Therapy & Theology: How The Holy Spirit & Therapy Work Together
- Daizha Rae
- May 11
- 6 min read
Updated: Sep 2
Why Jesus Isn't Opposed To Therapy
debunking the "i don't need therapy because i have Jesus" myth
You've tried therapy, you've tried journaling, you've been using your coping skills, yet you're still bound and still broken.
Saying " I don't need therapy, I have Jesus is like saying" I don't need food because man doesn't live by bread alone."
It sounds spiritual, but wise? That's another story.
Yes, Jesus is enough. But alot of people misunderstand what that actually means. Jesus being enough does not mean you don't need resources, it just means that He is the source, and He can use any route He chooses to heal you (this includes people and processes).
The lie that "therapy means I don't trust God" is just that... a lie.
This belief is rooted in pride, fear, and a lack of understanding.
Therapy does not replace Jesus. Rather it makes space for Him to do the deep inner work with the help of a trained professional.
It takes humility to say, "God, I need help," and inviting Him to lead you to a therapist who is able to partner with Him on your healing journey.
"Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety." ~Proverbs 11:14
THE POWER COUPLE: WHY YOU NEED BOTH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THERAPY
Sis, you don't have to choose between a clinical and the cross. You need both. The Holy Spirit is your Comforter, Counselor, and Guide. Therapy is a tool that makes the space for God to move.
When you bring the Holy Spirit into your sessions, you open the door for:
✨Supernatural revelation
✨ Conviction
✨Discernment
✨ Miraculous healing
He will bring up things your therapist missed, or couldn't possibly know.
He will also speak through your therapist, highlight root issues, and guide you along your process.
Without the Holy Spirit, therapy can help you to cope...but it will not fully transform you.
True freedom comes through a combination of both spiritual and emotional healing.
"But when the Spirit of truth comes, He will lead you into all truth. He will not speak His own words. He will speak only what He hears and will tell you what will happen in the future." ~ John 16:13
therapy is seasonal, not a lifestyle
Think of therapy as like a cast.
When you break a bone, you are instructed to wear a cast until the bone fully heals.
Therapy is not meant to become a lifestyle, but a season of support to help you along your healing journey.
There comes a time when the sessions will stop. Not because you are abandoning healing, but because you have reached a level of self-awareness and freedom where you no longer are chasing after healing...
You're are walking in it.
Therapy may end, but Jesus never does.
He wants to walk with you daily. You never outgrow Christ.
"There is a special time for everything. There is a time for everything that happens under heaven." ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1
how to choose a therapist who honors your faith
Not every therapist is for you.
Some specialize in trauma, others addictions, and many use new age ideologies that contradict the Word of God.
And some therapist simply are not aligned with your values, and that's okay.
You need someone who:
Respects your faith in Jesus ✝️
Invites the Holy Spirit into the process 🕊️
Does not undermine spiritual matters 📖
Understands the balance of science and scripture ⚖️
When Jesus is the center in therapy, no longer do you simply manage symptoms, you're actively transforming your soul.
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." ~ 1 Corinthians 10:31
your therapist is not god
It's so easy to put your therapist on a pedestal.
You may feel like they are the only one who "gets" you.
You begin to crave their sessions like a drug, and slowly, without realizing it, you start leaning on them more than Jesus.
But here is the truth sis...Your therapist is not God.
They are simply:
🚢 A vessel
🧭A guide
🪞A mirror
They are not your Savior.
They cannot heal you.
Only God can.
Therapist can help you to process the pain but God is the one who can redeem you.
"My help comes from the Lord, the maker of Heaven and Earth." ~ Psalm 121:1
can't afford therapy?
Maybe you discern the need to pursue therapy, but your wallet says otherwise.
Do not feel defeated, sis.
God is still your healer, and He can provide in a multitude of different ways.
Here are some alternatives to check out:
Church-based counseling 💒
Books, journaling, or guided devotionals 📕 (ask God to guide you)
Online support groups 👩🏽💻
Youtube university ▶️ (ask God to lead you to videos that align with your needs)
Prayer, fasting, and self-reflection 🙏
Never underestimate the power of being still in the presence of God and asking the Holy Spirit for help on your healing journey.
"And my God will liberally supply (fill until full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." ~ Phillipians 4:19
signs thats it's time to exit therapy
Therapy is about growth, not dependence.
Here are a few signs it's time to transition:
🚩 Repeating the same patterns with no evident fruit.
You applied every tool, but still feel stuck
.
🚩 Emotionally dependent on your therapist.
You spiral out of control when you are not able to reach your therapist.
This may indicate an unhealthy attachment.
🚩 No longer feeling challenged.
You leave sessions uninspired. You have outgrown your need.
🚩 Feeling led by the Holy Spirit to transition.
You feel an irresistible urge that therapy is no longer serving you.
Always seek confirmation, and be led by peace, not pressure.
Let it be a Holy Spirit-led departure, not a decision based on discomfort or avoidance.
Sometimes, the breakthrough happens after you leave the room.
"Seeing in the distance a fig tree in the in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached for it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." ~ Mark 11: 13-14
god alone is the healer
At the end of the day, therapy is simply a tool.
God alone is the source.
There is no therapist, no workbook, or no regimen that can replace Jesus Christ.
He heals the root, not just the fruits.
He restores what has been stolen.
He binds up the broken hearted.
He sets captives free.
So whether you are sitting in a therapist's office, journaling on your bedroom floor, or pouring your heart out at the altar, healing comes when you invite Jesus in to every part of your pain.
Now watch him work!
"Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed.; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise." ~ Jeremiah 17:14
final word
I hope this article challenged your perspective on therapy, and dismantle some common myths that hinder personal growth.
No longer do you have to choose between the cross and counseling.
It's not therapy OR theology. It's both.
✨Take it one step at a time.
✨Ask God to guide you to the right therapist.
✨And trust that healing is possible, because with Jesus, all things are possible!
questions for reflection
Have I unknowingly idolized therapy or rejected it due to fear or lack of knowledge?
What role has the Holy Spirit played in my healing journey so far?
Are there any areas of my life that I have failed to invite God into because I have depended solely on man for my healing?
If you made it to the end of this post, then I know you are serious about your healing journey!
I pray it blessed you and taught you how to invite the Holy Spirit into your healing journey.
As always sis...stay blessed, and stay prosperous.
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