5 questions to ask a Christian therapist before you book
As a Christian therapist, I’ve seen the many ways God can meet, love, and bring healing to members of His Body through therapy. I’ve also seen how the enemy can try to use therapy for his own purposes, including to confuse or turn Christians away from the truth that sets them free. Because therapy gives someone a level of access to your heart (and, with that access, power to heal or harm), I encourage my brothers + sisters to be wise and use discernment in choosing a therapist.
God can work through anyone He chooses, even if they’re not a believer, but I generally recommend that Christians seeking therapy work with a Christian therapist whenever possible. Not because they’re perfect or can’t do harm, but because they personally know the saving love of Jesus and have a perspective that is, at least to some degree, rooted in the truth of God’s Word. The trouble is, not all therapists who identify or advertise as Christian actually are. False gospels, cultish groups that claim to be Christian, and cultural ‘Christianity’ are (sad) realities. Because of this, it’s wise to ask questions, rather than blindly accept someone’s claim. A therapist’s power to heal or harm is greater when they wear the name of Christ.
Here are 5 questions I recommend asking a Christian therapist before you book with them:
1. “Who is Jesus to you?”
Jesus is the center of it all. He is our Savior, our Shepherd, our most faithful Friend! He is revealed by His own Word to be the Son of God, “God with us.” If someone who identifies as Christian doesn’t know Jesus as their personal Savior, follow Him as their Lord, and/or believes Him to be someone other than who He says He is (ex. only a prophet, only a spiritual teacher, less than God, someone who affirms sin, someone who condemns sinners, one of many ways to know God, etc.) this should be a red flag.
2. “What is the gospel you believe?”
Every Christian should be able to articulate, even if messily, the gospel they believe in! There is only one gospel - that God loves us so much, He gave us His Son, Jesus, to pay for all of our sins on the cross, free us from sin and condemnation, and give us the free gift of eternal life. The gospel is good news. To receive it, one has to first believe the bad news that we are sinners in need of a Savior! If a therapist claims to be Christian and doesn’t know what the gospel is, sounds very confused or unclear about what they believe, or believes a different gospel - for example, one that denies or minimizes sin, makes sin the whole story, or minimizes Jesus’ work of salvation - I don’t recommend working with them.
3. “Do your beliefs align with the Nicene Creed?”
The Nicene Creed has clearly defined, for centuries, the core truths that Christians believe. The objective facts we believe or don’t believe about God matter. They shape how we view Him, even our subjective experience of Him, and how we walk out our faith. If someone who is claiming to be Christian has core beliefs that deviate from what Christians have declared true for centuries, it should make you pause.
4. “Where do you stand on the issue of sexuality or sex ethics?”
I’ve asked prospective therapists and therapists I refer clients to this question because I have strong convictions about healthy sexuality. If someone has different convictions than you on this, it doesn’t mean they aren’t truly Christian or aren’t trustworthy to be your therapist. However, it may indicate a lack of wisdom, and, in my experience, sex ethics that deviate from a traditional Christian sex ethic can be the fruit of a false gospel and/or other false doctrines.
5. “How do you seek wisdom?”
Christians recognize God as the beginning and end of all wisdom, and His Word as the ultimate source of wisdom. If a therapist identifies as Christian, but only seeks wisdom from earthly or secular sources, that’s problematic. It shows humility and fear of the Lord (the presence of the Holy Spirit) when one seeks wisdom in prayer, in what Scripture says, and from more spiritually mature, Christian mentors and clinicians.
You can ask as many of these questions as makes sense for you when consulting with a potential therapist. It might feel uncomfortable to do so, but guarding your heart is wisdom and you are worth it! Walking in faithfulness in this way will be a gift to you, and a gift to the therapists you consult with. It will save you both time and energy if it’s not ultimately the right fit. The goal here isn’t perfectly polished answers or to find a perfect therapist, it’s simply to love God, others, and yourself well. If anything makes you pause or sounds off, don’t be afraid to ask for clarification. God is with you and will lead you to the right therapist as you trust in Him.
If you are a resident of California, I offer virtual and in-person (Orange County only) individual therapy and you are welcome to schedule a consult with me here to see if we are a good fit. I’m also happy to provide trusted referrals if you need help with that - just send me a message!
