Jesus + Therapy
By: Bryan Willkom
A year ago…
I posted a picture of a sticker on my friend’s water bottle that said, “It’s OK to have Jesus and Therapist too”.
People loved it.
The post not only got a lot of likes, but I could tell there was something about this message that struck a chord. Ever since, I’ve been in a state of wonder about it.
There seems to be something special at the intersection of Jesus and therapy, but why and what is it?
I took some time reflecting on my own faith journey and experience in therapy and wrote down a few reasons why I believe people love the ‘Jesus and a Therapist’ sticker. Here they are:
5 reasons why ‘Jesus and a Therapist’ works
Jesus isn’t a substitute for doing healthy things, prioritizing your needs or seeking proper medical attention. The mental health stigma filtered through toxic religion says, “You’re fine - You don’t need therapy, you just need more faith.” Of course, we know this is total BS.
A dangerous faith is an ‘either/or’ faith based on absolute certainty and religious rightness. Deep down, many of us are longing for ‘both/and’ or an integrated faith. Jesus is good, but getting professional help is also really good. It’s not one or the other. Jesus and therapy are fully compatible.
Christians haven’t always had the best relationship with science. Could it be that this sticker is saying, in a subtle way, “We’re sorry. We got this wrong” …and that resonates with people?
Jesus was a healer. Therapists are healers too. I wonder if true healing, at it’s core, is deeply spiritual? Whether it’s Jesus or a mental health professional, might there be something sacred about this work?
Therapy is often what people were looking for, but never found, in religion. Safety, space to be themselves, deep listening, curiosity, neutrality, permission, courage, helpful science, judgement-free conversation and being seen, heard and valued as a whole-person… to name a few. Some of the most important healing happens outside of religion.
In my experience, I believe it’s not only OK to have Jesus and a therapist - it’s highly recommended. Wellness was central to Jesus’ mission (John 5:6) which is why…
Therapy might be one of the most Jesus things you can do.
