A Counselor's Faith
How Being a Christian Affects My Counseling
I am a counselor by profession. I am a Christian by faith. Those two truths intersect in profound ways, but not always in a manner that people expect. There have been occasions when a new client has met me with a look of suspicion, "I didn't realize you were a Christian counselor. I'm not religious. Is that going to be a problem?" But the next day another hurting person sinks into my couch and sighs with relief, "I am so glad to have found a counselor who is a Christian. That's so important to me."
Can I be an effective counselor to both of these clients? I believe so. I have a passion to help people who are hurt or discontent, regardless of their faith or lack of faith. Even though I have personal beliefs in regard to God and spiritual growth, I do not bring these into the counseling process without the client's permission. I make this choice because it is my duty as a professional counselor. But I also make this choice because it is most consistent with how I want my faith to be expressed to those who don't believe what I believe.
Every counselor brings herself or himself uniquely into the counseling process. Each of us needs to be aware of the ways our experiences and biases affect our therapeutic interactions. When I consider the impact of my faith on my counseling, these are some things of which I am aware:
Faith isn't an easy fix for problems.
Genuine faith isn't usually easy. (Read this Bible chapter: Hebrews 11.) It's not a panacea for our difficulties. Easy faith, in fact, is often cheap faith.
Not every problem has a spiritual cause.
There are many emotional and behavioral issues (the behavior of children affected by Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, for example) that are connected to biological issues more than spiritual ones. Just as we apply increasing medical knowledge in a way that improves physical health, there is valuable research useful in helping us understand and achieve psychological health.
Truth is truth.
The truth is a the truth, whether or not a person believes it or acknowledges its source. When I help couples understand that "reach toward each other with love and openness" is a core principle of intimacy, it will affect their marriage even if they do not recognize its consistency with biblical teaching.
I have a calling to bring a message of hope & healing to hurting people.
I want to be faithful to that calling and to carry it out in the ways I've been uniquely equipped and prepared to do. I have experienced grace and healing and am moved to help others experience them, too.
The work of spiritual change is God's work.
I have no interest in trying to convince someone to believe what I believe. I try to live what is true, speak what is true, and examine every area of a client's life (including spiritual) that she/he wants to explore. I want anyone to feel welcome to join that process with me without fear that I will pressure them to a specific outcome. I hope that clients with no faith, or with damaged faith, or with a different faith, will have as much confidence in my care for them as those clients who have a strong faith in Jesus.
My faith compels me to accept and love people in their brokenness, not just in their potential to be healed.
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:1-2
Can I be an effective counselor to both of these clients? I believe so. I have a passion to help people who are hurt or discontent, regardless of their faith or lack of faith. Even though I have personal beliefs in regard to God and spiritual growth, I do not bring these into the counseling process without the client's permission. I make this choice because it is my duty as a professional counselor. But I also make this choice because it is most consistent with how I want my faith to be expressed to those who don't believe what I believe.
Every counselor brings herself or himself uniquely into the counseling process. Each of us needs to be aware of the ways our experiences and biases affect our therapeutic interactions. When I consider the impact of my faith on my counseling, these are some things of which I am aware:
Faith isn't an easy fix for problems.
Genuine faith isn't usually easy. (Read this Bible chapter: Hebrews 11.) It's not a panacea for our difficulties. Easy faith, in fact, is often cheap faith.
Not every problem has a spiritual cause.
There are many emotional and behavioral issues (the behavior of children affected by Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, for example) that are connected to biological issues more than spiritual ones. Just as we apply increasing medical knowledge in a way that improves physical health, there is valuable research useful in helping us understand and achieve psychological health.
Truth is truth.
The truth is a the truth, whether or not a person believes it or acknowledges its source. When I help couples understand that "reach toward each other with love and openness" is a core principle of intimacy, it will affect their marriage even if they do not recognize its consistency with biblical teaching.
I have a calling to bring a message of hope & healing to hurting people.
I want to be faithful to that calling and to carry it out in the ways I've been uniquely equipped and prepared to do. I have experienced grace and healing and am moved to help others experience them, too.
The work of spiritual change is God's work.
I have no interest in trying to convince someone to believe what I believe. I try to live what is true, speak what is true, and examine every area of a client's life (including spiritual) that she/he wants to explore. I want anyone to feel welcome to join that process with me without fear that I will pressure them to a specific outcome. I hope that clients with no faith, or with damaged faith, or with a different faith, will have as much confidence in my care for them as those clients who have a strong faith in Jesus.
My faith compels me to accept and love people in their brokenness, not just in their potential to be healed.
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:1-2