When you’re hurting—emotionally, mentally, or relationally—it’s easy to feel torn between seeking professional help and waiting on God to bring healing. But as believers, we’re not called to carry burdens alone.

In fact, Scripture encourages us to pursue truth, wisdom, and godly counsel as part of our growth:

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
— 2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NIV)

This passage reminds us that God’s Word is meant to be our guide. It shapes how we live, how we grow, and yes, how we heal.

At Gateway Counseling, we believe counseling should never be separate from Scripture. That’s why every session is grounded in biblical truth and directed by the Holy Spirit. With this approach, Christian counseling isn’t simply therapy. It’s discipleship. It’s soul care.

If you’re considering counseling, you’re already taking a faithful step. The next step is finding a counselor who honors God’s design and aligns with your walk of faith. Here are the top questions to ask when choosing a Christian counselor.

How do you integrate Scripture into your counseling sessions?

This is perhaps the most foundational question you can ask. As a Christian seeking counseling, you want to know that your therapist doesn’t simply respect the Bible—they rely on it.

A biblically aligned counselor should be able to describe how they draw from Scripture to guide conversations, offer encouragement, and bring clarity to your life.

Listen for more than just surface-level references. Ask yourself: Do they see God’s Word as central to the healing process?

We believe Scripture offers not just truth, but transformative power. We regularly bring biblical principles into therapy to help our clients experience real, meaningful renewal.

What role does prayer play in your sessions?

Prayer invites the Holy Spirit into the room. A Christian counselor who includes prayer understands that healing doesn’t come from a therapist’s insight alone… it comes from God’s presence working through every session.

If a counselor is willing to pray with or for you, it signals that your spiritual needs won’t be overlooked. Whether whispered at the beginning of a session or spoken aloud in times of breakthrough, prayer is the path to feeling spiritually supported and deeply seen.

Do you believe spiritual and emotional health are connected?

This question helps you understand the counselor’s view of the human person. For Christians, emotional health can’t be separated from spiritual life. They are woven together by God’s design.

Be wary of any counselor who treats your faith as a side note or suggests that spiritual growth isn’t relevant to emotional healing. The best Christian counselors will honor your soul as much as your symptoms. This helps you process pain while drawing closer to Christ.

How do you approach issues like anxiety or depression from a biblical perspective?

It’s one thing to recognize anxiety or depression as clinical conditions. But it’s another to offer care that also acknowledges spiritual realities. You deserve a counselor who sees your suffering not as a failure of faith, but as a place where God’s grace can meet you most intimately.

Our counselors believe that biblical truth and psychological tools work best together. We help clients confront anxious or depressive patterns with compassion, evidence-based techniques, and the unshakable hope of Christ.

How do you balance grace and truth in counseling?

Christian counseling, at its core, is about change. But for change to take root, it must be delivered in love. This question helps you assess whether a counselor leans too heavily on harsh truth or avoids hard topics to keep things “graceful.”

A trustworthy Christian counselor holds both. They’ll offer gentle corrections when needed, but never without compassion. Quite simply, truth without grace wounds, and grace without truth prevents growth.

What’s the difference between conviction and guilt?

Many believers wrestle with shame, not realizing that what they’re feeling may not be from God. A Christian counselor should be able to help you understand the difference between godly conviction, which leads to transformation, and toxic guilt, which leads to self-condemnation.

This distinction is crucial for healing. Without it, you can’t recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd nor silence the voices that accuse and destroy.

How do you help clients discern God’s voice?

For Christians, healing often goes hand-in-hand with spiritual clarity. On your own, it can be challenging to discern between seeking relief and seeking wisdom from God. A Christian counselor should support your process of listening for Him.

Ask how they help clients tune into God’s voice. Do they use Scripture, prayer, and spiritual practices? Do they know the difference between divine conviction and inner anxiety?

Our counselors help you grow in spiritual discernment so you can move forward confidently—not just with mental peace, but with divine direction.

When you’re looking for a Christian counselor, you’re seeking someone who can walk with you as both a therapist and a fellow believer. Someone who understands that healing is sacred, that Scripture is living, and that therapy can be a place of profound spiritual transformation.

At Gateway Counseling, we don’t take that calling lightly. With over 50 years of combined experience in Christian counseling, our team is honored to sit with you in your deepest moments and help you rediscover the beauty of God’s presence in your story.

If you’re ready to work with a counselor who shares your faith and values, we invite you to reach out today. Your healing matters—and we’re here to take that journey with you.

Contact Gateway Counseling in Boynton Beach at (561) 468-6464 or fill out our contact form to schedule your first session. Let’s step into healing, together.