Is secular therapy OK and does the NHS in the UK do biblical therapy?

[StormInside]

I'm in the UK, currently on the NHS waiting list for secular therapy for depression. However I've seen some stuff online that suggests that this is unsuitable for Christians as it ignores sin and makes excuses for behavioural problems. Is this true and if so does anyone know if the NHS does any kind of biblical therapy?

 

[Paidiske]

It's true that, in general, secular therapy doesn't work in categories of sin and grace (although if they're important to the client they'll be taken into account, or should be).

I wouldn't say it "makes excuses" for behavioural problems, though.

There are a number of different types of therapy, or approaches. It would probably be helpful to ask your therapist what their approach is, and to do a bit of reading on that to get some understanding.

 

[Jeshu]

i'm not in the U.K but in Australia. i found that secular counselling very much tried to break me away from my faith in God and that most therapists i've seen had little or no concept of sin or its severity. However the counselling i received was still very helpful fighting my mental illness and i learned a lot about mindfulness and other useful techniques battling mental illness, including severe depression.

Despite the attacks on my Christianity i found that it helped me enormously to speak out of my faith and defend the truth of Scriptures. i've become a much stronger believer as a consequence of secular counselling.

If you are strong in your faith then don't let the word secular intimidate you. Christ uses all for good, worldly counselling included. Just be well aware what you take on board and what not and educate yourself on what technique they use.

Jesus' promise that He will never leave you nor forsake you remains true whoever you talk to. Keep your eyes on Him and get all the counselling you need.

Peace.

 

[hedrick]

According to this "Issues Being Discussed by Christian Therapists in the United Kingdom" by Hawker, Debbie M.; Hawker, David S. J. - Journal of Psychology and Christianity, Vol. 33, Issue 2, Summer 2014 | Online Research Library: Questia, there are Christian counsellors within the NHS.

 

[StormInside]

However the counselling i received was still very helpful fighting my mental illness and i learned a lot about mindfulness and other useful techniques battling mental illness, including severe depression..

Could you tell me a bit more about this so that I can decide whether I'd like to go through with it? Like what techniques they used? I really have no idea what it's going to involve.

 

[Jeshu]

It all depends who you get as counsellor. Most modern counsellors use some form of mindfulness as basis of their counselling. Where we learn to become mindful of our own thoughts and their consequences. It has greatly supported me fighting my depressed mind.

Like i said i really benefited from counselling even though i was attacked as a believer in the Lord. i think they just want to make sure you know what you believe for when i told them enough was enough it stopped.

Can you request a Christian counsellor? That would make it a lot easier on both of you.

 

[Anthony2019]

I wouldn't let the term 'secular' put you off too much.

Most professional counsellors are governed by a regulatory body and adhere to strict ethics and standards of conduct, including respecting your beliefs and values, your right to give or withhold consent to treatment, and your right to choice and self-determination. The therapeutic treatments they offer are based on the best clinical evidence that have been empirically validated.

 

[StormInside]

I will ask for one but I don't know how likely it is.

 

[roman2819]

I'm in the UK, currently on the NHS waiting list for secular therapy for depression. However I've seen some stuff online that suggests that this is unsuitable for Christians as it ignores sin and makes excuses for behavioural problems. Is this true and if so does anyone know if the NHS does any kind of biblical therapy?

If the therapy is approved by credible bodies or regulators, it doesn't matter if it is secular or not focusing on sins. I am sure God does not forbid us from seeking such secular therapy. I do have some advice regarding meditation: There may be good ones but be discreet.

 

[dms1972]

I'm in the UK, currently on the NHS waiting list for secular therapy for depression. However I've seen some stuff online that suggests that this is unsuitable for Christians as it ignores sin and makes excuses for behavioural problems. Is this true and if so does anyone know if the NHS does any kind of biblical therapy?

I'm in the UK too, all we have here in Northern Ireland through the NHS seems to be Person / Client centred, CBT, and Group therapy. You could ask your GP, other regions of the UK may be different. Here is the NHS website:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/



There are audio resource counselling ministries such as Clay and Mary McLean, and Ministries of Pastoral Care (I am sure there are others)

McLean Ministries

Ministries of Pastoral Care

There is a website (not NHS) called counselling directory which lists quite a few therapists and counsellors in the UK, some of them christian.

Counselling Directory - Find a Counsellor Near You

also there is the Association of Christian Counsellors UK website:

Homepage | Association of Christian Counsellors

 

[dms1972]

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