What Are Some Evidence-Based Practices For Christian Counseling?

For many Christians, it’s important to find a counselor who both understands their faith and possesses training in evidence-based mental health practices. Christian counselors trained and certified in these practices may be well-positioned to understand how Christians often think about various relational and life challenges and offer effective strategies in line with their client’s faith. Below, we’ll discuss evidence-based practices for Christian counseling and ways to find a Christian counselor. 

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What is Christian counseling?

Christian counseling refers to a type of therapy rooted in psychological practices and integrated with Biblical principles. Christian counselors typically help people with a variety of life challenges, including relationship problems, major life changes, and mental health challenges. They may incorporate Scripture readings and prayer into their practice for some Christian clients. These spiritual approaches typically complement rather than replace evidence-based clinical practices. 

Evidence-based Christian counseling and psychotherapy

Christian counselors typically have a master’s degree in counseling, Christian counseling, or marriage and family therapy from an accredited institution. These programs usually provide training in evidence-based practices in addition to courses on infusing counseling with Biblical principles. Christian counselors with a master’s degree from an accredited program often have training in common research-based practices and therapeutic areas, such as:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Multicultural diversity
• Group counseling
• Assessment and diagnosis
• Trauma-informed counseling
• Substance misuse and addiction counseling

Do Christian counselors practice marriage therapy?

Some Christian counselors practice marriage therapy in addition to or instead of individual therapy, depending on their clinical training and credentials. Some people hold a credential as a licensed professional counselor (LPC), whereas others might have a license as a marriage and family therapist (MFT). Christian counselors with the latter credential may help couples work through relationship challenges by using evidence-based conflict resolution strategies through a Christian lens. They may also provide therapy for families facing conflict or mental health challenges. 

Note that Biblical or pastoral counseling is another option for Christian married couples. The Biblical counseling movement traces its roots to the 1960s. Biblical counselors typically have training from a seminary or Bible college, but they may not have clinical training or licensure as marriage and family therapists. This doesn’t mean that they may not be able to offer valuable support, but couples looking for someone with training in evidence-based practices and who has completed supervised clinical hours might benefit from looking for a licensed marriage and family therapist.  

Potential benefits of Christian counseling

Christian counseling can offer a number of potential benefits for those who identify with this faith. The following are just a few possible examples:

• The opportunity to get the perspective of someone who understands the Christian faith
• Support in spiritual practices like prayer or reading of Scriptural texts
• Approaches to relationship challenges through a Christian lens
• A focus on spiritual, emotional, and relationship well-being
• Evidence-based practices combined with Christian values

Finding a counselor with training in evidence-based practices for Christian counseling

People in search of a Christian counselor with training in evidence-based techniques might encounter many different descriptions of counselors online, which can make it difficult to determine exactly what services a person provides. Plus, there are numerous denominations of Christianity as well as diversity within each denomination. 

For these reasons, it may help to request an initial consultation or ask a counselor about their training and background before committing to sessions with them. Some counselors might publish this information online through their own website or through a directory that allows users to filter results by religious affiliation. Also, some people might find a Christian counselor by searching through a church or religious organization.

Online Christian counseling

One of the easiest ways to find a Christian counselor trained in evidence-based practices may be to use an online therapy platform. BetterHelp has a pool of more than 30,000 licensed mental health professionals around the country, which may make it easier to find a Christian counselor from a denomination or faith tradition similar to yours. With online Christian counselors, you can choose the communication method that’s most comfortable for you, including phone, videoconferencing, or live chat. 

Over the last decade, numerous peer-reviewed studies have indicated the potential effectiveness of online therapy. In one systematic review and meta-analysis published in 2020, for example, researchers suggest that online cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is an evidence-based practice, may be just as effective as in-person therapy for treating symptoms of depression and other types of mental illness. 

Takeaway

Many Christian counselors hold a master’s degree and licensure to provide evidence-based mental health practices in therapy. A Christian therapist can often address a variety of mental health conditions and life challenges while offering guidance in line with a person’s religious beliefs. If you’re interested in meeting with a Christian counselor, you might search an online directory of religious therapists, ask your church for a referral, or get matched with an online therapy provider through a platform like BetterHelp.