When people ask why I openly identify myself as a Christian counselor, the answer is simple: because worldview matters.

As someone who has sat in the client chair during difficult seasons, I know how important it is to understand the lens through which a counselor interprets your story. When you’re navigating conflict, grief, anxiety, questions, or stress, you deserve to know the values and worldview shaping the guidance you receive and the tools they utilize to help you back to center.

And here’s the part many people don’t realize: The American Counseling Association (ACA) and ASERVIC actually encourage this kind of transparency.

Not to impose beliefs. Not to evangelize. But to ensure clients can make informed choices and receive care that aligns with their values.

This is not just a personal preference — it’s an ethical practice.

Worldview Shapes Counseling — And Clients Deserve to Know That

In graduate programs, counselors are trained to continually examine their own worldview:

How do my beliefs shape the way I understand a client’s story?
Where might my background help me connect or create blind spots in the conversation?
How do my values influence the questions I ask or the direction I encourage the client to explore?
How do my experiences and education influence what strategies and tools I use in sessions?
How do similarities or differences between myself and a client impact the relationship we develop?

These are not optional reflections.

They are part of the ASERVIC Spiritual and Religious Competencies, which guide counselors to:

Acknowledge their own worldview
Understand how it influences their work
Avoid imposing beliefs
Honor the client’s autonomy and spiritual identity
Integrate spirituality only when the client desires it

In other words, identifying my worldview is not about making myself the point — it’s about protecting the client’s right to choose the best fit for their care.

How Scripture Fits Into Ethical Counseling Practice

Because I am a Christian, Scripture shapes my personal worldview and how I develop my own character. But ethically, it is never something I impose on others. Even within my own faith, Jesus never imposed His beliefs or forced others to follow Him. He was clear about what He believed, He offered information to others, but in the end it’s up to each individual to decide if that is information they can accept as truth.

The ACA Code of Ethics is clear: Counselors must not direct clients toward a particular belief system. We must support the client’s values and beliefs, not replace them with our own.

So how do I integrate Scripture in a way that honors both my faith and the ACA’s expectations?

1. Scripture is used only when the client requests it.

If a client says, “Can we bring faith into this?” — absolutely. If they don’t, I don’t. This is part of the intake process, we go over what makes you unique, discuss what you want to set as goals, and then align your values and beliefs to the strategies and practices that can help you achieve that goal.

This is one reason I really relate to Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), we start by identifying YOUR values and what will take you closer to living those out more consistently.

2. Scripture is used as a resource, not a requirement.

For clients who want faith‑integrated counseling, Scripture (or your own belief systems) can support:

meaning‑making
identity work
values clarification
emotional regulation
hope and resilience

For example, a client exploring anxiety might find comfort in passages about peace or presence. Another might connect with themes of perseverance, compassion, or rest.

But the client leads. Always.

3. Scripture is aligned with the client’s goals, not my beliefs.

If a client wants to strengthen their faith, we can. If a client wants to explore their own belief system, we do that. If a client wants a strictly clinical approach, that’s what we use.

This is exactly what ASERVIC calls client‑directed spiritual integration.

How This Approach Reflects ACA Recommendations

The ACA encourages counselors to:

Be transparent about their worldview - So if you are researching counselors and they are not upfront, I’d question that and ask more questions.
Avoid hiding or disguising their belief system - I won’t hide who I am because that is decietful and could potentially harm my client.
Ensure clients can make informed decisions about fit - Ask questions, I’m here for it! If I’m not the best fit, I can refer you to other counselors who might be! I want what will be the best for you!
Respect client autonomy in all spiritual matters - You are free to choose. I will not make decisions for you. Be we can explore options together.
Integrate spirituality only when clinically appropriate and client‑requested.

So when I say I am a Christian counselor, it is not a marketing label. It is an ethical disclosure.

It tells you:

what shapes my worldview
how I understand human flourishing and development
how I interpret suffering, hope, and healing
what informs my compassion, theories, and my boundaries
what values and character development guide my presence in the room

And it gives you the freedom to decide whether that aligns with what you want for yourself or your child.

**What Being a Christian Counselor Does Not Mean**

Let me be clear:

It does not mean I talk about faith in every session.
It does not mean I only work with Christian clients.
It does not mean I judge or attempt to change anyone’s beliefs.
It does not mean I assume your values match mine.

You have full autonomy over what you believe and how you live your life. (at least within the cultural moral norm following rule of law). My role is to support your goals, not replace them with my own.

**What It Does Mean**

It means:

I am transparent and honest about my worldview.
I am trained to integrate faith ethically and only when invited to by the client.
I am committed to being respectful of your beliefs, and not expecting you to agree with mine.
I follow ASERVIC and ACA guidelines for spiritual competence and counseling best practices.
I believe healing is holistic, inclusive of emotional, relational, physical, and spiritual.

And it means that if you want a counselor who shares your faith, I can offer that. If you want a counselor who respects your different beliefs, I can offer that too.

Why I Choose Transparency

For me, the difference between not knowing and knowing is huge. If I were choosing a counselor, I’d want to know their worldview because it shapes everything.

So I offer you the same clarity I would want:

Yes, I am a Christian counselor.

No, I won’t impose that on you.

Yes, I will honor your autonomy.

And yes, I will walk with you toward the goals that matter most to YOU.

Why I Identify as a Christian Counselor: Faith, Ethics, and the Standards That Guide My Work