Christian Counseling Ministers Therapists Psychologist value Systems Marriage Counseling

Christian Counseling Ministers Therapists Psychologist value Systems Marriage Counseling

By: Mona Gallagher

Published: September 15, 2008

Christian marriage counseling offers faith based Christians a way to confront marital problems while keeping core values close. However, it is also true that professional Christian therapists and psychologists, employ some of the same tested and tried principles that mainstream professionals use. The result is a competent counselor with biblical views.

Just as mainstream professionals operate at various levels of knowledge and competency, the same may be said for Christian counselors and therapists. The ability to connect with the hurt and disillusionment of clients is a competence quality that’s required to guide people to possible wellness in a marriage. People trust people that provide a gut level comfort.

Ministers were once the primary source of marriage counseling and in olden days they had no professional mental health training at all. Many handled their responsibilities with compassion and offered advice that helped marriages heal. Some, however, were blinded by their own doctrines and ideas on how a marriage should work, and people were hurt by their advice.

Today, a growing number of Christian churches employ specially trained counseling ministers to provide better solutions for their congregations and community.

Ministers who counsel marriage partners should have the necessary training to guide a relationship through turbulent times, and they generally do an excellent job of this. These ministers are educated at various levels and handle a variety of marital issues.

Christian marriage therapists help their patients cope and find solutions to problems through interaction with the offending spouse and they promote responsibility and accountability in the marriage. There are times, however, when it’s beneficial to seek a mental health professional who has extensive experience in domestic and behavioral problems.

Personality disorder, substance abuse, domestic family abuse, or other severe behavioral problems require a Christian mental health professional if the marriage is to have a chance to survive. Fortunately, the mental health industry has grown and produced Christian psychologists over the past twenty years and some are trained in theology and psychology.

Some behavioral problems are medically based. Christians are not immune to impulse behavioral issues such as ADHD or bipolar disorder. These are the facts of the world in which we live. There is help. Christian psychologists can counsel wisely but will consult with a psychiatrist or a physician for medical prescriptions. [cloudtownsend.com]

Christians typically don’t want to talk about abusive situations in the home, but bringing them into the light gives the abused the power to move out of a hurtful or dangerous situation. Christian therapists and psychologists often recommend a trial separation while the marital issues are being worked on, and sometimes, this means permanent separation.

Permanent separation and divorce happens in the Christian community but the Christian counselor is committed to doing everything possible to help you find workable solutions. That is a priority; but they also know that people have a choice and sometimes one spouse chooses to leave the marriage. They also help people to move forward in that situation.

Unresolved issues, medical problems, money problems, unfaithful spouses, are issues that lead to marriage breakdown. Some issues are suitable for ministers and therapists to oversee but it’s good to know that there are Christian professionals trained to help with any issue we may have to face.

These are the benefits of Christian counseling.