select therapists to act as an alternative.
Find a Therapist Who Specializes in Seeing Religious Clients
Like Gordon, many therapists are religious and see clients with similar beliefs — sometimes
exclusively. Gordon says she ensures she can speak the same “lingo” as clients from deeply
religious communities and has the education necessary to understand their issues. Some people
take what Gordon does to another level called “faith-based therapy”, a practice where a client
and therapist explore psychological issues against the backdrop of religion and religious
texts.ATherapist Tecsia EvansAis Christian and practices this in an office and hospital, often
seeing religious clients who assumed therapists would ignore their religious beliefs.
If you live in a small, tight community and want to see a therapist without the risk of anyone
knowing or judging, online therapy is a great solution.ATalkspaceAonline therapy does not use
identifying information and has the option of text therapy for increased privacy (no one
overhearing conversations or seeing video chats). This can be helpful if you live in a small town
like Johnna Ithier does.
“Everyone knew me and my family history was deep in church,” Ithier said. “It was better to
have someone who didn’t know me.” Whether it’s a small town in the south or an Orthodox
Jewish neighborhood in New York,AconfidentialityAmight be what you need.
Going to Therapy Will Actually Deepen Your Faith
If you believe in God, that means you believe he created your body and mind. Therapy is an
opportunity to meld your mind and faith, allowing both to become stronger. “What I have
discovered working with religious people and enjoying my own faith is that coming to terms
with and knowing ourselves to the fullest extent possible only deepens our faith,” saidAtherapist
Claudia Luiz. “God gave us an orchestra of emotions and many layers of brain activity. Both our
wisdom and our faith is served by knowing them.”
God created you and works through you, so working with a therapist to know yourself better is
another path to becoming closer to him.
