Biblical Counselling UK: Mental Health Support

In the UK, a significant percentage of people seek mental health support every year. Many seek help with mental illnesses like depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, phobias, generalized anxiety disorder, and panic disorder. Others simply want to speak with someone about their daily stressors or a significant life event, like divorce or a death in the family. 

People who identify as Christian or take comfort in the wisdom of the Bible may have an interest in biblical counselling as a form of mental health support. Below, we’ll explore what biblical counselling (UK) entails, the potential benefits of online biblical therapy, and how to find a provider who practices it in the UK. 

Christ-centered care: What is biblical counselling UK?

Biblical counselling UK describes faith-based Christian therapy options in England, Wales, and other parts of the United Kingdom. This type of support may appeal to Christians who want a faith-based mental health treatment option or help during a difficult time in life. Biblical counselling often integrates Bible verses and lessons from the Bible into sessions, and a biblical therapist may encourage their clients to read and reflect on specific biblical passages as part of their growth and healing.

Core principles of biblical counseling

Biblical counselling is rooted in God’s truth and God’s design for human history. While addressing stress and mental health challenges, a Biblical counsellor will also acknowledge the role of the gospel, sin, suffering, the soul, and how the Father’s arms are always open to His children.

Christ-centered, Biblical counselling: UK options

In the UK, Biblical counselling may be offered by a pastor, a professional provider working at a local church, or a professional counsellor working through the NHS or with an independent practice. Biblical counselling is also offered virtually through online therapy services like BetterHelp, which serves the UK.

Pastoral Care, Biblical counselling, and Christian counselling

Often, people use the terms "biblical counselling" and "Christian counselling" interchangeably. Generally, both terms can refer to mental health counselling that is by and for people with faith in the Christian God and the Christian religion of any denomination.

That said, some people do distinguish between the two terms. In these cases, biblical counselling might be viewed as a form of therapy that solely uses wisdom from the Bible to provide mental health support without any incorporation of researched psychological approaches. When biblical counselling uses the Bible as the sole source of information and guidance, it may be called nouthetic or pastoral counselling. Individuals who practice these modalities may or may not have a degree and licensure to practice psychology.

When biblical counselling and Christian counselling are described as two separate types of care, Christian counselling usually refers to mental health support that draws from the Bible and the Christian faith while also integrating techniques from the field of psychology. That said, keep in mind that some practitioners do not make this distinction, and many who say they practice biblical counselling may also use psychological techniques in sessions. Reviewing a prospective provider's credentials and understanding their approach before meeting with them for sessions can be important.

Bible-focused Christian counselling and God-centered therapy

Many providers who offer Christian counselling, especially professional therapists, also draw from the field of psychology. They may describe their practice as "biblical counselling," or they may not use this term. Regardless of the phrasing they use, their practice is usually both God-centered and evidence-based. That means they may use research-backed counselling techniques alongside religious texts and their own personal beliefs about God and God’s grace.

Pastoral care and biblical therapy are two separate realms that can overlap. Pastoral care refers to all of the care and support a pastor or church offers to members of the congregation who are experiencing challenges in some way, including mentally or emotionally. Pastoral care may involve spiritual support, like prayer, or practical support, like conflict resolution.

When a person is experiencing mental or emotional struggles, pastoral care may include biblical counselling. Biblical therapy is only considered part of pastoral care when it is being administered by a pastor or a counsellor working for a church. Biblical counselling offered by independent professional providers or online counselling services isn't generally considered pastoral care.

Pastoral care vs. online counselling

Is Biblical Counseling a charity?

Whether or not biblical counselling (UK) is a form of charity depends on who is offering it and, at times, who is receiving it. Some churches offer biblical therapy as a charity or free of charge. Other churches offer biblical counselling as a charity for free to select members of their congregation, such as those who are experiencing financial hardship or poverty. In these cases, the church may charge a fee for biblical counselling to those who are not experiencing financial hardship in order to help cover costs for everyone.

Independent professional counsellors and counselling services, including online therapy services, generally do not offer biblical counselling as a charity. However, online biblical therapy is often less expensive than in-person biblical counselling practiced by an independent provider.

Training, courses, and development

Biblical counsellors receive specific training using courses, seminars, and course materials with links to recognised institutions such as Oak Hill College. Combining mental health education with Biblical knowledge, these students develop counselling skills while learning to serve others according to the precepts of Jesus. 

Initial leaders and new developments

Some Christians are convinced that Biblical counselling is the best place for support in their emotional lives. Some key voices in this movement include influential leaders such as Nate Brooks and Helen Thorne Allenson, alongside BCUK’s new team members.

Biblical counselling uses

Biblical counselling may be helpful when a person is going through a difficult time, such as after a loss or during a major family conflict. Biblical counselling may also be used for:

• Substance use disorder
• Grief
• Suicide prevention
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Smartphone addiction
• Trauma recovery

In other words, biblical therapy with a qualified mental health professional can be useful for managing mental illness or contending with any problem or topic that a person would see a secular counsellor for.

Addressing modern challenges through biblical counselling

Serving many Christians with unique challenges in the UK, Christian counselling responds with both the current science of mental health approaches as well as Biblical wisdom for challenges such as:

• Chronic ill health
• Longer impostors (struggles with identity)
• First questions of faith
• Addiction
• Grief and anxiety

Connecting with a Christian counsellor

For people in the UK, there are many different ways to connect with a provider. Those who are eligible for care through the National Health Service (NHS) can get referred to a talk therapy provider through their GP or through a self-referral. Talk therapy through the NHS is free for eligible residents, and there may be options for specifically Christian care available.

Outside of the NHS, churches, religious universities and schools, and faith-based charities may offer Christian counselling services to the public. There is even an organization called Biblical Counselling UK, founded by Steve Midgley, a psychiatrist and ordained minister, that offers training to local churches so that people can seek support. Costs for these services may vary, though low-cost or sliding-scale fees may be available in some cases for those who need them.

Is online counselling available in England and Wales?

BetterHelp is an online counselling platform that provides services to people in many countries, including all of the UK. BetterHelp has helped millions of people around the world through 100% online counselling and partners with over 5,000 counsellors in the UK. After signing up for the platform and filling out a questionnaire, many people can be matched with a counsellor in as little as 48 hours.

The effectiveness of online biblical counselling specifically has not yet been widely studied. However, researchers have examined the effectiveness of online mental health support in general with largely positive findings. For example, a 2021 overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses published in the European Journal of Public Health reports that "almost all reviews and meta-analyses" found that online interventions "successfully reduce symptoms and are efficacious treatments" for people living with depression, anxiety, and other conditions.