What is Christian Based Therapy?
Restoring Your Heart Through Christian Counseling
A compassionate, Christ-centered approach to healing emotional pain and renewing your faith.
As Christians, we live in a world that often does not share our values or our faith. Every day, we are surrounded by messages that can feel disconnected from what it means to walk with Jesus.
Faith is not just a part of our lives; it is our life. We are called to lay down our lives, follow Him, and live in a way that honors God.
Yet even when we want to stay grounded in faith, the realities of anxiety, trauma, and hardship in this broken world can weigh heavily on us.
“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” — John 16:33 NIV
But Jesus also promises that He has overcome the world. For Christians, it is not about if trials will happen, but when and how we walk through them in a way that draws us closer to God, helps us rely on Him more, and glorifies Him.
That is where Christian-based therapy comes in.
In a culture that often separates faith from mental health, many believers are searching for a space where both can coexist. Christian-based therapy offers that sacred space, where emotional healing and spiritual growth meet, and where you can face life’s challenges while keeping Christ at the center.
What Is Christian-Based Therapy?
Integrating Faith and Evidence-Based Care
Christian-based therapy brings together your walk with Jesus and clinical expertise. It combines proven therapeutic approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) with a Biblical foundation that recognizes Scripture as the ultimate truth.
This type of therapy honors both the science of psychology and the wisdom of God’s Word. It acknowledges that we are emotional, physical, and spiritual beings, and that lasting healing must consider the whole person.
In this setting, you can talk openly about your faith, your struggles, and your relationship with God without fear of judgment or dismissal. The goal is not only emotional healing but also spiritual renewal—learning how to process pain, anxiety, and trauma in ways that draw you closer to Christ rather than away from Him.
What to Look for in a Christian-Based Therapist
Discernment and Biblical Alignment Matter
Not everyone who describes themselves as a “Christian therapist” or “biblical counselor” holds to Biblical truth. Scripture warns us about false teachers who proclaim Christ’s name but do not truly know Him. That’s why discernment is so important when seeking a faith-based therapist.
Here are a few key questions to ask:
Do they believe that salvation comes by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone?
Do they affirm that Jesus is the Son of God, sent to die for our sins and restore us to right relationship with the Father?
Do they view the Bible as the living Word of God and the ultimate source of truth?
Are they licensed through an accredited program and properly trained in clinical counseling techniques?
A Christ-centered therapist will hold to these Biblical foundations while maintaining professional training. They’ll apply clinical counseling and Scripture with humility and compassion—not as a weapon, but as a tool for growth.
The relationship between you and your therapist also matters greatly. Research consistently shows that the client’s perceived relationship with their therapist is the number one predictor of therapy success—more than any single technique. So as you pray for discernment, also pay attention to how you feel in the session. Do you feel seen, heard, and respected? Does your therapist help you draw closer to God through the process?
How Christian-Based Therapy Works
Inviting God Into the Healing Process
Christian-based therapy is not one-size-fits-all. Each session depends on your needs, your therapist’s approach, and your comfort level with faith integration. In addition, Christian-based therapy will vary in how it works and what it looks like, depending on the therapist. At its core, it invites God into every part of your healing.
You might:
✅ Begin or end sessions with prayer
🙏 Explore where God feels distant or near in your current struggles
📖 Learn faith-based coping skills grounded in Scripture
🌿 Reflect on how the Holy Spirit, the true Counselor, is guiding your growth
Your therapist may use evidence-based tools such as CBT or EMDR but always through a Christ-centered lens. The goal is not to separate psychology from faith but to allow God to work through these techniques.
Healing is not about controlling the outcome; it is about allowing God to transform the process.
Are you interested in starting Christian-based therapy?
Who Is Christian-Based Therapy For?
Faithful Healing After Spiritual Wounds
Many believers come to therapy carrying deep wounds from experiences within the church or from Scripture being misused. These experiences can impact how we view God, how we relate to Him, and how safe we feel in our faith.
Christian-based therapy is for you, too. It is not only for those who feel strong in their faith but also for those who are struggling, questioning, or healing from spiritual pain.
It is a space to bring your honest emotions before God, explore where those hurts have left marks, and begin rebuilding your relationship with Him, rooted in truth and grace.
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” — Psalm 147:3 NIV
In therapy, you can begin to separate the imperfect people who represent the church from the perfect love of God Himself.
Christian-Based Therapy vs. Pastoral Counseling
Understanding the Difference
While both Christian-based therapy and pastoral counseling support your spiritual growth, they serve different roles in your walk with Christ.
Pastoral counseling is often offered by pastors or ministry leaders and focuses on Biblical guidance, discipleship, and spiritual formation. However, pastors are not typically trained in clinical mental health care.
Christian-based therapy, on the other hand, is led by a licensed professional counselor who is both clinically trained and rooted in faith. These therapists combine evidence-based techniques with Biblical principles, helping you address complex issues such as anxiety, trauma, or relational struggles through both professional knowledge and spiritual truth.
You’re not just receiving therapy—you’re engaging in a process of healing that draws you closer to God and supports your sanctification.
Why Christian-Based Therapy Matters
A Space to Heal While Honoring God
As believers, we are not immune to pain, fear, or struggle. But we can face these experiences with faith and hope when we have the right support.
Christian-based therapy offers a space where you can be fully known—emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. It is a space where you can bring your honest emotions before God, like David did in the Psalms, and be reminded that His grace is enough for you.
Through this process, you can learn to walk through hardship in a way that glorifies God, deepens your trust in Him, and helps you grow into the person He has called you to be.
Finding Hope and Renewal Through Faith
Christian-based therapy is about more than emotional healing. It is about rediscovering who you are in Christ and allowing His truth to bring peace to every part of your life.
Whether you are walking through anxiety, past wounds, or simply seeking to grow deeper in your faith, you do not have to face it alone. God can use counseling as a powerful tool to help you heal, restore your hope, and strengthen your walk with Him.
Are you ready to start your christian based therapy journey?
Sarah Theimer, LPC, CCTP-II
As a Licensed Professional Counselor in Virginia and the founder of Breakthrough Mental Health Counseling. Sarah provides virtual therapy for adults across Virginia, integrating evidence-based approaches like EMDR, CBT, and CPT with Biblical truth for clients seeking lasting healing and faith-centered growth.