Psychological issues are often referred to as "invisible illnesses," as they may not cause physical pain or be easily recognized, yet they profoundly impact individuals' lives and bring significant distress. The increasing prevalence, earlier onset, and growing severity of mental health challenges have raised the bar for psychological counselors. In an interview with the Christian Times, Christian counselor Ms. Shanshan shared how, over the past decade, she has supported individuals in regaining mental well-being through the guidance of God.
Unlike general psychological counselors, Christian counselors operate from a biblical worldview and maintain a personal relationship with God.
Having been a Christian for nearly 20 years, Shanshan emphasized the importance of personal faith. She noted that a strong theological background is not necessarily required; rather, what matters is a sincere and solid foundation in essential Christian truths. "When we recruit students, we always conduct special interviews to assess their faith," she explained.
"I always begin my counseling sessions with prayer, regardless of whether the client is a believer," she added.
Shanshan frequently referred to the use of "implicit" and "explicit" methods in her counseling practice. She explained that "implicit" methods involve incorporating spiritual resources in subtle ways during sessions, without the client's awareness, for example, silently praying for the client. In contrast, "explicit" methods involve openly engaging in faith-based discussions, assessing the client's spiritual condition, and intentionally using spiritual resources in the therapeutic process. The approach taken depends primarily on the client and their specific needs.
When working with Christian clients, Shanshan offers inner healing prayers and spiritual exercises with their informed consent. For instance, while a typical psychologist might advise an anxious client to "take a deep breath and anchor yourself in your breathing," Shanshan uses a similar but faith-based approach. She also encourages the client to slow down but adds, "Please anchor on God."
"This is not merely a technique," she said. "It is a moment to encounter God. Sometimes, when I lead clients in prayer, they can hear God speaking to them and expressing His love, which brings restoration to their hearts."
For non-Christian clients, Shanshan continues to pray silently throughout the session. "One must understand that God is at work," she affirmed.
Meanwhile, Shanshan believes that the counseling process should be a dialogue between equals, free from blame or judgment. She emphasized the "Christian view of humanity," which holds that every individual is precious and unique and should be regarded as a whole person. In her sessions, Shanshan does not focus solely on the client's mental state but also inquires about their sleep, diet, physical activity, spiritual life, and relationship with God, aiming to provide a comprehensive assessment.
In terms of applying different psychological counseling methods, she stressed the importance of cultivating discernment, including a wise eye and a vigilant heart, to evaluate the influx of psychological theories against the standard of divine truth. "We must use biblical truth as the benchmark to assess whether the underlying views on humanity and values align with our faith," she stated.
Shanshan has studied various psychological approaches, including emotion-focused therapy and dialectical behavior therapy. However, she confidently remarked, "As long as I hold to the standard of truth, I have no fear of being led astray, no matter how much I learn."
She also cautioned against absolute, black-and-white thinking in counseling while maintaining that sin has real consequences. "When a client commits a sin, they must bear the consequences, because that is how God's law works. Some behaviors may bring short-term pleasure but lead to harm in the long run. In such cases, the counselor must gently but clearly remind the client." She cited the example of excessive gaming for temporary enjoyment.
Shanshan advocates for continuous learning among counselors, emphasizing that "it is very important to read and study secular psychology books," but she noted, "One must be cautious of influences such as relativism, humanism, and scientism."
She concluded by highlighting that hands-on experience is more effective than theoretical knowledge in developing unique and practical counseling tools.
For example, in suicide risk assessment, although many professionally trained counselors understand its importance, they often struggle to implement it. "It is particularly challenging when working with Chinese clients," she explained. "Because the topic involves death, counselors who are not adequately prepared may find it difficult even to ask the necessary questions."
Shanshan recalled that during her psychology training, her instructor guided each student in writing a personalized assessment outline. "This outline," she said, "reflects one's own cultural background and beliefs, making it uniquely suited to the individual."
"Over the years, the outline I developed has been refined through hands-on practice and has become increasingly aligned with my own tone and communication style. It's now a tool I find very easy to use."
(A pseudonym has been used in this article at the interviewee's request.)
Originally published by the Christian Times
- Edited by Karen Luo and translated by Poppy Chan
