Biblical Counselor, Psychologist, or Psychiatrist?

What is the difference between a Biblical Counselor and a Psychologist? And which one would be better for your situation?

Important Disclosure: The author of this article is a Biblical Counselor. However, she does recommending seeing a Psychologist, a Biblical Counselor, or both depending on the circumstances.

There are actually many different types of Biblical Counselors, and not all of them would define themselves the same way. In this article, we are going to break it down a bit further so we can include a few different types of Biblical Counselors. But in general, a Biblical Counselor is someone who primarily relies on scriptures to guide their practice as a counselor.

Counselor licensure is overseen by each individual state. Because I live in North Carolina, I will be discussing the rules for this state. Rules in your state might be similar, but you should do your own state-specific research to learn the details.

Under North Carolina law, all secular counselors must obtain a license. However, it is not ethically possible for an individual to be a state-licensed Biblical Counselor. Why is this the case? It is because many of the "beliefs" of the state licensing board are inherently different than those of the Bible.  

Because of these differences in beliefs, there is currently no legal or ethical way for a Biblical Counselor to be licensed in North Carolina. Therefore, I would be extremely skeptical of someone who claims to be a Licensed Biblical Counselor. 

It is possible to become a Certified Biblical Counselor through various associations. The two most well-known are the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) and the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC). Because there are no state-governed laws regulating these programs, experience, coursework and previous educational requirements vary. If you would like to see more details, visit their websites using the links I provided above; they will take you directly to their Biblical Counseling Certification pages.

The ACBC defines biblical counseling as " the personal discipleship ministry of God’s people to others under the oversight of God’s church, dependent upon the authority and sufficiency of God’s Word through the work of the Holy Spirit." For more information, check out ACBC's mission page.  

As I mentioned earlier, a person cannot claim to be a secular counselor and operate in the state of North Carolina without first having obtained a license. However, faith-based counselors are legally permitted to provide both free and fee-based counseling services without a license.

Unfortunately, this means that anyone could potentially call themselves a Biblical Counselor. And, while I will admit that there are some wolves in sheep's clothing out there, the good news is that most Christians who sincerely seek to help people through biblical counseling will take the time to pursue some training and experience, or will be honest about their lack thereof.

Some Biblical Counselors may in fact have more training and experience than "Certified Biblical Counselors." This is because some Christians choose to pursue Master's Degree programs to learn how to most effectively serve in a role as a Biblical Counselor. These programs are actually more rigorous and require more educational background than many of the certification programs.

Now let's take a look at what a psychologist is and how that role is different than the role of a Biblical Counselor.

The process to become a psychologist in North Carolina involves earning a doctorate degree in psychology, completing a certain amount of supervised hours (up to 1,500 hours in the state of North Carolina), and passing a licensing examination. For more in-depth information, check out Psychology.org.

Psychologists, unlike Biblical Counselors, can diagnose mental health disorders and implement secular therapies that are based on psychological theory. And a psychiatrist can both diagnose and prescribe medications for those disorders. However, because one must be licensed by a government board in order to practice psychology, they must abide by that code of ethics, which strongly discourages them from sharing their own personal (Christian or otherwise) beliefs with their clients.  

Making the decision of whether to see a psychologist or a Biblical Counselor can be difficult. But don't worry - there may be no right or wrong answer for you. If you are interested in speaking with someone but are not sure where to start, let's look at a few reasons why one might be more beneficial than the other.

First, we need to consider what makes a counselor effective. A study by Joseph Durlak,  published in the "Psychological Bulletin," found that:

"Paraprofessionals achieve clinical outcomes equal to or significantly better than those obtained by professionals. In terms of measurable outcome, professionals may not possess demonstrably superior clinical skills when compared with paraprofessionals. Moreover, professional mental health education, training, and experience do not appear to be necessary prerequisites for an effective helping person."

Other studies published by the American Psychological Association (APA) have shown similar findings. For more in-depth information on what makes a counselor effective, I recommend Robert W. Kelleman's book "Gospel Conversations: How to Care Like Christ."

Counseling is not all about techniques and theories. An effective counselor comes alongside someone in their pain and grieves with them. They seek to change faulty thinking. And, most importantly, they point people towards the ultimate healer and source of love and life - Christ. 

Biblical Counselor: Because Biblical Counselors are not governed by state laws and regulations, they are ethically able to speak more freely about Christian beliefs and the scriptures. If you are interested in deepening your relationship with God, studying the Bible, praying, and actively seeking fellowship with other Christians as part of your wellness journey, a Biblical Counselor may be a more appropriate match for you.

Psychologist: While psychologists can and do share their beliefs with their clients when deemed appropriate, they are more limited by the code of ethics of their state-run governing board in what they can and cannot say. Furthermore, their training may not have covered any theological or Bible-based topics.

However, it may be possible for you to find a Psychologist or Psychiatrist who is also a Christian if you feel that your mental-health issues are outside the expertise of a Biblical Counselor, or if you are needing assistance with medications, but want to find an experienced psychologist who shares your Christian views.

Psychiatrist: You will need to speak to a licensed psychiatrist regarding anything relating to medication. If you are already taking medication but would like to have it adjusted, are interested in starting or trying medication for your mental health needs, or are wanting to stop using medication, a licensed psychiatrist would have the proper training to assist you with this aspect of your health.

Psychologist: If you are interested in pursuing care that is more based on scientific theories and clinical studies and does not involve spiritual formation, a psychologist would be the best choice for you. Psychologists do not prescribe or help manage medications in most states.

Biblical Counselor: A Biblical Counselor can not prescribe medications and should not make recommendations regarding medications. However, you can still take advantage of Biblical Counseling services while using or changing medications, as long as you are also under the guidance and supervision of a licensed medical doctor such as a psychiatrist.

The bottom line is this: taking medications does not disqualify you from also seeking help from a Biblical Counselor. However, licensed psychologists are the only kinds of counselors who are legally permitted to assist you with pharmaceutical medications.

Psychologist: Psychologists are trained in the latest psychological theories pertaining to mental health, and are required to complete continuing education requirements every 2 years (in North Carolina) to stay up-to-date on issues ranging from updates to laws and regulations regarding confidentiality to new studies and findings in various psychological theories. A good psychologist may be able to help you change your thinking patterns to improve your mental well-being. They are mental-health professionals; your mental and emotional well-being will be their top priority.

Biblical Counselor: Some Biblical Counselors integrate popular psychology theories into their practice with clients, while others rely strictly on the Bible as their guide. But in general, a Biblical Counselor will focus heavily on the spiritual aspect of your health. In doing so, most will also be discussing and working to improve your emotional and mental well-being.

Psychologists and Biblical Counselors all will take slightly (or drastically) different approaches to health-care, and it is ok to "shop around" for a practitioner that suits you best. Let's take a moment now to consider what you could do to ensure that you are finding someone who will be able to most effectively help you.

If you haven't already, it may be helpful to define your health goals before scheduling an appointment with a psychologist, psychiatrist or Biblical Counselor. Have you been struggling with your self-image and weight and want to feel better about yourself? Are you trying to move past guilt from infidelity in your past? Are you grieving the loss of a loved one and wanting to overcome depression?

You may also already have some ideas of how you want to approach healing. For example, maybe you suspect that the sexual abuse you experienced as a child has affected your self-confidence, so you want to talk about that. Or maybe you have questions about what God thinks of adulterers and whether He could really forgive you for that. You may be thinking you would like to try taking some medication to help you with your depression.

Knowing what your goals are now and having some ideas of how you would or would not like to achieve them will help you to find the right person to talk to. 

Here are a few steps you can take to find the right Biblical Counselor, Psychologist, or Psychiatrist for your situation:

Ask around: This is the most important step you can take, even if it is the most difficult. Asking for mental-health related help can be embarrassing, but being able to hear from someone else who has experienced positive change is powerful. Also, people can make their organizations look great online, but learning about a negative experience from someone you know could save you a lot of time, money, and heartbreak. You don't want to be receiving any ill-advised council that does not align with your beliefs.

Who to Ask: The very first resource you should seek is your pastor. Pastors often already know of reputable biblical counselors in the community. They may also know of psychologists or psychiatrists who are firm Christians.

Consider asking friends and family members if they have experience with or know of anybody who has helped someone in a similar situation. You can also anonymously post something in a local social media page asking for recommendations.

Search the web: Search for people who specialize in the area you are needing help in, or in the approach you want to take. For example, if you want to participate in a nature-based therapy approach, search for that in your area - you never know what you might find! Like I mentioned before, ask a few people if they have had any experience with anyone you find online.

If you are interested in seeing a Biblical Counselor, you may be able to find information about their experience and educational background listed on their website.

Schedule a phone consultation: Once you have found someone you are interested in meeting with, see if you can schedule a quick phone consultation with them to ask a few key questions before committing to an hour-long session and any paperwork.

You might ask them questions such as how much experience they have, what their specialties are and what their educational background is. During this conversation, you can also get a general feel for what the person is like.

Whether you choose a Biblical Counselor or a Psychologist, equine-assisted therapy or a medication plan, the key is to get started and be consistent! And if you get overwhelmed with making a decision, please don't let that stop you from starting your healing process! Emotional, spiritual and mental wounds don't just go away on their own.

Remember that seeing a Biblical Counselor or Psychologist may not necessarily be fun. But working on your mental, spiritual, and emotional health is an important part of improving your overall well-being.

We hope this article has helped you as you take your first steps toward finding the right person to talk to. If you have questions or are interested in working with a Biblical Counselor and would like to schedule a phone consultation with any of the counselors at Christ-Centered Solutions to get to know us better, please visit our booking page by clicking the button below. On the booking page, you can also read about our experience, educational backgrounds, and specialties.

Feel free to reach out to us on social media or to send us an email using our contact form. We are happy to answer any questions you may have and we hope we can partner with you to help you achieve your goals! Thank you!

Durlak, J. A. (1979). Comparative effectiveness of paraprofessional and professional helpers. Psychological Bulletin, 86(1), 80–92. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.86.1.80