How to Determine Whether You’re Getting Secular Counseling versus Christian Counseling

Secular counseling versus Christian counseling. What is the main difference between the two? Well, mainly Christian counseling involves giving help from God’s perspective, whereas secular counseling involves giving help from a more worldly perspective. But how can you tell for sure whether or not you’re getting secular counseling versus Christian counseling? That’s where the steps below come in.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Your Mind

1. Check your counselor’s credentials. Most Christian counselors have received degrees in the field of Christian counseling. So, if you see one of these types of degrees in the wall of their office chances are you’re working with a Christian counselor.

2. Ask the counselor about their belief system. Having a degree in Christian counseling is not enough when determining whether or not your therapist is dealing with secular counseling versus Christian counseling. Why? Well, they might hold a more secular view of Christianity. That’s why you should ask ahead of time how the counselor feels about hot-button issues such as abortion, gayness or living together.

3. Analyze your own values and see if they match your therapist’s. A secular Christian therapist is not a bad thing IF their views match what you believe. If they don’t, you should probably move onto the next choice.

4. Check their references. Many Christian counselors actually work out of the church, so it’s pretty easy to get a pastor’s reference for them.

Tips & Warnings

• Still having trouble determining whether you’re getting secular counseling versus Christian counseling? Don’t worry. If you are more secular yourself, you can still work with a secular counselor. There won’t be talk of religion, but you can still get your issues addressed without feeling ashamed of what you believe in, (since secular therapists are taught to embrace all religious groups).