5 Minconceptions That Keep People From Seeking Christian Counseling

When seeking something new and foreign to us, we all have some sense of hesitation — at least until we understand more about what we’re moving into. This is often a concern for many people when it comes to seeking Christ-centered counseling. I’ve made a mental note over the years about people’s most common reasons for either hesitating about Christian counseling, or choosing to not come at all. Here are a few of those:

Isn’t a Christian’s faith supposed to be their strength?

Yes, our faith is our strength. But even people who are finding strength in God and His word need another human being to help them process life situations. I’ve come to see that part of the strength gives us is what honest, trusting relationships can provide.

“Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

2 Corinthians 12:8-9 NIV

If I just pray more and try harder, I will get through this

Prayer changes things! Scripture teaches that over and over. But many times we may not experience God’s best merely through praying for it. God created human beings for relationship — with Him and with one another. There are many times in life where relationships are the mechanism through which God answers our prayers.

“He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Psalm 46:10 NIV

The counselors probably think they’re perfect

As a Christian Counselor myself, I sincerely hope that’s not the case. If a man or woman is truly called to the minjstry of Christ-centered counseling, they likely understand that being a Christian has nothing to do with being perfect or trying to portray that we are. The gospel is message of hope for imperfect people who need rescued from life in this fallen world.

“If I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”

1 Corinthians 13:2b NIV

I’ll just be judged if I go there

Human beings tend to seek self-validation through comparing themselves to others. Sometimes building ourselves up by seeing others as less than. Sometimes self-condeming by seeing others as better than. Either way, just not believing that you’re enough. I’ve found that those wwho feel judged by others are probably judging themselves far more than anyone else may or may not be judging them.

“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

Galatians 1:10 NIV

There’s nothing Christian counseling can do to change things

One indicator of chronic shame and rejection in your life is that belief that things can’t change. It is what it is! This leads to a lens of hopelessness as you look at life, oftentimes more imagined than actually true. From a perspective of hopelessness (or lost hope), it’s pretty difficult for an individual to believe anything could actually change.

“Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.”

Proverbs 15:22 ESV

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