What Christian Therapy Is Not
Because the term Christian therapy is used in many different ways, it can carry assumptions that do not reflect how we practice.
To support transparency, client safety, and ethical clarity, we believe it is just as important to name what Christian therapy is not, alongside what it is.
Christian Therapy Is Not Political Advocacy
Our therapy spaces are not platforms for political messaging, persuasion, or alignment.
We do not:
Promote political ideologies
Advocate for legislation through therapy
Frame mental health through partisan or culture-war lenses
Ask clients to align with any political perspective
Therapy is a space for healing, not recruitment — political, religious, or otherwise.
Christian Therapy Is Not Moral Policing
Therapy is not a place where clients are evaluated for spiritual or moral “rightness.”
We do not:
Monitor belief adherence
Enforce behavioral standards based on doctrine
Apply shame-based frameworks
Pressure clients toward predetermined conclusions
Mental health care must be rooted in compassion, curiosity, and clinical responsibility — not judgment.
Christian Therapy Is Not Scripture as Prescription
While scripture may be meaningful to many of our clients, it is never used as a weapon.
We do not:
Use verses to override emotional experience
Quote scripture to minimize pain
Apply spiritual explanations to bypass trauma
Replace clinical care with religious answers
Scripture is engaged thoughtfully, only with permission, and when it supports the client’s healing process.
Christian Therapy Is Not Church Discipline or Spiritual Authority
Therapists are not pastors, spiritual directors, or religious authorities.
Our clinicians do not:
Provide spiritual correction
Act as intermediaries between clients and faith communities
Offer guidance meant to replace pastoral care
Position themselves as spiritual experts over clients
This boundary protects clients from power dynamics that can be especially harmful for those with a history of spiritual or relational trauma.
Christian Therapy Is Not Conversion-Oriented Care
Our work is not focused on changing a client’s beliefs, strengthening faith, restoring religious commitment, or resolving doubt in a particular direction.
Clients are not expected to:
Believe a certain way
Maintain faith identity
Reconcile with religion
Reach spiritual conclusions
Therapy honors where clients are — not where someone thinks they should be.
Christian Therapy Is Not Agenda-Driven
Healing cannot occur where there is an agenda.
We do not approach therapy with:
A desired spiritual outcome
A prescribed belief system
A narrative clients are expected to adopt
An expectation of faith “growth” or “restoration”
Instead, therapy centers on safety, agency, and integration — allowing authentic healing to unfold without pressure.
Why Naming These Boundaries Matters
Many clients seeking Christian therapy carry previous experiences of:
Spiritual coercion
Misuse of authority
Pressure disguised as care
Harm caused by certainty without consent
Trauma-informed care requires that therapy actively avoid recreating these dynamics.
By naming what Christian therapy is not, we aim to create a space where clients can breathe, explore, and heal without fear of judgment or hidden expectations.
Our Commitment to Ethical, Trauma-Informed Care
Our approach to Christian therapy is guided by:
Clinical ethics
Trauma-informed principles
Respect for autonomy
Awareness of power dynamics
Humility in matters of belief
We believe therapy works best when clients are free to bring their whole selves — including faith, doubt, anger, grief, or uncertainty — without being steered toward a particular outcome.
