How Therapy and Faith Work Together: Dispelling Myths About “Either/Or” Approaches

Posted: October 8, 2025

For many people of faith, the idea of seeing a therapist brings mixed feelings. You might wonder: If I trust God, do I really need therapy? Or you might have heard the opposite: Faith is fine for comfort, but real healing only comes from psychology.
Both views miss something important. Therapy and faith are not rivals. In fact, when woven together, they can provide a fuller, more compassionate path toward healing.
Here in Bellingham and Whatcom County, I often meet people who feel torn between these worlds. This area is known for its outdoor beauty, quiet reflection spaces, and diverse faith communities. It’s also a place where people wrestle honestly with anxiety, depression, and trauma. Bringing therapy and faith together isn’t about choosing one over the other—it’s about honoring the whole person.

Why the “Either/Or” Myth Persists

Fear of stigma. Some churches have unintentionally sent the message that struggling with mental health is a lack of faith.
Over-spiritualizing pain. Others may suggest that prayer alone is enough, leaving people feeling ashamed if symptoms don’t disappear.
Over-pathologizing faith. On the other side, some therapeutic approaches have minimized or dismissed the role of spirituality in healing.

The result is that many people feel caught in the middle, wondering if they have to choose.

How Therapy and Faith Complement Each Other

Research has consistently shown that integrating spirituality into therapy can improve outcomes for people of faith (Hook et al., 2010). When done thoughtfully, therapy doesn’t replace prayer, community, or scripture—it creates space for them to deepen.

Therapy provides tools. Skills for managing anxiety, processing trauma, or coping with depression can reduce suffering and open space for spiritual practices to feel accessible again.
Faith provides meaning. For many, faith offers hope, identity, and a sense of connection that grounds therapeutic growth in something larger.
Together, they support wholeness. Healing is not only about symptom relief; it’s about becoming more fully alive—emotionally, relationally, and spiritually.

Practical Examples

A client learning grounding techniques in therapy also practices prayer during those moments of calm.
Someone working through trauma discovers that naming their story in therapy helps them experience grace in their faith community more authentically.
A person with depression finds that combining medication, therapy, and scripture meditation creates a stable foundation for recovery.

An Invitation

If you’ve ever felt like you had to choose between therapy and faith, I want to encourage you: you don’t. Both can walk side by side.
Whether you’re in Bellingham or connecting with me online, my approach to therapy honors both psychological science and spiritual depth. You don’t need to hide your faith in therapy, and you don’t need to hide your struggles in church. Healing happens best when all parts of you are welcomed.
If this resonates, I’d love to talk more. Reach out and let’s explore together how therapy and faith can work hand in hand for your healing.

References

Hook, J. N., Worthington, E. L., Davis, D. E., Jennings, D. J., Gartner, A. L., & Hook, J. P. (2010). Empirically supported religious and spiritual therapies. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 66(5), 473–489. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.20670
Koenig, H. G. (2012). Religion, spirituality, and health: The research and clinical implications. ISRN Psychiatry, 2012, 278730. https://doi.org/10.5402/2012/278730
Pargament, K. I. (2011). Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy: Understanding and Addressing the Sacred. Guilford Press.