So, you’re ready to start Christian counseling. You’ve got a shortlist of Christian counselors in Tacoma who you’re planning to call to find a good fit. But if you’ve never done this before, I’m sure you have some questions, and you might be a little nervous, too.

That’s totally normal! And I’m here to help! Here are some things to expect with Christian counseling, including some answers to what it’s like to do online counseling.

• What should I expect in a first appointment?

  • The first appointment is what is called an intake appointment. In this session, the therapist will explain their practice policies, informed consent, the benefits and risks of therapy, what to expect in the process, and address privacy concerns. You’ll be able to ask questions about anything related to the process or the background or working style of your therapist.

  • The rest of the session will be a lot of questions aimed to help your therapist understand what symptoms you are experiencing, when they began, and information about your life past and present that will help them have an understanding of all the factors involved. This will enable them to give you a diagnosis. If you are using insurance, a diagnosis is required. If you are a private pay client, a diagnosis is not necessarily required and will not be given unless it is necessary. (This is one reason some people prefer to use private pay).

• Will it be weird doing sessions online (video telehealth) instead of in-person?

  • Hopefully not! I think more than ever, due to Covid-19, many of us are now much more accustomed to working, having appointments, and living our lives online. Many clients say they are just as engaged with the therapist in online counseling as they are in in-person counseling, and studies say it is equally effective in terms of results.

• What’s different about Christian counseling compared to “regular” counseling?

  • Christian counseling means different things depending on the context. For me, it just means that I am a safe place for clients to incorporate their spirituality into the work we are doing. Our religious upbringing and spiritual beliefs/values have a huge impact on how we see ourselves in the world and may offer valuable resources that can be used to support well-being. With some clients, we incorporate prayer as a way to help them identify and correct harmful misbeliefs that are causing psychological pain, or address points of trauma that they are still healing from. I find that this can be a nice complement to many therapy modalities, so Christian counseling allows us to marry spirituality and psychology together to address the whole person.

• What kind of changes can I expect to see as a result of counseling?

  • Therapy is helpful for so many things, and the changes you’ll see depend on your goals and how much you apply the things you and your therapist talk about in sessions. But many clients report feeling less alone, better able to understand their emotions, more confident in coping with strong emotions, a greater sense of hope about the future, the ability to have more fun, the willingness to be more honest in relationships and set better boundaries, and clarity around setting small and achievable goals to feel better.

• How long will I be in counseling? and how do I know when I’m done?

  • In the first or second session, you and your therapist will set goals for what you want to achieve in therapy. The more specific you make your goals, the more data you will have to know when you have met them. Goals might include wanting to be able to give presentations at work without anxiety, have difficult conversations with family members and set boundaries, or decrease depressive symptoms so you can function better in your daily life. These goals can be changed anytime, and you and your therapist should check-in every few sessions to see how your progress is going and if the therapy methods are helping get your closer to your desired outcomes.

  • The American Psychological Association says that according to research, longer time in therapy is generally correlated with more positive outcomes.

  • Others view therapy less from an illness model (like going to the doctor when you’re sick) and more like a wellness model (like working out with a personal trainer). People with goals more focused on wellness may choose to stay in therapy longer to help maintain their mental health.

• What if I feel like I’m not making progress?

  • If you don’t feel you are progressing the way you would like with your therapist, I would encourage you to talk about it. It’s good to review the treatment plan and see if your work is still on track, and if not, then the two of you can make changes. However, if you’ve tried this, or if you just don’t feel it’s a good match, you absolutely have the right to let them know it’s not working out and to shop around for a new therapist. It’s best to be honest about this. It will not hurt your therapist’s feelings—they are a professional and want you to have the best quality care. They may be able to help make a referral to someone with a different approach that may serve you better.

I hope this helps you find the right therapist in Tacoma, WA. If I can be of any more help, please feel free to call me at 253-365-0403 for a free 15-minute phone consultation. If you are looking for Christian counseling, you can read more about how I might be able to help by clicking the button below.