5 Things to Look for in a Christian Counselor

Searching for a Christian counselor that you trust can feel like a challenge. You want to make sure that whomever you choose will treat you with respect, compassion, and honor your values. If you are a member of a church, you have likely discussed the challenges you are facing with your pastor or another church leader. But sometimes you need an outside, unbiased perspective.

There are also times when you don't feel as connected to the church because of past experience, which may leave you wanting to turn to someone else. In many cases, the help you need and the healing you can receive will be more powerful with the help of a Christian counselor.

But with so many options out there, you want to ensure that you find the right one for you. Here are 5 key things to look for in a Christian Counselor.

1. Do They Have the Right Training and Background?

One of the first things you should look at is the counselor's education, background, and experience. This information will help you begin the decision if the counselor is right for you. For example, how many years of experience do they have with counseling? Do they note any special certification they have?

If you are searching for help with your relationship or marriage, for instance, make sure that they can help couples and individuals.

2. What Aspects of Your Faith Will They Implement?

This may be an obvious one, but you should make sure that the counselor reinforces their therapeutic methods with where you are at in your faith. If you are still exploring your spirituality, have been hurt by the church, or are just unsure of your direction right now, a Christian counselor can still be very helpful.

The right counselor will understand where you're coming from in terms of your spiritual background and will treat you with compassion and an open mind.

3. Will They Incorporate Scripture or Passages?

You may not be ready to have scripture or passages incorporated into your therapy sessions, and that's totally fine. Again, be transparent about what you want to get out of Christian counseling and what you're struggling with so your counselor determines the best approach for you.

If this is important to you, make sure to ask if they will not only reference passages but give you useful ways to practice them in real life.

4. Are They Willing to Answer Your Questions Before You’re a Client?

If you are not sure if a therapist can help you, one of the best ways to find out is to contact them and set up a consultation. Most therapists have a contact form on their website for questions or offer a free short phone call to get to know one another.

While most therapists cannot spend more than 30 minutes on the phone during a consultation, it should give you enough time to ask the most important questions you have. This will help you narrow down your search and find the right counselor who will remain unbiased while honoring your faith.

5. What Will They Incorporate in Your Sessions Based on Your Needs?

Are they willing to incorporate different aspects of your faith? Each of us has a personal relationship with God and spirituality. At the core of Christian counseling is the connection we need to feel to God. It's not uncommon for life challenges to make us question our faith or place seeds of doubt in our minds.

You could ask if each session can end with a prayer. Or if you find peace through meditation, ask if each session could end with a five-minute deep breathing exercise. However you feel will help you the most, the right counselor should be willing to incorporate other elements of your faith.

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Choosing the right Christian Counselor is an important component to healing and strengthening the relationship you have with God. To see if one of our counselors is the right fit for you, please reach out to us for a complimentary phone consultation or through our contact form.