Christian Counseling: What It Is, How It Works, and What to Expect

A woman in quiet reflection holds her Bible close, praying with deep devotion.

You may have grown up not hearing much about mental health in the church. But today, Christian counseling is becoming a popular and sought-after kind of therapy. You probably have questions like: Will it feel more like therapy, a Bible study, or talking to my pastor? This post aims to provide a comprehensive, informative description of what Christian Counseling is and what it is not.

Christian counseling is a form of professional therapy that integrates evidence-based mental health care with a Christian worldview. The goal isn’t to pressure you into “being more spiritual” or "religious" but to help you heal from a faith-based viewpoint that you value.

Continue reading to understand more about Christian Counseling.

How does Christian counseling work?

Christian counseling works much like traditional counseling, with one key difference: your faith can be meaningfully included as part of the healing process if that is important to you.

In practical terms, that means:

• You and your counselor talk about what’s bringing you in (stress, trauma, marriage conflict, parenting overwhelm, shame, grief, anxiety, etc.).

• You identify patterns that keep you stuck (thought patterns, relational dynamics, coping habits, nervous system responses).

• You develop skills and strategies to cope, communicate, regulate emotions, and make aligned choices.

• You explore spiritual concerns if relevant—such as anger at God, fear, guilt, church hurt, unanswered prayers, or “I know the truth, but I don’t feel it.”

• You set goals and track progress so you get a sense of improvements in your symptoms and quality of life

What makes it “Christian”?

Christian counseling may integrate:

• Prayer (optional and a collaborative process between the counselor and client)

• Integration of Scripture

• Faith-based meaning-making (identity, calling, forgiveness, suffering, hope)

• Discernment around boundaries, wisdom, and relationships

• A view of you as made with dignity and worth (especially when shame has convinced you otherwise)

  
  

Most importantly, a Christian counselor should never use faith to invalidate, control, or confuse you. Faith is meant to be a source of comfort and strength. When integrated ethically and effectively, it can address a variety of mental health concerns.

What does a Christian counselor do?

A Christian counselor is a licensed mental health professional (or supervised clinician in training) who provides psychotherapy while honoring a Christian worldview. Depending on the counselor’s training, they may use approaches like:

• Trauma-informed therapy (including EMDR-informed approaches)

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and CBT for trauma

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

• Somatic and nervous system regulation strategies

• Attachment-based and relational approaches

• Skills for boundaries, communication, self-compassion, and emotional regulation

Here’s what that looks like day to day:

1) Creates a safe space for your whole story

You don’t have to censor yourself for fear of being misunderstood, like in secular spaces. A healthy Christian counselor welcomes the parts of your story you’ve been afraid to say out loud: doubt, grief, intrusive thoughts, resentment, numbness, and questions like “Where was God?”

2) Helps you make sense of what you’re experiencing

Many Christians feel confused when they're struggling with mental health. You may think:

“I pray… so why am I still anxious?”

“I know God is good… so why do I feel so angry?”

A Christian counselor helps you understand how your feelings and faith can coexist. They can also help you understand the difference between:

• spiritual life and mental health symptoms

• guilt vs. conviction

• healthy dependence vs. codependency

• forgiveness vs. reconciliation without safety or change

3) Provides practical tools—not just encouragement

A Christian counselor helps you build real-life skills that support healing:

• grounding and calming your body during stress

• reducing panic and anxious spirals

• challenging shame-based thinking

• improving communication and boundaries

• processing trauma safely and gently

• coping with grief, loss, or chronic illness

4) Respects your preferences and your pace

Some clients want scripture and prayer integrated regularly. Others want therapy first, faith second. Many want both, but gently. A good Christian counselor will ask what you want and collaborate with you.

What does a Christian counselor not do?

This part matters—because many people avoid Christian counseling due to fears of being judged, dismissed, or spiritually “talked at.”

A professional Christian counselor does not:

Replace your pastor or church community

Christian counseling is not pastoral counseling, though the two can complement each other. Your counselor may encourage involvement in a supportive faith community, but the therapeutic relationship is its own distinct professional relationship.

Tell you that your mental health symptoms mean you lack faith

Remember: Anxiety, depression, trauma responses, and burnout are not moral failures. Struggling doesn’t mean you’re spiritually weak, it means you’re human and you may need care, support, and healing.

Use Scripture to shame, control, or silence you

You should never hear:

• “Just pray more.”

• “You need to forgive immediately.”

• “God wouldn’t let you feel that way.”

• “If you had more faith, you wouldn’t be depressed.”

A healthy Christian counselor uses faith to support healing, not to bypass pain.

Pressure you into spiritual practices you don’t want

Prayer and Scripture should be invitations, not requirements.

Give unsolicited advice or force a “religious answer” to clinical problems

A Christian counselor stays in their scope: therapy, assessment, treatment planning, and evidence-based care, while honoring your faith and values.

Encourage you to stay in unsafe situations

Christian counseling should never be used to justify enduring abuse, manipulation, or ongoing harm—safety, dignity, and wisdom matter.

How can Christian counseling benefit you

Ready to explore if Christian counseling is right for you? Schedule a free consultation to discuss your specific needs and how faith-integrated therapy can support your healing. Contact Cheerful Heart Mental Health Counseling PLLC today.

Christian counseling can be invaluable if you’re looking for a space where your faith is honored as a holistic part of your identity; some benefits are listed below.

1) You can heal without separating faith from mental health

Many Christians feel like they have to choose: spiritual help or therapy. Christian counseling can integrate both so you can explore emotions, beliefs, trauma, and coping while staying rooted in your values.

2) It helps with guilt, shame, and “I should be stronger.”

Some of the deepest pain Christians carry is shame disguised as spirituality:

• “I should be over this by now.”

• “I shouldn’t feel angry.”

• “I can’t tell anyone at church what I’m struggling with.”

Christian counseling helps you untangle shame, develop self-compassion, and rebuild your sense of identity without compromising your faith.

3) It supports you through suffering in a grounded, compassionate way

Suffering can shake faith. Christian counseling makes room for hard questions and complex feelings while helping you find stability, hope, and meaning without forcing quick answers.

4) It helps with relationships and boundaries without spiritual bypassing

Many Christians have been taught to over-give, over-serve, and avoid conflict. Christian counseling supports:

• healthy boundaries

• assertive communication

• wise discernment

• breaking cycles of people-pleasing, resentment, and burnout

5) It can help you reconnect with God in a way that feels safe

For those impacted by church hurt, spiritual trauma, or fear-based teaching, Christian counseling can be a gentle space to rebuild trust both in relationships and in your spiritual life.

How to know if Christian counseling is right for you

Christian counseling may be a good fit if:

• you want your faith integrated into your therapy

• your struggles are affecting your relationship with God or your sense of purpose

• you want a therapist who understands Christian culture and values

• you want support that is both clinically sound and spiritually sensitive

And it’s okay if you’re unsure. A good counselor will talk through your preferences and help you decide what feels supportive. Curious if Christian counseling is the right fit for your situation? Here's what you can expect when you take that first step.

What to expect in a first session

In your first session, most counselors will:

• ask what led you to seek counseling now

• explore your symptoms, stressors, history, and goals

• ask how you want faith integrated

• explain how they work and what therapy may look like

You can also ask direct questions, like:

• “How do you integrate faith?”

• “Do you pray with clients?”

• “How do you handle doubt, anger at God, or church hurt?”

• “What’s your approach to treating trauma/anxiety/depression?”

Closing encouragement

Remember, asking questions is part of finding the right fit. A good Christian counselor will welcome your concerns and work collaboratively with you. If you're ready to work with someone who understands both the clinical and spiritual dimensions of suffering—especially as a Black Christian woman navigating medical trauma—reach out today. Contact Cheerful Heart Mental Health Counseling PLLC to schedule your consultation. Let's create a space where your whole truth is welcome.

About your author

Shakira K. O'Garro, LMHC-D, LPC, LPCC, NCC, is a Black Christian therapist specializing in medical trauma, chronic illness, and navigating a crisis of faith. Living with severe stage 4 endometriosis and adenomyosis taught her what her clinical training couldn't—how deeply physical pain, medical dismissal, and suffering can impact your mental health and relationship with God. Her work centers Black Christian women who are exhausted from being gaslit by healthcare systems and told to just "pray harder" when their bodies are breaking down. Shakira offers a different path: therapy that honors your pain, validates your experience, and integrates your faith without spiritual bypassing.

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