A therapist who actually understands your faith
You shouldn't have to choose between a therapist who takes your faith seriously and one who provides excellent psychological care. At Coastal Therapy Group, you don't have to.
When your therapist doesn't get it
You've probably had the experience. You mention your faith in a session and the therapist goes quiet. Or nods politely. Or, worse, treats your beliefs as something to analyze rather than something that matters to you.
It's a subtle kind of loneliness. You're sitting in a room that's supposed to be the one place you can bring your whole self, and a big part of who you are doesn't feel welcome.
On the other end, maybe you've tried "Christian counseling" that felt more like spiritual direction than real therapy. Lots of scripture, not much clinical depth. You left feeling like your actual psychological struggles took a backseat.
Neither option is good enough. You need a therapist who can hold both.
Psychologists trained in the integration of psychology and faith
Several of our clinicians completed their doctoral training at programs specifically designed to integrate psychology and Christian theology, including Rosemead School of Psychology, George Fox University, and Fuller School of Psychology and Theology. These are APA-accredited doctoral programs where clinicians spend years studying how faith, meaning, identity, and relational patterns actually work together.
What that means in practice: your therapist has the clinical training to work with anxiety, depression, trauma, relational difficulties, and the full range of what brings people to therapy. And they also have the framework to understand how your faith shapes your experience of those struggles, your relationships, your sense of self, and the meaning you make of your life.
We don't use therapy as a venue for spiritual direction. We don't quote scripture at you or prescribe spiritual solutions for psychological problems. But if your relationship with God is part of how you understand yourself and the world, that's something we know how to engage with, thoughtfully and respectfully.
What faith-informed therapy actually looks like at our practice
Every person's relationship with their faith is different. Some clients want to explore spiritual themes directly. Others simply want to know their therapist won't dismiss that part of their life. Both are welcome here.
In our work together, faith might come up when we're talking about guilt, forgiveness, or moral questions you're wrestling with. It might show up in how you think about marriage, parenting, or what you owe the people around you. It might be a source of comfort, or a source of conflict, or both at the same time.
Our clinicians are trained to sit with all of that without pushing you in any direction. We follow your lead. If your faith is a resource, we'll draw on it. If it's complicated, we'll explore that honestly. We bring the same curiosity and care to your spiritual life that we bring to every other part of who you are.
You might be a good fit if...
- You want a therapist who respects your Christian faith without making it the entire focus of treatment
- You've felt misunderstood by secular therapists who didn't know how to engage with your spiritual life
- You've had experiences with "Christian counseling" that felt more religious than therapeutic
- You're a pastor, ministry leader, or seminary student who needs a therapist who understands the particular pressures of faith leadership
- You're navigating questions about your faith and want a space to explore them honestly, not a therapist who will tell you what to believe
- You and your partner want couples therapy with someone who understands the role faith plays in your marriage
Ready to find the right fit?
We offer free consultations so you can talk with us before committing to anything. We'll ask about what brings you to therapy, what matters most to you, and what kind of therapist you're looking for. No pressure, no obligation.
We have offices in Carlsbad, Encinitas, and Vista, and offer online therapy throughout California.
Common questions about therapy at CTG
Do I need a Christian therapist?
Not necessarily. But if your faith is an important part of your identity, working with a therapist who understands that part of your life can make a real difference. Research consistently shows that the therapeutic relationship is one of the strongest predictors of good outcomes in therapy, and that relationship tends to be stronger when your therapist understands your values and worldview. For many Christians, that means finding a clinician who won't treat faith as irrelevant or as a problem to solve.
Are you a Christian counseling practice?
We're a psychology practice with several clinicians who have doctoral training in the integration of psychology and Christian theology. That's different from "Christian counseling" in the traditional sense. We don't use the Bible as a treatment manual, and we don't provide spiritual direction. What we do offer is clinically rigorous, evidence-informed therapy from psychologists who understand the role faith can play in a person's inner life, relationships, and sense of meaning.
Will my therapist bring up God or scripture in session?
Only if you do first. We follow your lead. Some clients want their faith to be a central part of the conversation. Others simply want to know their therapist won't be uncomfortable when spiritual themes come up. Both are welcome. We're trained to engage thoughtfully with questions of faith, but we'll never push beliefs or use spiritual interventions without your invitation.
What's the difference between a Christian therapist and a biblical counselor?
A Christian therapist is a licensed mental health professional (psychologist, LMFT, LCSW, etc.) who integrates an understanding of faith into clinical practice. A biblical counselor may or may not hold a professional license, and typically uses scripture as the primary framework for addressing problems. At Coastal Therapy Group, our clinicians hold doctoral degrees in psychology and are licensed by the state of California. We use evidence-based therapeutic approaches alongside our training in the integration of psychology and theology.
I'm going through a crisis of faith. Can you help?
Yes. Questions about faith, doubt, and spiritual struggle are things our clinicians are well-equipped to work with. Whether you're deconstructing beliefs, questioning your denomination, or trying to reconcile your faith with your lived experience, therapy can be a space to explore those questions without judgment. If you're experiencing distress specifically related to harmful religious experiences, you might also want to look at our Religious Trauma page.
Do you work with clients who aren't Christian?
Absolutely. Our practice welcomes clients of all faith backgrounds and no faith background. The training our clinicians received in the integration of psychology and theology also deepened their understanding of how spirituality, meaning-making, and existential questions show up in everyone's life, regardless of specific religious identity.
Can I request a therapist who shares my faith?
Yes. When you contact us for a free consultation, let us know this is important to you and we'll match you with a clinician who has training in the integration of psychology and Christian theology. We want you to feel comfortable from the first session.
Do you offer Christian couples counseling?
Yes. Several of our clinicians work with couples and have the training to understand how faith shapes the dynamics, expectations, and values within a marriage. Whether you're navigating communication challenges, rebuilding trust, or working through differences in how you practice your faith, we can help. Learn more on our Couples Therapy page.