I was recently listening to a Kenyan coupleās podcast, and they had a therapist on to help them iron out some of their differences that had caused conflict. At some point, the therapist says something to the effect that couples are able to forgive because they have received forgiveness from God. This had me wondering, do heathens have the capacity to forgive or is this just something the heathen are completely unfamiliar with? What about people of other faiths? If a therapist’s religion can cloud something so small, something so human, so universal, in what other ways big and small can getting guidance from a religious therapist be detrimental? Here are some potential problems with seeing a religious therapist based on people’s experiences.
Overemphasis on prayer and scripture
Prayer and scripture are key in the lives of believers and religious therapists have been known to recommend prayer and scripture as part of their treatment plans. While this may be psychologically beneficial for believers, it is not for non-believers and can actually be pushy and uncomfortable. Therapy is often undertaken in response to a mental health condition, one problem with religious therapists is they donāt always see it as a health problem, sometimes seeing it as a spiritual problem which can severely hamper treatment. Mental health conditions are health problems and for treatment to be successful, itās important that they are treated as such.
*I've had christian therapists who tried to push Christian ideology on me or tried to convert me. It makes me really uncomfortable "
She confirmed that she understood. And then she read me bible quotes from the new testament in the following session. https://t.co/bGoodvOa4B
— ā§Myriamā§ (@Niriall) January 1, 2023
I went to the doctor about mental distress and I was told to pray. So yeah the bias is horrible.
And yes a relationship can be what some people actually need. Loneliness can cause depression.
— ā³ā“ā“šš·āÆš¶š āØ (@Mikun_L) April 12, 2023
And this is why Catholic therapists are a terrible idea. Mental health is health. It has nothing to do with demons. https://t.co/LC2OCMNTJS
— Mary Pezzulo (@mary_pezzulo) January 31, 2023
Yes, a properly formed conscience with good reading/education, but also the Sacraments, as most mental illness is grounded in sin and demonic influence. Modern psychiatry ignores the spiritual aspect of mental health.
— John Palmer (@JohnMP9999) January 31, 2023
Lost count of the number of times I received scriptures before refills
— Guru Pathik (@Mr_Amoako_II) March 15, 2023
Lack objectivity
For religious people, every matter is viewed through their faith making them biased and unable to provide objective therapy. Different religious traditions take a moral stance on certain things and so it can be difficult for a religious therapist to separate their faith from their guidance. For example, religion often attaches stigma and shame to sex which can leak into the sessions. It may also be difficult for them to be helpful to people in the LGBTQIA+ community who in some religious traditions are considered sinners. Everything is viewed through a religious lens which can be detrimental and often laced with shame and guilt.
And that's totally understandable
As someone that stopped going to therapy because my religious therapist judged me and told me that God wasn't happy with me instead of listening to me without being biased my point also holds water— Mama Aš¤ (@WatiriNjeri) March 15, 2023
Inadequate training
Thereās a common belief that religious therapists may not have adequate training or education in psychological or therapeutic techniques which could lead to ineffective or harmful treatment. In many churches, for example, pastors and other leaders also function as therapists.
theyāre the worst, last year one of them ācertifiedā christian therapists were on tiktok spewing transphobia. ask me if they have any ethical obligations to respect peopleās identity https://t.co/XXMryiDlnM
— 5hahem aka Dr. Durag (@shaTIRED) April 10, 2023
āChristian counselingā
= āSomeone who probably doesnāt have valid credentials will feed you the party line, and if it doesnāt help, blame you and quite possibly subject you to exorcism, especially if youāre queer.ā#EvangelicalIntoEnglish#MondayMotivation #Exvangelical
— Chrissy Stroop (@C_Stroop) November 26, 2018
Limited treatment options
Because of the religious bias that religious therapists operate under, they offer a limited range of treatment options often falling back on religious-based practices. They also favour religious-based interventions over evidence-based practices.
Some religious therapists though are able to exercise professionalism, donāt push their beliefs on patients and actively rely on evidence-based research and standard practice over their religious beliefs. This is what prompts people to make a distinction between religious therapists and therapists who are religious. Religious therapists are the ones to be wary of.
Please go to a LICENSED therapist whom you are comfortable with. Therapists are trained to offer evidenced based practices with a duty of care to clients. Not all self-proclaimed āChristian therapistsā are licensed or trained. So bear that in mind. https://t.co/OiN2FaWiqG
— Naa Kwaamah īØ (@naa_kwaamah) October 27, 2021
Christianity has no business in careers like psychology. A religious therapist does more harm than good. Hang your beliefs at the door when you walk in and be a professional and pick them up on your way out at the end of the day https://t.co/mblTTOxikG
— Mama Aš¤ (@WatiriNjeri) March 14, 2023
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