Jesus And Therapy: You Can Have Both

A few months ago, I had an interesting conversation with a friend of mine whose daughter was struggling with an eating disorder and depression.  When I suggested that she take her young adult daughter to see a Christian counselor, her response was, “God’s power is greater than any therapist. ‘Susie’ just needs to bow down to Jesus more and let Him be Lord of her life.”

There are many Christians (I was one of them) that believe faith and therapy are mutually exclusive. I used to think if I had Jesus then I didn’t need anything else, including therapy.

When we share that we are going to a doctor for a physical ailment, or a pastor for a spiritual concern, there doesn’t seem to be much hesitation. However for many Christians, there often seems to be a stigma when it comes to seeing a counselor in regards to a mental health issue.

My friend’s attitude towards her daughter seeing a therapist didn’t surprise me. I used to think the same way, but I have learned the hard way just how detrimental this way of thinking is.

In 2001 I became emotionally, physically, and spiritually distraught. My marriage fell apart and my husband and I were separated. Depression became a part of my daily existence. As a response to it, I stopped eating and began drinking heavily. I was completely distressed. I knew I needed help or I would die, literally.

In my attempt to find healing, I joined a support group. This group was a gift straight from God. This group helped me discover who I was – God’s beautiful creation. I also began to learn a different way of coping with my pain. And for the first time in my whole life, I validated who I was.

The support group had a clear format including specific steps to follow, and tools to use for recovery. As I practiced their guidelines, I began to feel stronger, and began to have hope and faith that God existed and that He wanted to help me become a whole and healthy person.

Every week I faithfully attended this support group. There I discovered a  tremendous amount of encouragement and comfort for my hurting heart. The program taught me that a “higher power” loved me just the way I am, and that I could learn to love myself too, despite my circumstances.

During this season I discovered that my higher power was Jesus Christ.

When I met Jesus and committed my heart to His, I had a radical transformation. I knew that He was the one true God. There was a burning desire within me to allow Him to become Lord over every area of my life.

Jesus became my everything.

As I read His Word, He became alive to me and His love for me was so personal and unique. I fell head-over-heels in love with Him. Slowly, I began to turn from my painful situation and towards Him and His promises for me. Not only did I believe radically in His love for me, I also believed He had the power to do anything and that nothing was too hard for Him, including my healing from codependency.

And so I stopped going to my support group.

I remember thinking, “I have Jesus now. He’s all I need.”

I believed with my whole heart that He was my strength and my shield and that I could trust Him to help me with anything I needed help with (Psalm 28:7). I thought that seeing my therapist, going to my support group, or taking medications for mental health issues were all signs of weak faith.

This mindset however proved to be extremely destructive. The ten years that I stopped going to my support group were probably the most drama-filled, painful years of my life, affecting not only myself, but also my family.

The encouragement, guidance, and strength that this support group brings me is what Jesus uses to bring me mental wholeness.

What I have learned is that I need Jesus and therapy (my support group), to become the whole and complete person that I was created to be. It’s been almost 5 years now since I went back to this group, and guess what? I am a more peaceful and stable woman.

I believe in Christ’s healing power. He is the Great Physician. I know that there is nothing that He can’t restore. And I think Jesus often uses people – His children – to help us on our road towards healing. Medicine, therapy, and support groups can all be avenues to bring healing and restoration to us. It’s not an either/or option. Sometimes Jesus chooses to heal immediately, with no outside help, but sometimes He heals us through avenues like therapy and support groups.

You can have both, Jesus and therapy.

If you feel a longing for healing and restoration in your life, first begin with prayer. Pray powerful, breakthrough prayers for Jesus to bring wholeness into your body, mind and heart. Pray with an open mind, and be willing to seek out counseling, medication, and/or a support group for the help you need. The people He has placed in these fields are His vessels, to be relied on for your recovery and healing. Getting help from them is not a sign of weak faith, but is rather quite courageous.

I am so thankful to the Lord Jesus, the Great Healer, and I am so grateful for my support group that helps me let go of control and grounds me so I can be mentally healthy. Jesus has used this group to be His heart and His hands for my healing.

It is okay to have Jesus and a therapist too.

May you allow Him to guide your pathway to your wholeness.

“Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick…” ~ Mark 2:17