A good Christian counselor in Redding is someone who is trained to help with what you are carrying, respects your faith, and lets you decide how much of it belongs in the room. Finding one starts with a few plain questions, and you are allowed to ask every one of them before you book.
Maybe you have put this off because you are not sure how therapy and faith fit together. Maybe you are worried a counselor will wave off your faith, or use it to hurry you along. Those are fair worries. Here is how to find someone who will do neither.
Start with what you need help with
“Christian” tells you something about a counselor’s faith. It doesn’t tell you what they are trained to do. Before you search, name what brought you here. It might be old trauma, burnout, grief, a hard marriage, or the hurt left behind by a controlling relationship.
Then look for someone with training in that area. A kind, faithful person who has never worked with trauma may not be the right fit for trauma, however much you like them.
Know the difference between counseling and therapy
These words get used for several different things, so it helps to ask. Biblical counseling is usually done by a pastor or church-trained counselor. A Christian therapist is someone who is licensed, or training toward a license, and who shares your faith. In California, therapists in training work under a licensed supervisor.
Neither one is automatically right for you. Pastoral care can be a real gift. If you are dealing with trauma, you will probably also want someone trained in how trauma lives in the body and memory. You can have both.
7 questions to ask before you book
Most counselors offer a short call first. Use it. These questions are not rude, and a good counselor will be glad you asked.
- Are you licensed, or working under a licensed supervisor? You can look up California licenses through the Board of Behavioral Sciences at bbs.ca.gov.
- What training do you have in what I am dealing with? Ask for specifics, not just years in the field.
- How do you bring faith into sessions? Listen for whether you get a say.
- What happens if I don’t want to pray or talk about scripture? The answer should be easy and free of pressure.
- What would you do if I told you I can’t forgive someone yet? You want someone who won’t rush you.
- Have you worked with people who were hurt in church? This matters if church has been part of your pain.
- What does it cost, and do you take my insurance? Ask early, so there are no surprises.
Signs of a good fit
Pay attention to how you feel on that first call. Credentials matter, and so does whether your shoulders come down a little.
- You feel listened to, not sized up.
- They ask what you want, instead of telling you what you need.
- They are clear about their training, and clear about what they don’t do.
- You are free to go slowly, change your mind, or say no.
Signs to keep looking
Some things are worth taking seriously, even from someone who shares your faith.
- You are told your pain means you aren’t trusting God enough.
- You are pushed to forgive before you are ready.
- Scripture is used to shame you, silence you, or keep you in a harmful situation.
- You feel steered toward someone else’s beliefs or church.
If any of that has happened to you, it makes sense if you feel wary of counseling now. Your wariness has been trying to protect you. You can bring it with you to the first call.
How I work with faith in therapy
I am a Christian and a Marriage and Family Therapist Trainee at Attune Center for Healing in Redding. You choose how much faith is in the room. We can pray and talk about scripture, it can come up only when you bring it up, or we can leave it out completely. You can change your mind at any time.
The work itself is trauma-focused. I use parts work informed by Internal Family Systems (IFS), which is a way of working with the different parts of ourselves, like the part that keeps pushing and the part that just wants to rest. I also use Brainspotting, which uses where your eyes rest to help your brain and body work through what got stuck, without having to retell every detail. If you want to see how parts work and faith fit together, read IFS from a Christian worldview.
You can read more about Christian counseling for women in Redding, or about insurance and cost. Attune Center for Healing accepts Aetna, Health Net, L.A. Care, Magellan, UnitedHealthcare, Partnership, and Medi-Cal. Confirm coverage with your insurance plan for therapy with a Marriage and Family Therapist Trainee prior to service.
Questions women ask about Christian counseling
Do I have to be a Christian to see a Christian counselor?
Usually not, but ask, since it varies. In my work, people of any faith or no faith are welcome. If faith isn’t part of how you see your life, we leave it out.
Is it okay to see a therapist if I already have a pastor?
Yes. Many people have both. A pastor can walk with you spiritually, and a therapist can help with the way trauma and stress live in your body and memory.
What if I’m not sure what I believe anymore?
You can still come. Doubt and questions are welcome here, and you don’t need to have it figured out to start therapy.
Can I see a Christian counselor online?
Many offer video sessions. I see people in person in Redding and by secure video anywhere in California, as long as you are in California at the time of your session.
A free 15-minute consult is a simple first step. Bring these questions with you. There is no pressure to book. Book a free 15-minute consult or call or text (530) 444-1522.
This is education, not therapy. It’s not medical advice and doesn’t create a therapist-client relationship.
If you are in crisis: Call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. In Shasta County, the 24-hour mental health line is (530) 225-5252 or (888) 385-5201. National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233. Call 911 if you are in immediate danger.
Yvette Brown, Marriage and Family Therapist Trainee at Attune Center for Healing. Supervised by Christina Whitney, LMFT #111050