What's Involved in Christian Counseling?

Ever find yourself sitting in a sea of questions trying to figure out what kind of counselor to choose and whether you should pick a Christian counselor or not?

The process of finding a counselor can already feel overwhelming, and adding the spiritual component can bring even more questions:

What is Christian counseling?

How is it used in therapy?

Will the sessions feel more like a sermon than support?

These are common (and valid) concerns I hear from individuals, couples, and families seeking faith-based care. Often, unrealistic expectations on both ends can cloud the real purpose of Christian counseling. So let’s explore what it actually means and what you can expect when working with me. 

What is Christian Counseling?

What Is Christian Counseling?

The Therapy Tribe describes it well:

“Christian counseling is a therapy focus area centering on intertwining the disciplines of faith and psychology to provide an approach to mental and emotional health that pulls from biblical teachings. Practitioners of this style of counseling incorporate religious scripture and teachings to guide you through challenging life issues. When facing turbulent life events, integrating and strengthening your faith may be the missing piece in finding proper treatment.”

In essence, Christian counseling integrates your faith, values, and relationship with God into the healing process so you’re not asked to separate your beliefs from your growth journey.

Who Benefits from Christian Counseling?

You might find this approach helpful when:

• Life feels bigger than you can handle, cope with, or solve alone.

• You’ve reached the end of your own strength and need deeper grounding.

• You want to incorporate your faith into your healing, relationships, or personal growth.

• You feel disconnected from your faith due to stress, pain, or disappointment.

Christian counseling offers space to explore those struggles through the lens of both faith and psychology, finding strength in your relationship with God while working through the challenges of being human.

What Christian Counseling Is Not

• It’s not hitting you over the head with Scripture.

• It’s not a “turn or burn” style of guidance.

• It’s not judgmental, condemning, or focused on shame.

• It’s not a replacement for your pastor, spiritual mentor, or church community.

What Christian Counseling Is

• An approach to psychology through the lens of the Bible, where faith is prioritized as part of the healing process.

• A commitment to soul care: the care of body, mind, and spirit.

• A practice that upholds biblical values while honoring your individuality.

• A space to grow in relationship with Yahweh and gain clarity, peace, and direction.

• A focus on developing your capacity for love, forgiveness, compassion, self-reflection, service, and joy.

• Sessions that may include prayer, Scripture, affirmations, and biblically grounded resources to bring light and guidance into your circumstances.

One of my favorite ways to integrate Scripture is by allowing verses to meet you exactly where you are offering truth, encouragement, and direction that speak into your current season.

I also share Christian resources including articles, books, podcasts, and Bible Studies to help you continue growing outside of sessions.

Why It Matters

Christian counseling is a therapeutic approach that addresses mental, emotional, and spiritual struggles through a faith-based framework. It helps you heal while deepening your relationship with God, replacing emotional turmoil with peace, purpose, and a stronger sense of self.

As believers, we often hope that faith will protect us from hardship but spiritual maturity doesn’t mean life will be perfect. It means we learn to meet life’s challenges through a lens of grace, wisdom, and surrender.

“Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5–6 WEB)

If you’re longing to integrate God’s love, grace, and truth into your healing process, I’d be honored to walk alongside you. Together, we can invite His presence into the places where you need hope, restoration, and peace.

At Nourivida Wellness, Christian counseling with Yvette is part of a holistic approach to mental and spiritual wellness where emotional resilience and faith alignment meet to create lasting transformation.

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Yvette is a psychotherapist, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), and Certified Mental Health and Nutrition Clinical Specialist (CMNCS) who takes a holistic, faith-informed approach to emotional and physical wellness. She integrates neuroscience, psychology, nutrition, and biblical principles to help individuals understand the connection between mind, body, and spirit. Through her work at Nourivida Wellness, Yvette provides concierge counseling and integrative care for those seeking balance, healing, and deeper alignment with their faith believing that true transformation happens when emotional health, physical vitality, and spiritual truth come together.