Me, My Clients, and Jesus (In the Therapy Room)

What it’s like to be a Christian and a Counselor… who’s not a “Christian Counselor”

Sooo… I didn’t think this would be my first post, but why not jump in while the water is hot?

Being a Christian is hard. Doing the right things, saying the right things, and aiming to live according to God’s will (as opposed to my own selfish desires) is an uphill trek through the Serengeti and let’s be honest, I’m just a girl.

I mean, being a good human sounds easy enough, but “loving thy neighbor” is not always at the top of my mind when I’m being cut off in Houston traffic and it’s 100 degrees outside. Luckily, God is compassionate and not done with me yet.

What does this have to do with therapy, you might ask?

Well… combine being a Christian and a Counselor, having to maintain ethical standards while also honoring your own walk with Christ. Yup. Welcome to the Olympic sport of tiptoeing around ethics, understanding personal bias, and resisting the urge to pray for folks in session because, while mental illness is very real, sometimes I’m thinking: Have you talked to God about it???

Now, while I would never say that out loud (um… ethics), as a Christian who is not a “Christian Counselor,” reading the room has become an art form.

I have sat across the couch from other believers, people who tune into the universe, and even atheists, and my job remains the same: to help them navigate whatever mental health concern, interpersonal challenge, or behavioral stronghold they may be facing.

Professionally, the balance is easy. I focus on symptomology, biopsychosocial information, somatic reports, and even body language… you know, the science of it all.

But if that's the case where does my faith fit in?

The truth is, Jesus is always in the room — or, for all intents and purposes, in my office — while I’m engaging clients in therapy. While I don’t knock my clients over the head with talk of my faith, as a believer in Christ, I know that it is my job to be the hands and feet of Christ.

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” — 2 Corinthians 5:20

For me, this means I am a representative of Christ, and how I present myself to clients — without saying a word — should reflect that.

As a therapist, I hold non-biased, judgment-free space for people to feel seen and safe. I approach people with compassion and positive regard. I encourage people toward changed behavior in love. And I don’t condemn them when they fall short. I aim to be patient and kind, and I don’t keep score of wrongs.

If that ain’t God, I don’t know what is.

Seriously, that is the basis of my faith, and that is how God shows up for us as His children, so my job as a therapist is to do the same.  While I pride myself on being professional and educated in my field, I am a Christian first, and unfortunately, the two can’t be separated. Now, are my conversations a little different with other believers who come to sit on my couch?

Absolutely!

Because God is good, and “where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am with them.” — Matthew 18:20

However, I still move according to what feels comfortable for my client. My clients are the experts of their lives while I am simply the guide, so I tend to follow their lead regarding comfortability with certain topics. And for my clients who are non-believers, I respect their boundaries and personal beliefs while also maintaining my own.

The thing about God is that, believer or not, His Word and His will can easily apply to universal concepts and, surprisingly, align with a lot of principles in therapy (in my opinion).

For instance, in therapy — specifically Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) — the goal is to change thinking patterns in an effort to change behavior. Similarly, the Bible talks about the renewing of your mind: letting go of how we think about certain things in order to be changed.

Or when it comes to anxiety and excessive worry, as therapists we often give tools and strategies to help stop intrusive thoughts, ground yourself, and release what is out of your control. Likewise, the Bible urges us to cast our worries instead of carrying them.

I say all of this to say: God, for me, is very real, and as a Christian who is not a “Christian Counselor,” He is always in the therapy room with me. I will always honor my role as an ethically compliant mental health professional. I will do my best to help clients based on the science and research of the field. And I will allow God to continue guiding my interactions and helping me to help my clients.

With His love I feel fully equipped to serve others doing what I love!

Sincerely a Chrisitan and a counselor who is not a “Christian Counselor.”