Why Christians Can and Should Go to Therapy – Embracing Healing as Part of Faith
- Brainz Magazine
- Aug 7
- 8 min read
Bethany Donovan is an experienced psychotherapist, licensed in both Virginia and Washington state, specializing in the treatment of anxiety disorders, trauma, and complex PTSD, as well as working with military members, veterans, and their families.
In many Christian communities, seeking therapy is often viewed with suspicion, confusion, or even shame. Yet mental health struggles are real, complex, and deeply human. In fact, many people in the Bible struggled with their minds and emotions.
Therapy is not in opposition to faith, but rather it can be a God-honoring avenue of healing. This article seeks to dismantle common misconceptions and offer a biblical, balanced perspective on why Christians can confidently pursue professional therapy while fully honoring God.
I. Common Christian misconceptions about therapy
1. “Needing therapy or reaching out for help means I’m weak in faith.”
One of the most pervasive beliefs is that strong Christians shouldn’t struggle with mental health or emotional difficulties. The idea is often rooted in the mistaken notion that faith automatically shields us from suffering, and if we do struggle, it must be due to weak faith or unconfessed sin.
However, Scripture never promises immunity from suffering. It’s like I once heard a wise person say: “Human beings have a hard time conceptualizing a kind of love that doesn’t prevent you from experiencing every kind of pain or struggle.”
Even the Apostle Paul spoke openly about his “thorn in the flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). David poured out his anguish in the Psalms (Psalm 42; Psalm 88). King Solomon lamented about the futility of nearly everything under the sun throughout the book of Ecclesiastes, and the prophet Jeremiah spoke of his woes with brutal honesty in Lamentations. Mental health challenges do not reflect weak faith any more than physical illness reflects weak faith.
2. Therapy replaces prayer, scripture, or the holy spirit
Some fear that attending therapy suggests that God isn’t enough, but this reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of (a) what psychotherapy actually entails and (b) how God works in the world today through His church, by His Holy Spirit, as supported by Scripture.
Therapy does not replace God’s role. Each one of us in the Church is part of the Body of Christ, and we all have a specific role to play to provide help and support to one another (Romans 12:4-5). We are called to “carry one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2), empowered by the Holy Spirit–Immanuel–who is alive in us.
Jesus Himself modeled this kind of servanthood when He washed the disciples’ feet, commanding:
“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” John 13:14-15
A Christian counselor is simply one more member of the same Body, compelled into servanthood toward the rest of its constituents. Prayer, Scripture, and the Holy Spirit remain central, and therapy works alongside them, helping us process pain, renew our minds (Romans 12:2), and grow emotionally.
3. “I should just talk to my pastor or pray it out.”
While pastoral counsel and prayer are both crucial for any believer, many pastors are not clinically trained to address complex psychological or neurological issues such as PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder), OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), phobias, and a multitude of other conditions. Therapy offers specialized skills, training, and tools that can address issues such as trauma and complex trauma, among others. A healthy approach allows room for both pastoral care and professional mental health support.
4. Mental illness is always caused by sin or demons
Some Christians mistakenly believe that all mental illness is purely spiritual, caused by demons, curses, or unconfessed sin.
While spiritual warfare is real (Ephesians 6:12), not all suffering is demonic. Some of it is simply the result of living in a broken world into which sin and death entered long ago, where the body is subject to disease and decay. This issue is addressed clearly in the gospel of John in the following passage:
1 Now as Jesus was passing by, He saw a man blind from birth, 2and His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God would be displayed in him.” John 9:1-3 BSB
God created humans as integrated beings a Gestalt of sorts composed of body, soul, and spirit and mental health involves emotional, relational, neurophysiological, and spiritual dimensions. We are remiss when we, as medical providers of any kind, assume the body to be a collection of separate parts and treat it as such, and even more so when we treat the whole person, who is much more than a mere body, in the same way.
Research shows that while spiritual interventions may offer comfort and some change, they do not resolve all psychiatric symptoms. A study on the effect of exorcism, which evaluated individuals who attributed symptoms to demonic causes, found that spiritual rituals alone were not sufficient for lasting psychiatric improvement:
Although many patients experienced the rituals as positive, [the] outcome in psychiatric symptomatology was not improved. (Lukoff et al., 1995)
I would posit that this was the result, largely because post-traumatic stress is also a kind of physical injury, specifically to the nervous system. Getting rid of negative spiritual influences does not heal a nervous system that has been slowly shaped and damaged by chronic traumatic experiences or prolonged extreme stress.
Healing is an integrative process, meaning it takes a multifaceted approach, and it takes time.
5. “I should be able to do it on my own.”
We are not meant to walk through life alone, nor are we meant to walk through healing by ourselves! From the very beginning:
The Lord God also said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make for him a suitable helper.” Genesis 2:18
I think this is made even more meaningful when you consider that the original Hebrew word for “helper” in this verse is עֵזֶר כְּנֶגְדּוֹ (ezer kenegdo), and it is often translated to “helper suitable.” It literally means “a strong ally corresponding to man.”
Far from implying inferiority, “ezer (עֵזֶר)” is used elsewhere in the Bible to refer to God Himself as Israel’s help, emphasizing the woman’s equal value and complementary partnership in God’s design.
(Seriously, it’s used in 12 places in the Bible to refer to God as Israel’s help! I’ll put the list of those specific verses at the bottom of this article for inquiring minds.)
Amazing, right? I remember how I felt when I learned that; how it changed my perspective in such a welcome, wonderful way.
The point is that recognizing the multifaceted nature of suffering allows us to seek appropriate, multi-dimensional healing without diminishing spiritual realities. There is more than enough room for both. A psychotherapist is simply another form of helper, suitable for walking alongside the sick, the mourning, and the brokenhearted among us.
II. The biblical case for seeking help
With those misconceptions addressed, we can now explore how Scripture affirms the value of seeking professional help.
1. God works through many means of healing
Throughout Scripture, God uses human agents and practical means for healing: physicians (Luke 5:31), counsel (Proverbs 11:14), and even natural remedies (1 Timothy 5:23). Therapy can be just one of the many ways God may guide healing, according to His sovereign will.
2. Wise counsel is encouraged
The book of Proverbs continually highlights the value of seeking wise counsel:
"Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed." Proverbs 15:22
Therapists, when operating within their professional boundaries, serve as skilled advisers who help individuals navigate emotional, relational, and cognitive challenges.
3. Stewardship of our whole selves
God calls us to steward not only our physical health but also our minds and emotions. Caring for our mental health honors the truth that we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). Therapy can be a practical expression of stewardship, tending to areas of brokenness and inviting God’s restoration.
III. Therapy and faith can coexist
Therapy is not in competition with faith; the two can work hand in hand.
Therapy helps identify and reprocess wounds, traumas, and maladaptive patterns.
The Holy Spirit continues His transformative work throughout the therapeutic process.
Scripture speaks to the renewing of the mind (Romans 12:2), which aligns beautifully with the process of psychotherapy itself.
Empirical research supports that this kind of integrative approach is most beneficial. Studies have consistently demonstrated that evidence-based therapies, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), significantly improve mental health outcomes (Hofmann et al., 2012; van der Kolk, 2014). These findings do not negate spiritual realities, but rather show how God’s design for the brain allows healing to occur through myriad means.
In many cases, Christian therapists integrate faith directly into the therapeutic process, offering care that is both biblically grounded and clinically sound.
Conclusion
Seeking therapy as a Christian is not a failure of faith; it can be an act of obedience, humility, and courage.
God can and does work through therapists, just as He works through surgeons, nurses, teachers, police officers, friends, janitors, and pastors. Embracing therapy as part of one’s healing journey reflects trust in a God who cares for every part of our being: body, soul, and spirit.
I have had the experience many times of someone reaching out, desperate for help, reporting that they felt like God had led them to seek wise counsel, to reach out for help. Their hearts are open and tender, good soil for healthy growth, and they all have tremendous courage and faith in the Lord. People like this start to see a very impressive transformation take place. I like to say that I never go to work without the Holy Spirit; He’s in charge every day! When you put God in the middle of counseling sessions, beautiful things unfold.
I invite you to consider finding this out firsthand.
Will you take the leap?
Read more from Bethany Nicole Donovan
Bethany Nicole Donovan, Licensed Psychotherapist
Bethany Donovan is licensed psychotherapist in Virginia and Washington state. She is a veteran of the United States Air Force and Operation Enduring Freedom, serving for one deployment to Kandahar, Afghanistan. Bethany is a certified clinical trauma professional (CCTP) and is extensively trained in treating complex PTSD through EMDR and other trauma-informed therapy interventions. She has many years experience working with the underpriviledged and underserved populations, such as the incarcerated and homeless, as well as military members, veterans, and their families. Bethany has a passion for helping people heal from their past wounds so that they can go from surviving to thriving in life and build a life that they feel is worth living.
References:
Hofmann, S. G., Asnaani, A., Vonk, I. J., Sawyer, A. T., & Fang, A. (2012). The efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy: A review of meta-analyses. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 36(5), 427–440.
Lukoff, D., Lu, F., & Turner, R. (1995). Cultural considerations in the assessment and treatment of religious and spiritual problems. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 18(3), 467–485.
van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Viking.
List of scriptures that use “ezer (עֵזֶר)” to God as Israel’s Help:
Exodus 18:4 Moses names his son Eliezer: “The God of my father was my help (ezer), and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.”
Deuteronomy 33:7 Moses blesses Judah: “Be a help (ezer) against his foes.”
Deuteronomy 33:26 “There is none like the God of Jeshurun, who rides through the heavens to your help (ezer).”
Deuteronomy 33:29 “Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord, the shield of your help (ezer).”
Psalm 20:2 “May he send you help (ezer) from the sanctuary and give you support from Zion!”
Psalm 33:20 “Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help (ezer) and our shield.”
Psalm 70:5 “But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help (ezer) and my deliverer.”
Psalm 115:9-11 “O Israel, trust in the Lord! He is their help (ezer) and their shield.” (Repeated for house of Aaron and those who fear the Lord.)
Psalm 121:1-2 “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help (ezer) come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”
Psalm 124:8 “Our help (ezer) is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”
Psalm 146:5 “Blessed is he whose help (ezer) is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God.”
Hosea 13:9 “You are destroyed, Israel, because you are against me, against your helper (ezer).”
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