Should a Christian see a psychologist or psychiatrist?
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Asked July 01 2013
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Anonymous (via GotQuestions)
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Michael Harris
Should you see a secular psychologist or psychiatrist? No! Absolutely not! There is an extreme danger here in accepting advise and counseling from anyone whose beliefs are not solidly founded in Scripture first.
As with any doctor (including mental health professionals) you are in charge. Do not be afraid to interview any professional and ask any questions that you want. If you do not get the answers that you like... move on to the next one until you find someone who meets your standards.
Truly, (and sadly) a psychologist often plays the role of someone to talk to which is first the role of the body of Christ. Unfortunately far too many of us have had bad experiences with this. Things which are supposed to be held in confidence simply are not often making the problems worse. Additionally, Churches often have someone in a "counseling" position who have no business being there as they have little or no training in mental health. A good trained psychologist can spot problems which require and can be treated on a short term basis with medications which can make a huge difference in overcoming things like depression.
A good Christian psychologist recognizes body, mind and SPIRIT. Really good ones have a relationship with a psychiatrist (MD) who can prescribe medications if necessary. Good psychologists equally address the physical and spiritual side of mental health issues and take the spiritual side very seriously... which in fact can be at the root of the problem. This is a key ingredient missing from secular professionals who can themselves be in worse condition than the patients they are seeing. As an example: There are marriage counselors (psychologists) who have been divorced multiple times. And... why would you take their advise? But, unless you question them... you will not know this.
I speak to this question from personal experience. Before I became a Christian I went through a very rough time. I went to several "professionals" and the stories I could tell! However, God was at work in my life even then and I ended up with a Christian psychologist that works with a Christian psychiatrist. What a blessing this man was. I will never forget this man. He saved my marriage and probably my life. My depression was so severe... without the short term medications they prescribed I do not know if I could have made it back to reality... and remember... I was not a believer back then... nor did I become one until several years after this. However, I believe today that the prayers this man prayed at the beginning and end of every session were pivotal in my recovery. The medication just allowed me to find a balance and hear what he was telling me. In four months, I no longer needed the medication... nor have I ever needed it since.
One final thing, beware of well meaning Christians who believe quoting Scripture is enough because "there God is bigger" than any of your problems. Four months ago a Christian brother I was acquainted with (and an active member and leader at his Church) was in a tremendous battle and sought out his Churches (unqualified) counselor who quoted plenty of Scripture to him, but failed to notice the crisis this man was in. Two weeks later after his third "session" this counselor... he went home and hung himself in his garage. I personally believe this man had some physical issues AND was under a tremendous spiritual attack and neither were dealt with. Christians have physical health battles. The brain is no less an issue than a bad heart, kidneys or lungs. However, Christians are also the designated special targets of spiritual attacks by the enemy as well.
There are just my opinions here, but they come from someone who lived it and has seen both great as well as tragic outcomes.
Laurencio Rojas
I agree with the writer. As a result of falling away from Gods plan, falling from perfection to imperfection, from being whole to being in a constant battle with our sinful nature, we have lost touch with perfection. There would not be a need for Doctors of any kind, there would not be a need for “balance” of any kind, but since we are in a fallen state, we are susceptible to the breakdown of our body’s and the confusion of our minds.
These professions are not evil; they are a blind attempt to fix what was once perfect, without a blueprint to perfection. That is why most often, the fix end up being worse than the problem. Introducing all kinds of toxicities to remedy a psychological issue, that fix is the first of many dominoes that will eventually begin to tumble. I believe the same is true of analyzing the depth of a person’s mentality, and leading that person down a rabbit hole of theories and fantastic ideas.