fbpx
Potentash
  • Relationships
    • The Singlehood Series
    • Dating
    • Sex
    • Parenting
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Food + Beverage
    • Fashion
    • Interviews
  • Stories
    • The Singlehood Series
    • Fiction
    • Poetry
  • Skin + Beauty
    • Skin
      • Skincare
    • Hair
      • Haircare
  • Wellness
    • Physical Health
    • Emotional Wellness
    • Mental Wellness
    • Social Wellness
    • Spiritual Wellness
  • Business
    • Business Finance
    • Personal Finance
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Investments
    • Personal Investments
  • Entertainment
    • Internet
    • Events
    • Music
    • Books
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
Potentash
  • Relationships
    • The Singlehood Series
    • Dating
    • Sex
    • Parenting
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Food + Beverage
    • Fashion
    • Interviews
  • Stories
    • The Singlehood Series
    • Fiction
    • Poetry
  • Skin + Beauty
    • Skin
      • Skincare
    • Hair
      • Haircare
  • Wellness
    • Physical Health
    • Emotional Wellness
    • Mental Wellness
    • Social Wellness
    • Spiritual Wellness
  • Business
    • Business Finance
    • Personal Finance
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Investments
    • Personal Investments
  • Entertainment
    • Internet
    • Events
    • Music
    • Books
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
Potentash
No Result
View All Result
Black female therapist in session with male patient lying on couch

Black female therapist in session with male patient lying on couch Image from https://bit.ly/3MN2OPY

Opinion: The Problem With Religious Therapists From People’s Experiences

Nereah Obimbo by Nereah Obimbo
April 17, 2023
in Opinions
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0 0
0
0
SHARES
2
VIEWS
FacebookTwitterWhatsApp

I was recently listening to a Kenyan couple’s 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 don’t 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, it’s 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

— ✧Myriam✧ (@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.

— ā„³ā„“ā„“š“ƒš’·ā„Æš’¶š“‚ ✨ (@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 AšŸ¤ (@WatiriNjeri) March 15, 2023

Inadequate training

There’s 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.

they’re the worst, last year one of them ā€œcertifiedā€ christian therapists were on tiktok spewing transphobia. ask me if they have any ethical obligations to respect people’s identity https://t.co/XXMryiDlnM

— 5hahem aka Dr. Durag (@shaTIRED) April 10, 2023

ā€œChristian counselingā€

= ā€œSomeone who probably doesn’t have valid credentials will feed you the party line, and if it doesn’t help, blame you and quite possibly subject you to exorcism, especially if you’re 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, don’t 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 ā€œChristian therapistsā€ are licensed or trained. So bear that in mind. https://t.co/OiN2FaWiqG

— Naa Kwaamah  (@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 AšŸ¤ (@WatiriNjeri) March 14, 2023

 

Check out

Mental Health: Signs Of A Bad Therapist

Mental Health: Pros And Cons Of Talk Therapy

6 Things They Don’t Tell You About Therapy

ShareTweetSendSharePin
Previous Post

Ableism: Persons With Disabilities Share The Most Ableist Things They’ve Ever Been Told

Next Post

Difficult But Critical Conversations To Have With Your Ageing Parents

Nereah Obimbo

Nereah Obimbo

Writer. Youtuber. Filmmaker. Abolitionist. Pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will.

Next Post
Man talking to ageing parents

Difficult But Critical Conversations To Have With Your Ageing Parents

Please login to join discussion

Recommended

Health: 6 Ways To Maintain Good Menstrual Hygiene

Health: 6 Ways To Maintain Good Menstrual Hygiene

June 18, 2019
1.2k
Hate Washing Dishes? Me Too. 5 Tips To Make Dishwashing Easier

Hate Washing Dishes? Me Too. 5 Tips To Make Dishwashing Easier

March 9, 2018
336

Popular Stories

  • Black couple laughing

    Our Love Burned Hot And I Was So Happy. I Did Not Know I Was Being Set Up For A Con

    882 shares
    Share 353 Tweet 221
  • The Singlehood Series: A Love Triangle That Ended In Prison

    438 shares
    Share 175 Tweet 110
  • The Singlehood Series: My Girlfriend Was Cheating On Me While I Worked Night Shifts

    341 shares
    Share 136 Tweet 85
  • The Singlehood Series: He Brought Another Girl To Live With Him Before I Could Move Out

    278 shares
    Share 111 Tweet 70
  • The Singlehood Series: My Dad Embarrassed Me In Front Of My Crush

    207 shares
    Share 83 Tweet 52

Potentash Blog

Potentash is an award-winning lifestyle blog. We publish lifestyle content that intersects with health, women, beauty, travel, business, relationships, finances and entertainment.

Explore

  • The Singlehood Series
  • From Stairs To Ramps
  • Man Around Nairobi
  • Pearls And Heels
  • Personal Finance
  • Food + Beverage
  • Editor’s Pick
  • Reviews

Get the Potentash Newsletter

  • Newsletter Archive
  • Subscribe
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

Copyright Ā© 2023. Potentash, In Partnership with Decima

  • Login
No Result
View All Result
  • Relationships
    • The Singlehood Series
    • Dating
    • Sex
    • Parenting
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Food + Beverage
    • Fashion
    • Interviews
  • Stories
    • The Singlehood Series
    • Fiction
    • Poetry
  • Skin + Beauty
    • Skin
      • Skincare
    • Hair
      • Haircare
  • Wellness
    • Physical Health
    • Emotional Wellness
    • Mental Wellness
    • Social Wellness
    • Spiritual Wellness
  • Business
    • Business Finance
    • Personal Finance
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Investments
    • Personal Investments
  • Entertainment
    • Internet
    • Events
    • Music
    • Books

Copyright Ā© 2023. Potentash, In Partnership with Decima

Welcome Back!

Sign In with Linked In
OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In