Jesus and… Therapy?
What we dive into in this episode:
- Preconceived notions about therapy
- Finding the right therapist
- Victory in Jesus AND therapy
- Going to therapy even when you feel good
- Protecting our boundaries around therapy
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What if you receive the opposite of support?
What happens when you pray and ask God for help but you’re still drowning with mental health issues? It’s a consistent theme for both Haley and Noel (and many other Christians.) So is there victory in Jesus and therapy?
There’s a stigma about being a Christian seeking help outside of the church, especially from older generations. They believe there is victory in Jesus and Jesus alone. Our grandparents and parents grew up in a different era that was vastly different than what we face today, so they often give the opposite of support when it comes to therapy. Struggles were often kept secret back then.
Thankfully, it’s more widely talked about and accepted among newer generations. It’s 2024 and we can see that there is victory in Jesus AND Therapy. Therapy has helped both Haley and Noel with many things and they are both huge advocates for it. When you find a therapist you connect with, you become the best version of yourself, but you have to want it. It’s hard to want to go to a stranger about your problems instead of just relying on your friends but hear us when we say: that doesn’t work.
And hot take here, but seeking therapy from a pastor or a friend is not therapy. They can support you and give you biblical counsel, but that’s where it ends. They don’t have psychological or therapeutic techniques that can help you with certain deep-rooted issues. Often, we simply want people to listen and tell us what we want to hear. That’s why we go to our friends or pastors, but that’s not what we always need.
Sometimes we need people who tell us exactly what we need to hear. You can simply say “Thank you for your support” and also find a therapist. You need someone who is going to tell you the truth, but in a way that you can apply it to your life and heal.
Therapy for Christians
We need the love and support from our friends, but we also need the application of therapy. Therapists are unbiased and see the situation for what it is and can help you with zero judgment or opinion. If you’re a woman of faith struggling about going to therapy, just look up “Christian therapy near me”, and you can easily find a great Christian therapist. There are also plenty outside of your hometown if you feel uncomfortable going where someone may know you.
Make the initiative. It’s a sacrifice of time but do it. Just remember, it can take a few tries to find the perfect therapist for you, but it is worth it.
“Sometimes you need something that the church can’t give you and it’s okay.”
Growing up Christian and being in the bible belt, we sometimes feel like we’re hearing the same things over and over– “you need to read more” or “you need to pray more.” While this is great advice, it’s okay to seek help from someone who is going to give you therapeutic, science-backed help (as long as they’re not steering you away from your faith.)
2 Corinthians 10:5 – We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”—When imposter syndrome takes hold of you, you take hold of it.
