Christian (Faith-based) Counseling
Christian Counseling Austin | Virtual Specialist Janae Kim
Takeaway: Many of us are taught that mental health and religion are mutually exclusive. However, I’ve seen firsthand how healing it can be to bring these two together. After all, spirituality can be a huge piece of our identity and overall well-being. If you’re interested in exploring how you can draw on your faith to improve your mental health, consider Austin Christian counseling.
Many Christians grow up with the belief that theology and psychology don’t mix. If one is going through a mental health struggle or even a crisis, the Christian advise is to simply pray harder. This type of view on mental health is not only inaccurate but also harmful and often exacerbates the situation. I believe God uses counseling as a powerful tool to restore mental wellness. And this is no different from when he points us to proper doctors and medicine when we are physically ill. I strive to integrate clients’ Christian faith (if they wish to) into the counseling process.
Understanding Christian counseling
There are various ways in which spirituality and mental health can be combined. A common scenario may involve a pastor using his/her knowledge of mental health while counseling the members of the congregation. Christian counseling, on the other hand, typically refers to a professional counselor integrating Christian principles into therapy. The following sections will further unpack what to expect from Christian counseling and who can provide it.
What is Christian counseling?
Christian counseling is a broad term referring to the integration of Christian beliefs in therapy. As such, how it looks can vary widely. Some Christian therapists may emphasize scripture and prayer more than others. Other variables include the therapists' background, training and comfort in incorporating Christian principles. For instance, some may have formal training in Christian or Biblical counseling while others do not. Another important factor to consider is the client's goal in therapy. Clients may prefer to focus on therapeutic interventions while having a safe place to talk about their faith.
There may be some common misconceptions when it comes to Christian counseling.
1. I'm not a good Christian if I need therapy.
Some may struggle with the thought that seeking counseling means you are not fully relying on God. As believers, we are called to trust in God wholly but he also gives us appropriate resources and tools. Leaning on the wisdom of professional counselors is far from lacking trust in God.
2. Christian therapists will preach at and judge you.
It is not the job of a Christian therapist to condemn but rather walk alongside the clients in their healing process. All therapists, Christian or not, are expected to help their clients from a place of compassion and curiosity.
3. You have to be a Christian to work with a Christian therapist.
Christian therapists welcome clients from all walks of faith. There may be clients who don't identify as Christian but are open to integrating certain Christian beliefs into therapy. It's also not unusual for "Christians" to prefer to keep their faith separate from therapy.
Who can provide Christian counseling?
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Pastors and pastoral counselors
Pastors usually have an advanced degree in theology or divinity. Aside from teaching from the pulpit, pastors are called to "shepherd" their congregation. They may use their Biblical knowledge and prayer to help individuals find hope in times of difficulty. Many pastors also have received additional training in counseling. Armed with more psychotherapy knowledge, they can offer support to the church members more effectively.
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Certified Christian counselors
Some counselors undergo a certification program that specifically focuses on becoming a Christian counselor. While these programs may differ in varying ways, the main objective is to provide counseling from a Christian worldview. They are also expected to a possess certain level of knowledge in mental health and be able to conduct appropriate assessments. It is important to note that this type of training is not the same as a master's or doctorate level in psychology. Those with these post-graduate degrees are required to go through many hours of training in addition to schooling. It is not uncommon for some licensed professional therapists to also be a Certified Christian counselor.
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Faith-based therapists
Therapists who identify as Christian often provide Christian counseling. While they are trained to treat mental health conditions, they also integrate their Christian faith into therapy. The manner in which they do this may vary depending on the professional. With clients' permission, some may incorporate Bible reading and/or prayer regularly in sessions. In other instances, therapists may integrate spiritual aspects only as clients bring them up. This is because clients may prefer to focus primarily on their mental health issues while still having the safety of discussing certain spiritual matters. All in all, there is a wide range of styles when it comes to how faith-based therapists approach Christian counseling.
Meet Janae Kim, Christian therapist in Austin
While I didn't necessarily grow up in a Christian household, I have been a Christian for the past 25 years of my life. I have been active in the churches that I've attended and have grown in my knowledge of God and his teachings. One of the deepest spiritual growths I've encountered was in my undergraduate studies when I minored in Biblical studies. This opportunity led me to gain a wealth of knowledge that further helped bolster my faith.
While all of this has been life-changing, I had to process and heal from certain legalistic church experiences in the past. One of those includes the demonization of mental health issues. I have experienced immense healing from understanding that Jesus does care about how we feel; he approaches the broken parts of ourselves with kindness and compassion. In my journey as a therapist, I've come to see God as the ultimate healer who often uses therapy as a powerful tool. And this isn't different from when he points us to doctors and medicine when we are physically ill.
My approach to Christian counseling in Austin
Christian clients come from a wide range of spiritual backgrounds. Hence it is important to not assume but rather gather pertinent information during the initial phases of therapy. For example, while some clients may lean towards conservative Christian beliefs, others may hold to more liberal ones. Regardless of my own beliefs, I use this information to help navigate relevant topics that come up in therapy.
Despite identifying as a Christian, clients will differ on how much spiritual integration they prefer. Some Christian clients focus primarily on clinical goals with very little spiritual integration. There are also those who desire to interweave their Christian faith more frequently into their sessions. The rest may fall somewhere in between the two ends of the spectrum. With this in mind, it is also my job to tune into my clients to gauge if they are open to spiritual integration during each session.
As often as possible, I lean on the guidance of the Holy Spirit while navigating these dynamics. This means that I do my best to use prayer before each session to prepare for the client and for myself. And particularly during the session, I would often seek wisdom and discernment in how to best guide my clients. This may lead to either backing off of spiritual integration or boldly offering to pray with my clients.
It is my firm belief that my gentle approach welcomes a wide range of Christian clients. For those who have experienced spiritual trauma, they may feel safer opening up. There are also clients who tend to "overspiritualize" their struggles and can benefit from my less direct methods. Lastly, many of my Christian clients want to focus on improving their mental health with someone who shares a similar spiritual background. This affords them to feel more seen and heard.
Who my Austin Christian counseling services are for
In my years as a therapist, I have had the privilege of working with a wide array of populations. Over the recent years, my focus has been high-achievers, trauma survivors, BIPOC individuals and Highly Sensitive Persons (HSP). When these individuals who also identify as Christians address their spiritual health, counseling has shown to be even more effective.
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High-Achievers
These are the individuals who seem to be excelling in many areas of their life. Yet when you peel back the layers, they often wrestle with self-doubt and anxiety. It is not surprising to see this paralleled in their spiritual life. They may be doing all the "right things" such as going to church, reading their Bible, and praying regularly. But underneath the surface, they wonder if they're good enough as a Christian and have difficulty accepting God's full grace.
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Trauma Survivors
Being a Christian doesn’t mean you’ve resolved all of your past issues. On the contrary, those who have experienced difficult things in life tend to be more open to finding hope in Jesus. Many of these unprocessed or overwhelming experiences can be debilitating and get in the way of living an “abundant life.”
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Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC)
Being a BIPOC can bring on many challenges in life. Many of us have dealt with hard life issues related to discrimination, racial identity, immigration, and the list goes on. We can look to Jesus who was inclusive in the truest sense of the word to find peace and acceptance.
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Highly Sensitive Person (HSP)
As an HSP myself, I understand the pain of growing up with the message that we are "too sensitive" and "too much." Through psycho-education, I help clients understand that we are simply uniquely wired. Furthermore, in Christ, we are enough and loved.
Benefits of Christian counseling
Combining spirituality with mental health can be incredibly powerful. This should, of course, be done with discretion and clinical judgment. According to Verywell Mind, Christian counseling is associated with "more positive traits, such as gratitude and optimism." When it comes to specific modalities such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), National Library of Medicine states that "Christian-based CBT is more effective among Christian patients with depression and anxiety than traditional non-religious CBT." Here are some other ways in which Christian counseling can be beneficial.
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Holistic approach
Faith-based counseling can offer more of a holistic approach. The therapeutic interventions that I use with clients aim to help resolve mental health symptoms. What I have found working with Christian clients, however, is the added benefit of addressing their spirituality. For instance, when clients feel stuck in negative beliefs about themselves, focusing on how God views them can stir up a new conversation. Exploring this perspective can eventually lead to greater healing.
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Spiritual guidance
For Christian clients seeking more accountability, spiritual guidance may take place in sessions. This may take the form of using Scripture and/or prayer that relates to clients' mental health struggles. Some might request "homework" assignments that include certain spiritual practices to complete.
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Improvement of relationship with God
Often, there is a correlation between our relationship with our parents and how we relate to God. More specifically, our attachment style to our "earthly Father" can affect how we see our "Heavenly Father." Hence when clients work on these issues, they are able to deepen their connection with God.
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Christian perspective of mental health
In Christian counseling, clients can experience how mental health and spiritual health intersect. They can encounter Jesus as someone who welcomes our emotions and looks at them, not with condemnation but with compassion. While therapy alone can offer relief, we must acknowledge God as the ultimate healer.
Resources for Additional Austin Christian Therapists
1.Hannah Koster, LCSW
Credentials: Licensed Clinical Social Worker, EMDR Trained
Clientele: Ages 12 and up
Areas of specialty: Trauma, Anxiety and Depression
Modalities: EMDR, IFS informed EMDR
Location: Austin, TX
Website: https://www.atxtherapycenter.com/our-therapists/hannah-koster-st6a3
2.Grace Yeh, MFT-Associate
Credentials: Marriage and Family Therapist Associate
Clientele: Adults and couples
Areas of specialty: Anxiety and Panic, Relationship Boundaries and Communication, Family of Origin/Attachment Issues
Modalities: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Gottman and Emotion Focused Therapy
Location: Cedar Park, TX and virtual in TX
Website: https://www.graceyehcounseling.com/
3.Katina Rudley, LPC-Associate
Credentials: Licensed Professional Counselor Associate
Clientele: Ages 16 and up
Areas of specialty: Trauma, Anxiety, Depression, Grief, Career Coaching, Life Transitions, Mood Disorders
Modalities: CBT, Mindfulness, Trauma Informed Care, Person-Centered
Location: North Austin and virtual in TX
FAQs about Christian counseling in Austin, TX
You may still have unanswered questions about Christian counseling. In the next section, I'll be addressing some of the most frequently asked questions in order to shed more light. If you have additional questions, don't hesitate to reach out to me here.
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As aforementioned, the intersection between faith and mental health leads to better outcomes. While psychology has often been misunderstood in the church, it offers a great deal of wisdom in improving our mental health. And as Christians, we are called to cast all of our anxieties on God (1 Peter 5:7) who in turn gives us the peace that "surpasses all understanding" (Philippians 4:6).
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There can be some confusion between the term "counselor" and "therapist." Often, these words are used interchangeably. But other times, counselors may refer to those who offer general advice while therapists address issues related to mental health. It is also important to note more specific titles. These include Licensed Professional Counselor, Marriage and Family Therapist, social worker and psychologist. These are highly skilled clinicians who are able to perform psychotherapy but their education and training vary from each other.
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There might be various factors that come into play when it comes to finding the right Christian counselor. Some consider the type of therapeutic modalities that the therapist is trained in. Others may value working with a therapist who shares a similar cultural background. There are also those who prefer a Christian counselor who comes from a similar Christian background. All in all, choosing a therapist is a highly personal decision and only you can know which counselor is the right one for you. Therefore, I highly recommend scheduling a consultation call to gain more information.
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While I'm currently only focusing on individual therapy, there are many resources when it comes to finding a Christian marriage counselor. In the Austin or Texas area, the Christian Counselors of Texas offers a directory of highly skilled Christian counselors. There are also many other directories such as Psychology Today and Therapy Den. In these directories, you can use the filter to narrow it down to "marriage counseling" and "Christian" in the Austin area.
Some of us have struggled with the idea of combining mental health and spirituality. Many can attest, however, that Christian counseling has led to improved spiritual and emotional healing. If you have any further questions about my approach to Christian counseling, don't hesitate to reach out to me here.