The idea of faith-based therapy can bring about a number of reactions. This post addresses some questions people commonly have about it, and explains why it is important to have this service available for those who wish to use it.
Is it ethical to mix clinically-based, well-researched therapy techniques with religious or spiritual content?
Clinical social work, like many counseling traditions, teaches therapists to view a person from a biopsychosocial perspective. Meaning, the mental health of a person doesn’t exist in a vacuum.
Mental health is influenced by every dimension of a person’s life, from how their body functions to the quality of their relationships with others.
This philosophy acknowledges that in order to get the best therapy results, it is necessary to take a holistic view of a client: and that includes, where applicable, how they view the world through the lens of religion/spirituality.
There is also not as wide of a divide between clinical therapy modalities and spiritual ideas as you might expect. As demonstrated in “Trauma-Focused ACT” by Russ Harris, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which has been backed by hundreds of scientific studies, draws some inspiration from East Asian spirituality and philosophy. Internal Family Systems (IFS), another therapy modality which is gaining popularity, can also contain a significant spiritual component (see “Self-Therapy” by Jay Earley).
Isn’t ‘faith-based therapy’ just a euphemism for Christian therapy?
The phrase is often used that way, but it should carry a more general meaning than that. People in the United States, no matter their faith or absence thereof, live in a majority-Christian country that was established with Christian ideals.
Particularly in regions of the South, Christianity is often assumed, and overall it is not difficult to find Christian therapists. Individuals of any faith deserve to have access to therapists who understand that dimension of their life.
Therapists who belong to a non-majority religion can help change the overall culture in that direction simply by offering faith-based services openly.
Do people actually like it and benefit from it?
Many do. Clients often express appreciation that they can bring their “whole selves” into the therapy session, including their spirituality.
Working with a therapist who understands your spiritual life can be a powerful experience. You don’t have to explain what being in a polytheistic religion is like, the intent behind the holidays you observe, or the societal difficulties you face as a Pagan person.
The ability to share your life with someone who understands a similar experience is powerful across all identities, not just religion: race, gender identity, orientation, and even profession.
I’m not religious or spiritual - how could I feel comfortable seeing a therapist who provides faith-based services?
Faith-based counseling is one tool in a therapist’s well-supplied toolbox. Not every tool is going to be adequate in every situation - a faith-based approach wouldn’t be used with a non-religious, non-spiritual client, just as you wouldn’t use a saw to tighten a screw.
Pragmatism aside, a core value of good therapy is the agency of the client. Regardless of their affiliations, if a client is not interested in discussing religious or spiritual content during a session, it is not discussed. This applies to any modality: a therapist should clearly describe their intentions and receive enthusiastic consent before beginning to use any technique.
In short, offering faith-based services aligns with therapy’s values of holistic care and respect for the entire individual. The profession is at its best when faith-based mental health care is open to people of all different faiths.