Seeking a Christian Therapist
There are many Christians who want therapy but struggle to find a therapist who knows their faith well or who incorporates Christian spirituality in the therapeutic space. From my own experience, I actively sought a Christian therapist because it was so central to my identity and I desired to have a therapeutic experience that utilized the wisdom within Christianity and Psychology. Fortunately, after a couple of years with therapists who did not ascribe to a certain religion, I found a therapist who shared my Catholic faith. It was a great experience because I felt I could dive deep into my Christian identity without having to really explain. We would begin therapy with prayer and end with “homework” that kept me rooted in the strength of Christ and not my own fragility.
When I became licensed I wanted to make sure I offered this kind of support to someone else in need.
As a therapist, I truly believe that Psychology can help us understand ourselves better using the competence of people who have studied the mind. There are brilliant men and women who dedicated their lives to helping people think differently, process their emotions, and alleviate mental suffering. As a Catholic-Christian, it is also my belief that Jesus Christ has the power to alleviate and elevate all suffering. Jesus’s very mission and life were to overcome the brokenness in our lives and redeem it. So when spirituality and psychology work together, it becomes a powerful force of transformative grace and healing.
So what should you expect from a Catholic-Christian therapist?
Well, first and foremost you should expect to be truly seen, heard, and valued. God said it’s not good for man to be alone (Genesis 2:18). God made us for communion and accompaniment. It’s through the loving gaze of others that we come to find who we truly are and who we truly belong to.
Secondly, you should expect that you will become more conscious. God created your mind, body, and soul for a reason. When you take a closer look at your life in the context of therapy with a Christian therapist, you can see your life’s goodness and/or the ways ‘goodness’ has been distorted by sin, pain, and trauma. This leads to getting in touch with your individual story. Everyone has a story that is a part of HIStory. Sometimes you need another person to help you see your blindspots and teach you a new way of coping. You need someone to help you understand your story and rewrite the narrative in a way that coincides with God’s truth.
For those who are Catholic you should expect Catholic teaching, the wisdom of the Church, the Sacraments, and the lives of the Saints will be infused into the work. For all other Christian denominations, you can expect prayer and scripture to be most salient. Ultimately, what is most important to you and what you are most comfortable with will be at the forefront of the therapeutic work.
Ultimately you know what you really need and what will help you on your journey towards Heaven. God has gifted you with internal wisdom and an incredible conscience. A Catholic-Christian therapist should accompany you on your journey and help you use your internal wisdom to become more aware so that you can make decisions that support the goodness and dignity of who you are.
The therapeutic relationship you build ultimately should reflect the love and mercy of Christ. In turn, the hope is that you will become more loving and merciful towards yourself. It is my belief that over time love and mercy will lead you to a more virtuous and honest life. Instead of living in the enemy’s lies, through the integration of spirituality and mental health, you’ll be able to harness and understand your emotions, accept what is true, and live out God’s great plan for your life.
May the peace that surpasses all understanding guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).
Our Lady of Mental Peace, pray for us. Jesus gentle and humble of heart, have mercy on us.