Here’s the dilemma: Your marriage is in serious disarray, you have been meeting with your pastor for months all to no avail. Everything you know to do has been done and you are at the end of your rope. You feel a divorce is your next step. What do you do?

For millions of American Christians the only answer to this question was: nothing. Secular psychology, which often runs counter to your faith, has traditionally been unable to meet the needs of practicing Christians and those with problems that reach beyond their pastor’s capabilities. But thankfully there is a new trend developing in the mental health field: pastoral counseling.

Pastoral counseling (aka Christian counseling) is as multifaceted as its psychological counterparts. The unifying factor of all pastoral counselors is their belief that progress is achieved by the working of the Holy Spirit operating in the life of the client. Any activity, no matter how therapeutic, outside of the Holy Spirit is fleeting and merely serves to mask the symptoms, providing little to no long-term solutions. Unlike consulting a secular therapist who will focus on the regulation of your soul (mind, will and emotions), a pastoral counselor will focus on the development of your spirit, teaching you how to conform your emotions to what God has said.

Christian counseling comes in a variety of forms. As the need for sound Biblical counseling continues to grow many psychologists are taking their personal belief systems into their practice, using their Christianity as an asset in the counseling process. The majority of these counselors, however, see themselves as psychologists first and Christians second; at least in regards to their mental health practices.

Other variations include substance abuse programs and marriage and family therapy. In many cases, these do not require state authorization providing that they are offered through a legally recognized church or ministry. For example, in the Commonwealth of Virginia, clergy of any recognized church (meaning they are licensed/ordained through a denomination or are a non-denominational church recognized by the state) are exempt from state licensure providing they require no specific fee for service. While there are churches who have pastoral counselors on staff specifically to meet the needs of the congregation and community this role is usually that of the pastor(s) of the church.

Selecting a good Christian therapist can be as complicated as choosing its secular counterpart. For starters you should contact your pastor and see if he/she has any recommendations. In my own counseling practice I make my services, credentials, and experience known to area pastors and provide free consultations for issues that come up in their ministry. The vast majority of referrals I receive are from pastors whom I have worked with in the past.

Unfortunately, there are always unsavory individuals who will try and use the clergy exemption as a means of scamming money out of God’s people. Before you agree to meet with a pastoral counselor, request to see their credentials, letters of recommendation, and ask your spiritual advisor, usually your pastor, what he/she knows about them.

The new developments in counseling now make it possible for Christians to receive the best possible psychological help without violating their personal beliefs. As this branch of psychology continues to grow the likelihood of finding a qualified pastoral counselor in your area is becoming a reality.