Christian Counselor

“Christian counselors also genuinely love their neighbor, desire their good, counsel ethically, and have the eternal soul of their counseling client in mind. There may be a good bit of overlap with secular therapists, but to be distinctly Christian means that a counselor values Scripture and God’s directives above all else and is motivated by them.”

Kristin L. Kellen, EdD, PhD, Associate Professor of Biblical Counseling, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

According to the Centers for Disease Control, one in five Americans lives with a mental illness. Just like physical ailments, mental health issues can arise from a multitude of factors, from genetics to childhood experiences to substance abuse issues. Many people can resolve these issues with time and adequate treatment, while others can be managed with medication.

Nearly one-third of Americans will be diagnosed with depression at some point during their lifetime, according to the polling organization Gallup. While increasingly common, depression can often be successfully treated through talk therapy, medication, or a combination thereof, and does not have to be debilitating or permanent.

While the medical treatment of physical diseases reaches back into prehistory, the field of mental health as a formal discipline is relatively new. However, people have long sought to address these same issues, be it through philosophy or religion. For many people, prayer, meditation, and other religious rituals can provide a powerful form of support in difficult times, and some may use a combination of modern mental health and religious practices to feel better. 

The practice of Christian counseling sits somewhere in the middle of these two approaches and is often sought out by individuals who are looking for counseling services that are based on biblical teachings. Psychology Today defines Christian counseling as a “broad category of emotional and relationship support” rather than one defined practice, and aspects of it can be used by several individuals. Pastors and other clergy members may use materials from Christian counseling, and many psychologists and psychiatrists have some form of training related to Christian doctrine. While some of them may be religious themselves, other mental health professionals seek additional expertise in Christian counseling to better serve their religious clients. 

This guide is intended to inform individuals with an interest in Christian counseling about the steps needed to enter a career in the field. It includes information on common qualifications, educational programs, and salaries.

Meet the Expert: Kristin L. Kellen, EdD, PhD

Dr. Kristin L. Kellen is an associate professor of biblical counseling at the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Her courses focus on various aspects of biblical or Christian counseling, such as counseling for women, cross-cultural counseling, and counseling for parents and children. 

Before joining the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Dr. Kellen taught at Liberty University and served as a subject matter expert at Liberty and Grand Canyon University. She is the author of several books on the subject, including The Gospel for Disordered Lives and Counseling Women: Biblical Wisdom for Life’s Battles. Her PhD dissertation focused on medication referrals by practitioners of Christian counseling. 

CounselingSchools.com: Christian counseling may be a new term to some of our readers. Can you give a brief overview of how Christian counseling differs from secular counseling, and what drew you to this profession?  

Dr. Kellen: Sure! At a very high level, the distinction is that Christian counseling, unlike secular counseling, is distinctly Christian. Now, that may seem obvious, but let me draw that out a bit. 

Christianity is not only a faith system; it is also a value system. When someone claims to be a Christian counselor, they are stating that they believe in, live by, and practice counseling according to the Christian faith. It means (hopefully!) that they view God’s word the Bible, as authoritative and relevant. The Bible has the first and last word on all counseling matters, and in the areas in which it speaks, its words are where we start. 

Christian counselors also genuinely love their neighbor, desire their good, counsel ethically, and have the eternal soul of their counseling client in mind. There may be a good bit of overlap with secular therapists, but to be distinctly Christian means that a counselor values Scripture and God’s directives above all else and is motivated by them.  

As a side note, “Christian counseling” is also the title of a particular flavor of counseling—one that historically has valued the integration of secular therapy provided that it does not conflict with the Bible. Different counselors will approach this differently based on their clients and their context, but the more formal use of that term does denote a counselor who is open to using secular knowledge wisely and with discernment.

CounselingSchools.com: Awareness of mental health has seen a huge uptick in recent years, and many people are seeking help from psychiatrists, therapists, and counselors. How do you see the Gospel and modern mental health practices such as psychology interact with another? Do you find that there is conflict between the two, or are you able to integrate both into your work?

Dr. Kellen: I hope I can keep this brief, as huge volumes have been written along these lines!  

Simply put, insofar as psychological science does not conflict with God’s Word, I view that field as evidence of God’s common grace. Much of psychology rests on observations of how the world works—God’s world—and He has revealed truth outside of the Bible that we can glean from. However, Scripture is the only inerrant word, so while we can draw from secular psychology within limits, it will always be secondary.

Let me give an example: there are an increasing number of therapeutic practices that focus on the role of the body, particularly in trauma work. The Bible clearly teaches that we are embodied souls; our bodies do matter, though not supremely. 

Secular psychology is rife with practices like meditation, deep breathing, etc., that seek to calm the body in order to quiet the mind (soul). These meditative practices aren’t wrong even if they come from other sources; Christians have been meditating for centuries. But we wouldn’t, for instance, meditate on a God-like being or the power we have within ourselves. We’d meditate on the Word of God that has the power to produce change. So we can “pillage” practices that align with God’s Word, provided they do not contradict it. In many ways, science is catching up with Scripture and we’re seeing the fruit of that catching up.

CounselingSchools.com: We always like to ask our interviewees what recommendations they have for individuals with an interest in their field. You’re not only a professor of Christian counseling but have also published several books on the subject. What would be your advice to those who are looking toward your field, and what was helpful for you in establishing your career? 

Dr. Kellen: Pray. Counseling is hard work, but good work. It’s not for the faint of heart, for sure, as we hold deeply painful parts of others alongside them. But it’s also really good work when we see the Lord working in amazing ways and see lives change. 

For those looking toward the field, pray and ask the Lord to give you opportunities to practice counseling others, even if it’s life-on-life, walking through mud sorts of opportunities. But then seek out a program to train you that is conventionally Christian, unwavering in their faith and values. It’s difficult enough to sift through people’s problems and how to help, even more so when you’re being taught from a value system not your own. If you desire to do Christian counseling, get trained in both matters of faith and matters of counseling practice.

How to Become a Christian Counselor

As opposed to social workers, psychiatrists, and psychologists, Christian counselors as such do not need a particular qualification to work in their field. 

However, many universities and colleges now offer degree plans related to this work, and individuals who are serious about building a viable career should consider obtaining at least some credentials as a building block. The following steps are not intended as a blueprint for everyone, but rather as an orientation:

Step One: Attain a High School Diploma or its Equivalent (Four Years)

A high school diploma is the minimum requirement for a broad slew of jobs and should serve as the foundation of a career in Christian counseling.

Step Two: Complete a Bachelor’s Degree (Four Years, Optional)

While not strictly required for some jobs in the field of Christian counseling, attending a four-year university is strongly recommended to get a foot into the field. Prospective Christian counselors have a wide array of options regarding degree plans, such as attaining a degree in psychology and supplementing it with additional coursework or certifications related to Christian teachings. 

Additionally, some Christian universities and colleges now offer distinct degree plans in Christian counseling, which combine the knowledge base of modern mental health practices with religious doctrine.

Step Three (Optional): Attain a Master’s Degree or Higher (Two Years or More, Optional)

A bachelor degree in counseling, psychology, or a related field will oftentimes provide entry into the field of counseling and may well be the perfect starting point for many individuals. Professionals such as school counselors or those who work for churches or religious organizations often find this degree type to be perfectly sufficient to start their career. 

However, those interested in entering the field at a higher salary level or in a specific position should consider attending graduate school. Therapists and licensed social workers, for example, are expected to hold a master’s degree, in addition to specific licenses for the state or states that they wish to work in. 

Notably, institutions such as the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary offers a range of degree programs, including an MA in biblical counseling; an MA in Christian marital, family, and individual counseling, a PhD in Christian counseling, and an EdD in Christian counseling.

Step Four (Optional): Attain a Certification in Christian Counseling

While Christian counseling is not a profession that requires a specific academic degree or the attainment of a certain certificate, there are several certifications available in this profession as well, which may serve to better the chances of employment or to add to an individual’s skills and expertise. 

Attaining a certification may be particularly helpful to people who have completed a four-year degree at a secular institution and wish to supplement their knowledge in order to serve religious individuals better, or to work for an organization with a religious outlook. 

One example is the certificate offered by the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors, which consists of a combination of coursework, exams, and 50 hours of supervised counseling under the guidance of an association member. 

What do Christian Counselors Do?

Individuals with training in Christian counseling can be found working in many classic mental health environments, in addition to being employed by institutions and organizations with a religious orientation. Below are a few examples of tasks that may be performed by Christian counselors:

  • Advising students at religious schools, colleges, and universities
  • Providing support to clergy and congregants at a church
  • Counseling incarcerated individuals
  • Working in substance abuse recovery programs

How Much Do Christian Counselors Make?

Because Christian counseling does not describe one particular profession but rather a broad array of individuals with some training or experience, there are no overarching statistics on employment or salary. 

However, it is possible to deduce some information through the available data from closely related professions. For example, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2023) gathers numbers on the job category “Counselors, All Others,” in which the mean annual wage is currently listed as $52,360. The five industries with the highest level of employment and their respective annual mean salary are listed below:

  • Offices of Other Health Practitioners – $46,120
  • Individual and Family Services – $ 49,170
  • State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals – $55,000
  • Outpatient Care Centers – $46,290
  • Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals – $55,750

A second category that will also include individuals who work as Christian counselors is “Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors.” In the data published in 2023, the bureau finds a median wage of $53,700. The five industries that employ the largest number of these counselors and their mean annual salaries are:

  • Hospitals – $59,090
  • Offices of other health practitioners – $55,410
  • Outpatient mental health and substance abuse centers – $51,130
  • Individual and family services – $51,010
  • Residential mental health and substance abuse facilities – $46,880

Christian Counseling Professional Associations & Resources

There are a number of professional organizations for Christian counseling that provide networking opportunities, information, and education for individuals working or interested in the field of Christian counseling. Among them are the following:

Johannes Stitz

Johannes Stitz

Writer

Johannes Stitz is a freelance writer and researcher based in the Southwest. He’s written about various topics in engineering careers. Before turning to freelance writing, he spent nearly a decade in the arts as a booker and event manager.