As a Christian and a licensed therapist in North Carolina, Virginia, and Florida, I often work with clients who share my faith background—and many who don’t. Whether someone comes to me because of our shared beliefs or simply because they’re looking for help with anxiety or OCD, I want to be transparent about how I approach therapy. Some of what I share below might surprise you, especially if you’ve had assumptions about what it means to work with a Christian therapist.
1. I don’t believe Christians need to see only Christian therapists.
If you are pursuing therapy for general concerns—like stress, relationship issues, or personal growth—it makes sense that you might want a therapist who shares your faith. But when it comes to treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or therapy for anxiety disorders like panic disorder, social anxiety, health anxiety, or phobias, I strongly encourage you to consider a clinician’s training over a shared faith.
These conditions require evidence-based treatment, and the most widely recognized treatment for many of them—especially OCD—is Exposure and Response Prevention therapy (ERP). Not all therapists are trained in this method, and unfortunately, some Christians seeking help from general therapists or Christian therapists have ended up feeling worse because they prioritized shared faith over clinical expertise.
When you have a heart condition, you likely don’t look for a cardiologist based on their beliefs—you choose the one best equipped to treat your condition. In the same way, it is beneficial to seek out a therapist with specialized training in anxiety disorders and OCD, regardless of their faith background.
2. I rarely quote scripture or pray with clients in session.
While my Christian faith deeply informs who I am and how I live, it’s not something I impose in the therapy room. There have been rare occasions when a client has asked to incorporate prayer or scripture, and in those moments—when clinically appropriate—I have honored that request. But this is the exception, not the norm.
Instead, I bring my faith to my work in quieter ways. I pray for wisdom before sessions. I ask God to 
help me show up fully present, compassionate, and discerning. And then, I collaborate with clients using the tools of evidence-based treatment for anxiety and OCD—the approaches we know are most effective for healing.
Every therapist is different, and if you prefer someone who routinely incorporates formal prayer and scripture, there are plenty of other therapists to choose from.
3. It is unethical for any therapist to impose their belief system on clients.
If you’ve had a therapist try to impose their religious, moral, or political beliefs on you, I’m truly sorry. That should never happen. Therapy is not a place to promote an ideology—it’s a space for your healing.
You deserve a therapist who will meet you with openness, curiosity, and respect—someone who will help you explore your values, not overwrite them. I always encourage clients to speak up if something feels uncomfortable or confusing. Therapists are human, and we make mistakes. But those moments can become meaningful opportunities to experience what healthy repair looks like in a safe, supportive relationship—something many people have never had.
If you have spoken to your therapist about your preferences and a pattern of disconnection based on differences of beliefs continues, this is your invitation to find another therapist.
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Evercare Counseling offers evidence-based counseling services to help you make desired changes to your mental health. Services include anxiety therapy, ERP therapy, OCD treatment, therapy for women, and Christian counseling. Online therapy is provided throughout Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida. We also see clients in person at our office in Clemmons, North Carolina. For more about us, check out our FAQs and blog!