Am I a “Christian Counsellor?”

When I finally settled on opening my counselling practice, I knew that I would have to make some tough decisions about how open I’d be about my life and values. People want to know the other person who is sitting across from them and listening to them pour out their worries and hurts—and fair enough! I’m glad to have been able to have such open and honest counsellors in my life over the years.

Wanting to follow that tradition… here I go.

For the most part, I’m an open book and feel comfortable sharing my thoughts and life experiences. But when it came to writing a blog post discussing my faith and spirituality, this gave me pause—not because I’m uncertain of my convictions, but because of the legacy and reputation attached to the terms “Christian” and “Christian counselling.”

If you’re reading this, it’s likely you’re either a Christian who is looking to see a Christian counsellor, or you are non-Christian and trying to figure out whether it is safe for you to come for an appointment with me. I hope to speak to the non-Christian first (and maybe my brothers and sisters in Christ will gain something as they reflect on these words).

My Approach to Counselling

My presence as a counsellor is safe and inviting for people from all walks of life, regardless of your spirituality, race, gender, sexual orientation… (you get the idea). All are welcome in this place!

I also believe that the role of a good counsellor is to enter the reality of the person across from them and support them as they move towards whatever goals they have set, without judgement. In contrast, counselling should not have the primary intent of directing people on “paths of righteousness” or towards moral living. Although I do care about those things and want all my clients to make positive moral choices, people who come into my office should not feel as though they need to align with my own personal morals and ethics to receive help. You can come as you are.

For those wondering who should be involved with helping people make moral decisions, I think that obligation falls primarily on pastors and religious leaders. Of course, religion is about so much more than rules, morality, or doing the right thing; but correcting immoral behaviour is something important and unique to religious groups that just doesn’t jive with the practice of clinical counselling.

Your counsellor should be focused on making your internal world a place where you want to live. I don’t need to impose my own morals or judgments to facilitate that kind of transformation or healing. In fact, telling a person what to do or think is often counter-productive to this goal and very harmful. When I sit down with someone, I simply need to respond to their invitation to enter the struggle, expand my understanding of the issues at play, and employ the right evidence-based tools that will compassionately care for the client’s needs.

So… are you?

I’m 500 words in… I should probably answer the question in the title of this post. I want to address the Christians looking for a Christian counsellor, and I’ll be as clear as possible about what I believe and what I mean when I use the term “Christian counsellor.”

I believe that Jesus is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” I believe that Jesus is God, fully divine and fully human—and God alone is our ultimate source of love, life, purpose, identity, and healing. He is the only person who can satisfy the deepest desires of our hearts. Other sources of healing exist, but they are temporary and come with a cost. Jesus heals completely and offers this gift for free.

All the counselling tools and approaches that I use are supported by scientific evidence, and I also believe that they have been revealed to us by God. He chooses to inspire Christians and non-Christians alike to bring about his good and perfect purposes in the world because he loves us unconditionally (for the theologians, you’d know this as common grace).

In my counselling sessions, if someone is wanting to pray or invite Holy Spirit to come minister to them, I am glad to help facilitate this—but I also believe that God is present and bringing healing whether we publicly pray or not. This is why you may not even recognize that I am a “Christian counsellor” when we meet. Unless you are specifically wanting to discuss spiritual things, I likely won’t use spiritual or religious language in session. This is to create a safe space for people at different places in their life journey, and to acknowledge that many have felt hurt by Christians, churches, pastors, and even God.

For those of you who have experienced spiritual abuse or trauma, I hope you feel safe connecting with me to begin your healing journey. It is something I have walked through myself, so I handle those conversations with empathy, sensitivity, and care.

If you have any specific questions about my spiritual beliefs, or concerns that I might not be the right counsellor for you, don’t hesitate to reach out to me to talk about it. I offer free 15-minute consultations for you to get to know me and ask whatever questions you may have.