How should a Christian view psychotherapy?

Answer

Psychotherapy, or psychological counseling, is the practice of attempting to heal a person’s emotional and mental problems. The therapeutic practice often centers on regular conversations between a counselor and a client, known as “talk-therapy.” These sessions may include exploring troubling thoughts, fears, and personal history. They might also include exercises to help adjust troublesome thoughts or behavior. Often clients are assigned “homework” in between sessions that may consist of tasks like observing and noting emotions or behaviors, attempting thought and behavioral modifications, and similar activities. Sometimes psychotherapists work in collaboration with medical doctors as well. The general aim of psychotherapy is to increase a person’s awareness and understanding of the potential causes of unwanted feelings and behaviors in order to achieve a decrease in unhealthy emotions and behaviors.

Different psychotherapists base their practices on various psychological theories and utilize different treatment modalities and techniques. Psychotherapy also addresses a wide range of emotional and behavioral issues. These can include concerns such as relationship issues, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, anger management, addiction recovery, learning disabilities, and more. Therefore, it is quite challenging to provide a unified Christian perspective on psychotherapy. Nevertheless, some Christians have reservations about psychotherapy. We will explore a few reasons why.

Some Christians believe that psychotherapy overlooks the concept of sin and instead categorizes issues of sin as mental disorders. They argue that psychotherapy diminishes personal accountability by excusing problematic thoughts and behaviors as illnesses rather than challenges to overcome. This assertion appears to be directed mainly at specific mental health diagnoses and not at everything classified by the Diagnostic and StatisticalThe Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is used for diagnosable issues, not for non-diagnosable issues. It is true that some psychotherapists overlook sin and personal responsibility. However, the primary aim of psychotherapy is typically to overcome the illness, so having a diagnosis is not considered a “free pass” to behave however one wishes.

Other Christians acknowledge both mental disorders and sin as real. Not all classifiable mental disorders are linked to sin, apart from being a general consequence of the fall and the reality of death and decay in our world. Not all sins are categorized as mental disorders by the psychological community. These Christians view psychotherapy as a tool to help address problematic issues. They argue that having a mental health diagnosis does not excuse personal responsibility for managing one’s emotions and behaviors; instead, it helps to explain why a person might be particularly susceptible to a specific emotional or behavioral response. These Christians suggest that psychotherapy could offer practical tools to recognize and overcome the issue.

Some Christians find it challenging to separate psychotherapy from the humanistic worldview that underpins many psychological theories. They may also perceive psychotherapy as a quasi-religion or a supposed savior in some minds, leading them to reject it entirely. Other Christians disregard the worldview basis of specific theories and instead incorporate what they consider the beneficial aspects of psychological practice into the biblical worldview that guides their lives. These Christians do not dismiss what the Bible teaches about our need for salvation, the healing found in Jesus Christ, or how we should live as a result of knowing Him. However, they also view psychotherapy as a potential tool that could aid in the healing process for some. They do not see activities such as exploring one’s past, acknowledging and expressing emotions, and utilizing behavioral modifications as conflicting with their faith.

iques as contradictory to the Bible. Neither would they see them as a replacement for spiritual growth.

Perhaps one of the most complicating factors in psychotherapy is that so much is dependent upon the therapist and the client. The American Counseling Association’s Code of Ethics (2014) calls upon therapists to be neutral: “Counselors are aware of— and avoid imposing— their own values, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. Counselors respect the diversity of clients, trainees, and research participants and seek training in areas in which they are at risk of imposing their values onto clients, especially when the counselor’s values are inconsistent with the client’s goals or are discriminatory in nature” (Section A.4.b; www.counseling.org/docs/default-source/ethics/2014-code-of-ethics.pdf?sfvrsn=2d58522c_4, accessed 10/20/2020). While this ethical code is well-intentioned, counseling by its very nature is value-laden. A therapist who does not have a biblical worldview might be able to accept a client’s biblical worldview and support it. But that therapist might also think that the client’s belief in God and His Word is part of whatever problem brought the client into therapy. This can also be a struggle for Christian therapists trying to act within the ethical bounds of their profession and who believe a biblical worldview is what will be most helpful to their clients.

Whether avoiding all psychotherapy or making use of it as a tool, we all need to be careful to study God’s Word and rely on Him to be our source of truth. Second Timothy 3:16–17 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Hebrews 4:12 talks about how God’s Word can discern even our motives and intentions. Psalm 119:105 says that God’s Word is a light for our path. We are wise to examine anything we might be taught in psychotherapy through the lens of what the Bible actually teaches.

Says.

We also need to follow the instructions God gives us on how to live, not only in our personal lives but in community. This includes our behaviors. It also involves our personal relationship with God. Not only should we regularly read His Word to better know Him, but we should also regularly go to God in prayer (Hebrews 4:14-16;10:19-23). A psychotherapist cannot replace God in our lives. The Bible also encourages us to regularly engage in Christian fellowship. We should rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep «Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. », (Romans 12:15); we are to encourage and exhort one another (Hebrews 3:12-13;10:24-25). Psychotherapy is not a replacement for the church.

No matter how a particular Christian views psychotherapy, we can all agree that ultimate healing and transformation come only from God. Our primary problem as humans is separation from God due to sin (Romans 3:23;Romans 6:23). Only by God’s grace through faith in Jesus can we be reconciled to Him (Ephesians 2:1-10). When we are, we enter into a process of transformation in which we learn to put sin to death and to live as God would have us live (2 Corinthians 5:17-21;Romans 12:2;Philippians 2:12-13). We still endure struggles and hardships in life, but God is with us (James 1:2-18;Romans 8:28-30). We can lean on Him for our needs and trust in Him for tran

Read from us (1 Peter 5:6-9; Philippians 1:6; Philippians 4:6-9).