“Christianity and Therapy through the Lens of a Christian Therapist”
by Selma Williams, LMSW
Christianity and therapy and how both are important – let’s talk about why….
Everyone needs therapy, even Christians. Growing up in the church I was taught to take my
burdens to the Lord and leave it there. As I matured, I realized I needed more than just a good
church service to handle life’s issues. I also began to see the effects of underdiagnosed and
unmanaged mental health in the church, and I recognized that it is imperative that we take care
of ourselves mentally not only spiritually. The inability to cope with various life events and
traumatic experiences directly affect how we show up in the world and ultimately the church.
Solomon says that without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed (Prov.
15:22). Wisdom is something we are encouraged to get as Christians, and this can mean
gleaning from the wisdom of a pastor or spiritual leader but can also mean entering therapy
with a trained professional when things become unmanageable. The bottom line is Christ is
concerned about our mental health. If we are to be whole beings, we cannot ignore the
importance of mental health as a part of our spiritual journey. Having a sounding board outside
of our immediate circle has multiple benefits that will in turn help support the church as a
whole.
Schedule your FREE therapy Consultation with Selma HERE