A couple of months ago, a pastor reached out to us at BetterDays to ask some questions about psychotherapy in the life of the Church. It’s not the first time we’ve received an email like this one. Many pastors regularly face the realities of mental health struggles among their congregation. Unfortunately, the world we find ourselves living in today is only increasing in mental health struggles. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more people are discussing the topic of mental health. It has become the common language in our culture, especially among younger generations.
The primary concern that sparked the email from our pastor friend was how prevalent mental and emotional health language had become among his congregation. I believe there is legitimacy to his concern. There’s nothing inherently wrong with mental or emotional health language. We all face struggles in those areas.
However, I believe the danger comes when we begin to increasingly listen to the wisdom of the world and slowly slip away from the wisdom of the Word. Our pastor friend was concerned that people in the church were beginning to view all of their struggles through the lens of popular psychology rather than through the lens of God’s Word.
God’s good work in peoples' lives brings forth the true hope they need.
The fear here is that men and women in the church will seek answers for their immediate felt needs and struggles from mental health professionals and disregard the Bible’s call to, as Eugene Peterson coined it, “A long obedience in the same direction.”
In other words, if my struggle is solely attached to my mental or emotional state, I might miss the spiritual growth, healing, and wholeness that comes through knowing Jesus, walking with Jesus, and experiencing Jesus through a life of discipleship and patient endurance.
Mental Health Matters
Now, I do feel I need to clarify here that I am an advocate of mental health professionals. I am an advocate of psychology and psychotherapy. I believe God has given us wisdom in the common grace of knowledge revealed through psychological research and studies of the brain. I am glad that more and more people are talking about mental and emotional health.
I believe grace comes in this growing awareness and ordinariness of these types of struggles. A survey by Mental Health America revealed that 1 in 5 people will experience a mental illness and almost half of Americans (46%) will meet the criteria of a diagnosable mental health condition sometime in their lifetime.
“1 in 5 people will experience a mental illness and almost half of Americans (46%) will meet the criteria of a diagnosable mental health condition sometime in their lifetime.”
Another fact that came out in this study showed that the average delay between symptom onset and treatment in mental health conditions is 11 years. That’s longer than most other health conditions. Could you imagine experiencing a physical ailment, let’s say a sinus infection, for 11 years before finally seeking treatment? Maybe a few weeks or possibly even a few months. But 11 years?
It’s amazing how many people struggle daily with mental and emotional conditions, but are unwilling to seek treatment. It’s never too early to seek help for these struggles. In fact, just as with physical ailments, the earlier we seek help the better.
Knowing our limits
But let's go back to my pastor friend. As I said earlier, I believe his concerns for the people in his care are valid. As much as there is common grace for us in the wisdom of creation, we cannot overlook the wisdom of the Scriptures. I believe God’s word speaks directly to every part of our being: spiritual, emotional, mental, physical, and relational. As wonderful as the therapeutic process is, therapy alone without the loving fellowship of the Body of Christ, spiritual care from church leaders, and the power of the Gospel of Jesus to transform our lives leaves us empty.
“Psychotherapy and medication are given by God to help restore us from the brokenness of this sin-stained world.
But they are not the only or ultimate answer to our pain. ”
As with anything else, knowing the limitations of psychology, psychotherapy, and medication allows us to engage them in a more helpful way.
These interventions can become gifts of grace to us given by God to help restore us from the brokenness of this sin-stained world. But they are not the only or ultimate answer to our pain.
At some point during counseling with people, most often during the first session or two, I remind them that neither the counseling process itself nor I (as the counselor)) is the answer to all their problems. It’s God’s good work in their lives that brings forth the true hope they need. That work continues to take place outside of the counseling office, especially in the context of spiritual community and pastoral care.
Having been a pastor myself, I understand the tension that comes with caring for people holistically. It’s not easy finding the balance between the spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical. That’s why I believe God’s care takes place in multiple contexts and pastors don’t need to be masters of all trades.
“God’s good work in peoples’ lives brings forth the true hope they need.
That work continues to take place outside of the counseling office, especially in the context of spiritual community and pastoral care. ”
With a heart of love for people, we can familiarize ourselves with the language they’re speaking—whether that be therapeutic language, enneagram language, or a foreign language. But I don’t believe we need to master that language to disciple them.
It’s ok to rely on others who have and play our particular role of discipleship and gospel care in their lives. Some church leaders may view referring people to psychiatric professionals as off-loading or avoiding the hard stuff. At times, it could be, but I see referring out to counselors more as recognizing our own limitations and inviting others in to help with the discipleship and care of someone.
Caring for mind, body, and soul
Whether it’s a physician of the body, a physician of the brain, or a physician of the soul, we are all in need of holistic care at times. We can’t excuse one for the other, nor should we discredit them if people are in need of care in those areas. At the end of the day, whether it's a physical, spiritual, emotional, or mental struggle, we’re all longing for a hope that does not disappoint. A longing for healing that does not leave us feeling shortchanged or ashamed.
As the world continues to turn up the volume on the langue of mental health and therapeutic process, my hope is that pastors and church leaders would not discredit those in their congregation who seek help from professionals in these areas. Rather than fighting against the culture in an attempt to turn down that volume, what if we listened to the language they were speaking? What if we paid attention to what’s under the surface of those struggles and we worked in tandem alongside mental health professionals?
“I see referring out to counselors as recognizing our own limitations and inviting others in to help with the discipleship and care of someone. ”
Some will find relief from their pain and suffering through therapeutic processes. Others won’t. Regardless, church leaders can be present with them in their struggle; reminding them that the sorrows of this world pale in comparison to the eternal and enduring love of God for them in Jesus.
That love, as Paul states in Romans 5, is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit and ultimately produces the non-disappointing hope we all long for. Let’s keep turning up the volume on that message as well!
Jeremy McQuown is the executive director of BetterDays, a ministry that provides counseling and spiritual care for pastors and ministry leaders. He has worked with BetterDays for the past 9 years and has served as a missionary, pastor, and counselor for almost 20 years. He is a husband to his wife Sarah and a grateful dad to 3 beautiful children.
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Certain pressures accompany the role of pastoral ministry. If pastors don't have a way to relieve that pressure, their world can easily become dark, lonely, and isolated. It's similar to the one in the pool with their eyes closed calling out “Marco!" But they find no one to respond.