Mental Health for the Christian: On Having the Best Counselor(s)

If you struggle with mental illness, there's a pretty fair chance that you see a counselor on a regular basis. But do you have the right counselor(s)? I pluralized counselor for a couple of reasons. You may actually have more than one counselor. For example, I have a talk therapist (who is great, by the way), but I also have a psychiatrist, who at times can be an even a better talk therapist than my regular counselor, albeit on the 20 minute time scale as opposed to 50 minutes. And at times my spouse can be a fantastic counselor. And there is an even better counselor to us, as we Christians can attest.

First of all, let me remind you of what I call the three-legged stool for staying balanced and healthy. One leg is a counselor/talk therapist. A second (if necessary) is a psychiatrist to prescribe and manage those medications that increasingly contribute to our mental/emotional balance. The third is support from those close to us.

Let's talk first about talk therapy. I have a great counselor. But I had to go looking before I found him. Incidentally, there is much disagreement as to whether a Christian should go to a non-Christian counselor. For many of us, going with a Christian may be a financial impossibility if that counselor is not able to take our insurance. However, I have worked with four counselors down through the years, only one of which was a Christian. He was great, but the others never challenged my Christian views, but rather encouraged them as part of my looking to "a higher power" in dealing with my bipolarity. And if he/she was ever disrespectful of my views, I would have gone elsewhere. You should do the same.

As for the psychiatrist leg of the three-legged stool, I got lucky (or rather blessed). He turned out to be a Christian, although his practice was not overtly "Christian." Plus, he took my insurance plan. Who knew? At times, his talk therapy during our 20 minute appointment has been life-changing. You may not be as lucky in your choice of a psychiatrist. But never fear! My experience with non-Christian psychiatrists has been mostly positive. They genuinely (and effectively) worked with me to give me that "leg up" by managing my symptoms with medications. I have said in other blogs that I would not be here right now except for the aid of medications, which I still take to this day.

With regards to the necessity of having a good support team, I would point to some of my previous blogs. But my overall support team (family, friends, church) and especially my spouse, has been amazing. I can't begin to tell you just how important this "leg" has been to me.

But I want to return to the counseling "leg" of the three-legged stool. We as Christians have an incredible resource in having what I call a triune Counselor, our triune God! I'm thinking of that amazing passage in Isaiah 9, verse 6. Of the child that would be born, we read, "...his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." If the Holy Spirit isn't mentioned there we need only turn to John 14, verse 16, where Jesus says, "...I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit..." (CSB) What an amazing promise! What an amazing God! But He can't help us unless we talk (therapy) with Him through Bible study and prayer on a regular basis. I have availed myself of this divine Counseling, and have been greatly helped, especially at my lowest times. I encourage you to seek Him out. He won't disappoint.

Blessings!

The Christian Bipole