Faith and Therapy: Survey Insights on Christian Counseling

 

Christian counseling is a cornerstone of modern church-based society, utilized frequently by individuals and as a primary referral source for congregations. To understand the actual impact on the current generation of believers, Teleios conducted a survey of young Christians' experiences and impressions of these services. Full findings are available here: Christian Counseling Survey.

The Current Landscape: Who is Seeking Help?

The survey reached 235 respondents, of whom the majority are female (71%), aged 18-34 years (77%), and located in the United States of America (58%). The result shows that participants' overall view of Christian counseling is positive, having:

• 9%of respondents are currently in counseling; 
• 7% had been in therapy and were planning to start again; and 
• 30% have never attended but plan to go. 

Meanwhile, 27% believe every Christian should be in counseling at some point in their life, while around 35% indicated that they should only go for specific problems.

The Impact: Emotional Relief vs. Spiritual Depth

Believers seek counseling for a variety of reasons, often with life-altering results.

• Emotional & Physical Benefits: Respondents reported that counseling improved relationships (11%), reduced anger (8%), improved depressive symptoms (8%), and even saved lives (6%).
• Spiritual Engagement: Participants noted that sessions helped them seek God through prayer, fellowship, and Bible knowledge (roughly 10% for each).
• The Statistical Paradox: Despite these individual successes, survey data showed that overall well-being did not differ statistically between those who participated in counseling and those who did not (P>0.05). This suggests that while counseling is a popular resource, its long-term clinical and spiritual efficacy remains largely undescribed.

A Balanced View: Pros and Cons

Navigating Christian counseling requires an understanding of both its practical utility and its potential limitations.

The Advantages:

• Pastoral Support: Provides a vital resource for busy pastors to extend help to their congregation.
• Emotional Outlet: Provides a dedicated platform for Christians to discuss pain with a sympathetic listener.
• Community Integration: Helps further integrate the participant into the Christian community.
• Crisis Gateway: Serves as an important gateway to psychiatric services for profound mental health issues.

The Challenges:

• Scientific findings on Christian counseling, compared with secular counseling or no counseling at all, remain largely unknown.
• The methodology of Christian counseling and counselors’ training is not well proven.
• In our survey, average well-being did not differ between participants who had received prior or current counseling and those who expressed a desire for future counseling. This might suggest that Christian counseling is not always beneficial.
• The interaction between Christian counseling methods and the Bible is unclear, varies by institution, and likely varies among counselors themselves.
• From our survey, most young Christians who participated in counseling did not receive instruction in any of the 5 basic elements of the Christian faith that underpin maturity (Acts 2:42,47)
• Universities that train Christian counselors typically do so from a secular, not a biblical, basis. More information can be found here. 
• Christian counseling, while it may offer practical advice and even some spiritual direction, may not provide the basis for growing in Christian maturity as described in the Bible.

The Path Forward for 2026

Christian counseling is a practical step for believers dealing with life's hurdles. However, discernment is necessary. Believers should assess their care to ensure it provides guidance into biblical maturity through obedience to the Word. If these tools are absent in the therapy room, they must be supplied through other spiritual sources.

As we move forward, more research is essential to bridge the gap between clinical results and spiritual growth, ensuring participants receive the full benefit of faith-based support.

William C. Stewart, MD

Email – info@teleiosresearch.com

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Disclaimer – This blog and its content are provided only as information and are intended for visitors 18 and older. No content on the website should be taken as advice nor recommendation for any personal or institutional situation. The views expressed are those of the author alone and not necessarily either shared or endorsed by Teleios. Both the blog and the contents are subject to change at any time without notice. Although I endeavor to ensure that the blog and the content are current and accurate, it may contain errors. I do not represent that the blog or the content is current, accurate or complete, or appropriate for your specific requirements. I do not accept any liability from any person for the blog, the content or any other information (or the use of such information) I provide. I do not have a seminary degree, but I have trained myself in the scriptures to teach and provide this information. For any specific question, I suggest you contact experts in that field and/or do your own research into the scriptures.

Are there benefits to a Christian society?

 

Christianity underpins the foundation of Western society. Recent Teleios research has shown that individuals in societies embracing biblical values have better wellbeing than those in non-Christian nations and are characterized by other positive measures within the economic, legal, security, health, and educational realms that might serve as markers of personal happiness. Nonetheless, some deny the historical and current benefits of Christianity. 

 

Teleios conducted a survey regarding the benefits of Christian society on an Instagram account frequented by Christian adolescents and millennials. There were 565 responses. The majority of responders were: female (78%), < 35 years (67%), primarily from the United States (60%) or Europe (13%) and primarily evangelical (88%). See the full report at Benefits to a Christian society.

A slight plurality (46%) believed they were living in a Christian versus secular based society (45%). Respondents noted advantages to living in a Christian society, compared to any other type of society (41%) and compared specifically to a secular society (18%). Participants indicated the top 3 potential advantages of a Christian society were a stronger moral (82%) and ethical base (71%) as well as greater love among people (75%).

Within the advantages noted of a Christian society in relation to government, the top three responses were: recognizing the primary biblically mandated role of government to keep order in society (60%); maintain individual rights, especially freedom of religion and expression (56%); and reduce corruption (54%).

In contrast, the greatest potential disadvantage of a Christian society was seen as Christians becoming too complacent with power and forgetting the love of Christ (64%). Participants believed most often Christians could help maintain a balance between preserving freedom and avoiding religious despotism by assuring the church and individuals are teaching the word of God (60%).

 

This survey suggests that young Christians recognize generally the benefits of Christian society. However, they lack a more complete knowledge of the benefits of biblical principles within society. This provides an opportunity for Christian teachers and pastors to teach young people to understand our heritage and scripture’s formative role and impact upon it.

 

William C. Stewart, MD

 

Email – info@teleiosresearch.com

Website – http://teleiosresearch.com

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/TeleiosResearch

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/TeleiosResearch

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X - https://x.com/TeleiosTweets

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LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/teleiosresearch

 

Disclaimer – This blog and its content are provided only as information and are intended for visitors 18 and older. No content on the website should be taken as advice or recommendation to any personal or institutional situation. The views expressed are those of the author alone and not necessarily either shared or endorsed by Teleios. Both the blog and the contents are subject to change at any time without notice. Although I endeavor to ensure that the blog and the content are current and accurate, it may contain errors. I do not represent that the blog or the content is current, accurate or complete, or appropriate for your specific requirements. I do not accept any liability from any person for the blog, the content or any other information (or the use of such information) I provide. I do not have a seminary degree, but I have trained myself in the scriptures to teach and provide this information. For any specific question, I suggest you contact experts in that field and/or do your own research into the scriptures.

 

How to speak fluent Christian

 

How we speak to each other is critical in living a godly life. Yet controlling our speech is quite difficult and rarely discussed.

 

Teleios Research recently evaluated adolescents and millennials regarding their speech. The survey was promoted on the Christian Instagram accounts, InstaPray and GodsHolyScriptures. Of the 215 participants the majority were: female (52%), <30 years old (93%), from the United States (83%), and evangelical (68%). See full results here - How to use Christian speech.

 

The top 3 responses nicely show a strong minority, at least on a list provided by a survey, are cognizant of the need to help others with speech and to discuss our great God with others.

Not bad responses!

 

From a biblical standpoint, how do we speak “Christian” with each other? Like learning any language, it takes some discipline and training, but it is doable.

 

Fortunately, with biblical input and thinking, we will find it much easier to speak in a fashion that loves and encourages people as well as pleases God. However, biblical speech patterns do not come naturally. 

Here are some hints how to speak effectively as a Christian:

• Consider first speech is not about you - Have you ever noticed that people generally talk about themselves, even at church? However, unless we really need someone else to bear our burdens (Galatians 6:2) speech should not be about us but about the other person (Ephesians 4:29). Biblical speech should address other people's needs. This is a huge transformation in thinking for many of us but it's an important first step to converse with others as God desires.
• Realize you have much to give – Remember, the Bible is true and good for anyone who hears it (please see the Teleios website for scientific proof). Therefore, when you are speaking scripture and its truth, commending, being thankful, and praising God, you are using your speech as a powerful tool to help others.
• Think before you speak – Prior to meeting with somebody consider specific ways you can express gratitude, commendation and encouragement. Planning ahead may not seem natural but if we don’t consider encouragement beforehand, generally it will not happen. Be specific in your commendation and thankfulness; the more precise the better. Spiritually, plan ways to encourage a friend or colleague in Christ, whether by discussing an applicable Bible verse, teaching other people (formally or informally), sharing answered prayed or even imparting the gospel if needed.  We are all busy, if we don’t consider positive biblical speech ahead of time, we generally won’t do it. 
• Build a solid relationship - This is vital as people need to know that you genuinely like and respect them. There are many books on the subject and perhaps the best starter is the classic, How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. You can buy a cheap used copy (or download a copy) at Amazon. It is frightfully easy to read and apply. Get a copy and read it!
• Ask questions – If you do not know how to encourage someone then ask them questions or search their on-line presence!  People love to talk about themselves. The more questions you ask, and the deeper the follow-up questions, presented in an interested and genuine way, the more you will learn about your colleague, spouse, boss, friend or new acquaintance. They will think you are wonderful and the extra knowledge will help you better pray for them as well as help and encourage them.
• Build a solid spiritual relationship - This can be done by simply asking them about benign religious topics, progressing through such questions as: 
• Ask general questions about their life, family, or work. Follow up with more specific questions based on what they initially tell you. Show interest! Listen.
• Go deeper, ask “What do you think about religious-based political issues such as Christian persecution?” Or “Does religion or the church help our culture?”
• Ask their opinion about a challenging Bible verse, or a difficult doctrine like baptism or predestination.
• Ask questions to help them based on everything that you have heard. Perhaps a question about the security of their salvation followed by an applicable verse such as in Ephesians 1:13-14 or 1 Peter 1:4-5. Perhaps they mention struggle in their marriage and so you could take them to Ephesians 5:20-32. 
• Final step, biblical speech – Use the information that you have gathered about a person to consider how to help them with your speech.
• How can you express specific commendation or thankfulness for them in their character or actions? 
• How can you encourage them in scripture? 
• How can you urge them to greater Christian growth or actions? 

 

Summary, biblical speech is key to a functioning, effective, loving body of Christ. 

 

Thanks for joining me today. Meet me here again next time as we discuss the truth and joy of God’s word and how it helps us live a fruitful and godly life.

 

William C. Stewart, MD

 

Email – info@teleiosresearch.com

Website – http://teleiosresearch.com

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/TeleiosResearch

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/TeleiosResearch

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/TeleiosVideos

X - https://x.com/TeleiosTweets

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@teleiostiktok

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/teleiosresearch

 

Disclaimer – This blog and its content are provided only as information and are intended for visitors 18 and older. No content on the website should be taken as advice or recommendation to any personal or institutional situation. The views expressed are those of the author alone and not necessarily either shared or endorsed by Teleios. Both the blog and the contents are subject to change at any time without notice. Although I endeavor to ensure that the blog and the content are current and accurate, it may contain errors. I do not represent that the blog or the content is current, accurate or complete, or appropriate for your specific requirements. I do not accept any liability from any person for the blog, the content or any other information (or the use of such information) I provide. I do not have a seminary degree, but I have trained myself in the scriptures to teach and provide this information. For any specific question, I suggest you contact experts in that field and/or do your own research into the scriptures.