Guidance for Christians in discerning therapy options when seeking counseling …

The journey through the landscape of mental and emotional well-being can feel like traversing a dense forest. Many paths wind in different directions, each promising a way forward. In the realm of therapy and counseling, this is strikingly true. A multitude of therapeutic approaches are available, each with its own philosophy and techniques. For those of the Christian faith, discerning which path aligns with their beliefs is crucial. While many therapies offer valuable tools for healing and growth, some diverge fundamentally from a biblical worldview and must be avoided or approached with extreme caution.

It’s important to recognize that the core desire for healing and wholeness is something Christianity understands and values. However, the approach to that healing can sometimes present serious challenges. Let’s explore some therapeutic modalities that demand a very cautious approach, and some that should be rejected, from a Christian perspective:

Humanistic therapies: Rejecting God’s authority
Several therapies, including Person-Centered Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, Existential Therapy, and Logotherapy, fall under the umbrella of “humanistic” psychology. These approaches focus on individual autonomy, self-actualization, and finding meaning from within, rooted in the mistaken belief that people are inherently good and can save themselves. In contrast, the Bible reveals that humanity is fallen and requires a Savior.

• • Why they must be rejected: Any therapy that prioritizes the self as the ultimate authority directly contradicts Scripture. A biblical worldview acknowledges that while humans are created in God’s image and have inherent worth, they are also fallen, sinful, and utterly dependent on God. These therapies’ core belief in self-reliance denies humanity’s need for divine grace, guidance, and redemption. They minimize or completely ignore the reality of sin and the necessity of submission to God’s authority.

Psychodynamic therapies: Distorting responsibility
Psychodynamic Therapy and Psychoanalysis delve into past experiences and unconscious processes to understand current struggles. These therapies often emphasize the impact of early childhood relationships and unresolved conflicts on present behavior.

• • Why the caution? While the past undeniably influences the present, an excessive focus on past traumas can absolve individuals of personal responsibility for their present choices. A Christian perspective acknowledges the impact of the past but emphasizes the power of present choices, the transformative work of the Holy Spirit, and the possibility of forgiveness and a new life in Christ. Additionally, some psychodynamic theories may promote a deterministic view of human behavior that denies free will and contradicts biblical views on the nature of man.

Jungian Therapy: Spiritual language with occult meaning
Analytical Psychology, developed by Carl Jung, is often treated as a specialized form of depth therapy. It uses concepts such as archetypes, the collective unconscious, and the process of “individuation” to help individuals grow into their true selves. Jung also integrated symbols from world religions and encouraged dream interpretation as a spiritual guide.

• • Why it must be rejected: While Jung occasionally referenced biblical themes, his worldview was mystical, occultic, and explicitly non-Christian. His teachings promoted a syncretistic blend of spiritual ideas drawn from mythology, gnosticism, and Eastern religion. The therapeutic process is often presented as a spiritual journey toward self-deification, which directly contradicts the Christian doctrine of sanctification through the work of the Holy Spirit. No therapy that reinterprets Christian truth through pagan frameworks can be safely embraced.

Internal Family Systems: A counterfeit view of the soul
Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy teaches that each person is made up of multiple internal “parts,” such as wounded exiles or protective managers, all overseen by an innately good, healing “Self.” Therapy involves dialoguing with these parts, promoting internal harmony through the leadership of the “Self.”

• • Why the caution? While some Christians attempt to use IFS language metaphorically, the framework itself is built on a fundamentally unbiblical view of the human soul. Scripture teaches that the heart is unified, not partitioned into separate entities, and that healing comes not from within ourselves but from Christ. IFS promotes a vision of salvation through inner harmony and self-leadership, which runs counter to the gospel’s call to die to self and live by the Spirit. Any therapy that casts the “Self” as the ultimate source of wisdom and healing should be approached with extreme discernment, if not outright rejected.

Rebirthing and Breathwork therapies: Inducing spiritual vulnerability
Rebirthing and various breathwork techniques aim to produce emotional or spiritual breakthroughs by using altered breathing patterns to access subconscious material or achieve heightened states of awareness. These methods are often practiced in therapeutic contexts outside of any coherent psychological theory.

• • Why they must be rejected: These techniques are heavily influenced by New Age spirituality and are often designed to simulate a mystical experience. Some involve the belief that traumatic memories from birth or past lives are stored in the body and can be released through breath. These practices open individuals to altered states of consciousness and spiritual deception, bypassing reason and accountability. The Bible calls Christians to sober-mindedness, prayer, and repentance, not trance-like experiences or spiritual experiments divorced from God’s Word.

Transpersonal Therapy: A dangerous deception
Transpersonal Therapy explores the “spiritual” dimension of human experience, often seeking to transcend the individual self and connect with a “greater” reality. This approach may incorporate various spiritual practices and altered states of consciousness.

• • Why it must be rejected: Any therapy seeking to transcend the individual self and connect with “something greater” and that “something greater” is not specifically the God of the Bible is inherently dangerous and must be avoided. From a biblical perspective, this is a form of spiritual deception. It opens the door to false spiritualities that lead people away from the truth of the Gospel. Christians must be extremely discerning and reject any therapeutic approach that seeks spiritual connection outside of the framework of biblical teaching.

Discernment is always necessary
It’s important to be clear: While the therapies listed above present significant concerns from a biblical perspective, this does not mean that all other therapies are automatically safe. Many therapeutic approaches, even those with a more neutral stance, can be influenced by secular worldviews that subtly undermine Christian values. The therapist’s individual beliefs and practices are just as important as the therapy’s general approach. Therefore, Christians must exercise discernment in all therapeutic settings. Ask questions, seek counsel from trusted Christian leaders, and always evaluate what you are hearing against the unchanging truth of scripture.

Scotty