Has the Church Gone Too Far with Mental Health?

Let’s talk about something that might stir the pot—or at least make for an interesting conversation over coffee. Over the past few decades, churches have shifted in a big way toward embracing mental health. These days, it’s common for larger churches to have licensed counselors on staff. Some even have full-blown counseling centers on-site. Pastors are preaching about anxiety, trauma, and depression from the pulpit, and churchgoers are having real conversations about mental health and faith.

And for some people, that feels… off.

I’ve heard the pushback: Has the church gone too far?

What happened to good old-fashioned spiritual guidance? Why do we need all this mental health talk in church? After all, we don’t have this level of awareness about physical health. (I mean, aside from the occasional “your body is a temple” reference—usually ignored until the post-service donut table.)

I get the concern. But here’s the thing: the relationship between faith and mental health is both incredibly simple and deeply complex. And to really understand it, we need to talk about attachment and trauma.

Faith is Relational—So is Our Mental Health

One of the main reasons the church and the mental health world are becoming so intertwined is because faith is relational.

Think about it—Scripture is full of stories about relationships. Our relationship with God. Our relationships with one another. Even our relationship with ourselves. The entire message of Christianity is built around connection—and that just so happens to be the foundation of attachment theory.

Science has shown us that humans are wired for connection. And when that connection is disrupted—through trauma, loss, neglect, or deeply painful experiences—it impacts every part of our lives, including our faith. The church is a place where people come with wounds—some from their families, some from life, and yes, even some from other churches. These wounds don’t just disappear with a Bible verse and a quick prayer (though I’m all for both when used wisely).

In recent years, we’ve gained powerful insights into how the body holds trauma and how relational wounds impact our ability to trust, love, and heal. And where do people go to process their pain? The church. It makes perfect sense that churches are embracing mental health tools—because they help people experience wholeness in the very place they are seeking healing.

But What About Biblical Wisdom?

This is where things can feel a little murky. Some people worry that by embracing clinical psychology, churches are sidelining biblical wisdom—as if trauma-informed care is replacing Scripture rather than enhancing it.

I once had a conversation with a pastor who was confused about why, as a therapist, I didn’t just tell people what to do. In his pastoral counseling role, he saw his job as giving biblical direction, pointing people to Scripture and helping them navigate life’s choices. But as a therapist, my job isn’t to make decisions for people—it’s to help them untangle the knots that keep them from making choices for themselves.

And this is exactly where the church and mental health can work hand-in-hand: self-awareness.

Jesus talked about the plank and the speck for a reason. If we’re not aware of our own “planks” (our wounds, biases, and unprocessed baggage), we risk walking into conversations—especially pastoral ones—with more harm than help.

Being trauma-informed in the church doesn’t mean we’re asking pastors to become therapists. It means we’re asking church leaders—and all of us—to know what we are bringing into the room.  It’s about knowing where our professional boundaries end and when to refer someone to a trained counselor.

So, Has the Pendulum Swung Too Far?

No, I don’t think it has. But I do think we need all gifts working together in the church but it needs wisdom and balance. Pastors still have an essential role in offering spiritual guidance. Therapists bring expertise in emotional and psychological healing. The church needs both.

When we integrate faith and mental health well, we don’t lose biblical wisdom—we strengthen it. We create a church where people can bring their full selves—their joy, their grief, their anxiety, their faith—and find true healing.

And if that’s the direction the church is moving, I say we keep going.

Let’s Keep Building Healthier Churches—Together

If this conversation resonates with you—if you’re a pastor, a counselor, a ministry leader, or someone who just wants to see the church become a place of deeper healing—then you need to be at the Steadfast Summit.

This is the catalyst event of the year in Charleston, designed to bring ministry leaders and counselors together to bridge this gap even further. We’re creating space for real conversations, equipping leaders with trauma-informed wisdom, and ensuring that the church continues to be a place of deep, lasting healing.

Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the change. Register today and let’s make our churches healthier—together.