Benefits of Christian Addiction Counseling

Emerging research suggests that the models of Christian addiction counseling are equally effective as their secular social work counterparts.[3] Substantial similarities were shown between the core social processes of treatment compared with secular substance abuse treatment programs.[4]

In particular, faith-based clients reported greater satisfaction in having a strong role model assisting in the recovery process.[5] In Christian addiction counseling, the relationship between the therapist and the client is primary.

Since Christian theology posits a creational need for a relationship, the therapist works to establish a connection with the client in which they can safely express their authentic selves without fear of reproach, judgment, ridicule, or dismissal. The fear of dismissal is a statistically significant barrier to faith-based clients’ success in secular therapy and why they may be more successful when they do not fear being judged.

Former Christian clients have reported dissatisfaction in cases where their secular therapists expressed opposing philosophies or simply avoided discussing spiritual issues.[6]

Goals of Christian Addiction Counseling

The goals of Christian addiction counseling are to integrate the client’s faith into their recovery journey to give them the best possible chance of success.

Establishing the therapist as a strong role model is key for Christian addiction counseling. Since one of the governing concepts of Christian therapy is that substance use derives from the existence of a spiritual void in the sufferer’s life, the therapist will seek to fill that void with some of what is missing, namely, relationship and authenticity.[7]

As the void is filled, the Christian counselor will also implement other evidence-based practices, such as traditional psychotherapy. Once the relationship has been established, the thought patterns and behaviors can begin to change.

 

What Does a Christian Counselor Do?

A Christian counselor will offer a relationship to the client in which they can also simultaneously express their authentic selves.

Christian theology contends that we are born with a need for a connection to God and a need to be who we were created to be. Adam and Eve enjoyed this special kind of relationship with God, where they could walk with Him in the garden in the cool of the day.

But, once sin enters the picture, we all learn early on that not everyone cares for our authentic selves. So, we learn to ignore, deflect, or substitute our authentic selves to preserve connection with others, or we break our connection with others to preserve our authentic selves.

As a strong role model, a Christian counselor models the vulnerable disclosure God wants to have with us.[8] They accept the client as their lonely, authentic self before they go about trying to change thought patterns or behavior.