What Is a Christian Therapist and How Do You Know If One Is Right for You?

Updated

A Christian therapist is a licensed mental health professional who integrates faith with clinical practice—typically by incorporating prayer, Scripture, or Christian values into sessions alongside evidence-based methods like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). You may want one if your faith is central to how you understand yourself and your problems, and you'd prefer that your therapist share and work within that framework. If you're mainly looking for symptom relief and don't need faith addressed in treatment, a secular therapist may fit just as well.

What "Christian therapist" actually means

The term describes an approach, not a separate license. A Christian therapist holds the same credentials as any other counselor—for example, in Washington State, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)—and is bound by the same ethical and legal standards. What differs is how they work:

  • Faith integration: Sessions may include prayer, biblical principles, or discussion of how your beliefs relate to your situation.
  • Clinical methods stay evidence-based: At Crossroads Counseling & Consulting LLC in Woodinville, WA, the counselors (Neil R. Jones, MA, LMHC and Gretchen L. Jones, MA, LMHC) describe using object relations theory, boundaries work, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and family systems theory. Christian counseling is offered upon request—meaning it's an option layered onto standard therapy, not a replacement for it.
  • Scope of issues: The same practice treats depression, anxiety, panic attacks, OCD, PTSD, men's and women's issues, pornography addiction, video game addiction, parenting, codependency, relationship and intimacy issues, trust issues, abuse recovery, self-esteem, and trauma—for adults and adolescents.

The key point: a competent Christian therapist doesn't substitute Scripture for clinical training. Both are present.

Christian vs. secular therapy: same dimensions, different emphasis

Dimension Christian therapist Secular therapist
Credentials Licensed (e.g., LMHC, LPC, LCSW) Licensed (same types)
Clinical methods Evidence-based (CBT, family systems, etc.) Evidence-based
Faith in sessions Integrated if you want it Generally excluded
Goal framing Often includes spiritual growth or values Typically symptom- and behavior-focused
Best fit when Faith is central to your identity and goals You prefer therapy kept separate from religion

Neither is inherently more effective. The deciding factor is whether you want your beliefs to be part of the conversation.

How to tell if a Christian therapist is right for you

Ask yourself:

  • Does my faith shape how I define the problem and the solution? If yes, a therapist who shares that lens may help you feel understood faster.
  • Do I want prayer or Scripture in sessions, or just a therapist who won't dismiss my beliefs? These are different needs—clarify which one you have.
  • Would a secular therapist's neutrality feel like a gap, or like relief? There's no wrong answer.

If faith matters but you're unsure how much you want it in the room, you can start with a Christian therapist and set the boundary yourself—many, like this practice, offer faith integration only on request.

How to find and vet one

  1. Verify the license. Confirm the therapist's credential and that it's active in your state. In Washington, LMHC is the relevant designation.
  2. Ask how they integrate faith. A useful question: "How do you combine faith with evidence-based methods like CBT?" Listen for both—not one at the expense of the other.
  3. Ask about training and background. Whether they've had specific training in faith-integrated counseling, and how long they've practiced.
  4. Check insurance and cost. Crossroads Counseling accepts most major insurances (Regence, Premera, First Choice Health Network, Aetna, Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Kaiser, LifeWise, among others), and notes some plans can be billed out-of-network. Confirm your specific coverage before booking.
  5. Confirm format and location. This practice is in Woodinville, WA, and states that at the time of its site notice, all sessions were being held virtually—so ask about current in-person vs. telehealth options.

Contact: (425) 922-9846 or the email listed on their site.

Questions to ask in a first session

  • How do you decide when to bring faith into a session versus keeping it clinical?
  • What does faith integration look like in practice for my specific issue?
  • What's your training in the methods you use (CBT, family systems, etc.)?
  • How will we measure progress?
  • How do you handle it if my beliefs or goals differ from yours?

Their site notes they offer intensive-therapy options—a 10-week track and a full outpatient day program—in addition to standard outpatient counseling, so ask whether that format suits your situation if weekly sessions feel too slow.

The bottom line

Choose a Christian therapist if you want licensed, evidence-based care that also takes your faith seriously—and confirm that the therapist is credentialed, that faith integration is available on your terms, and that your insurance or budget covers it. If faith isn't central to your goals, a secular therapist is an equally valid choice.