From Behind the Pulpit: Having the Courage to Seek Help
Dr. Terry A. Bowland
Professor of New Testament and Ministry
Ozark Christian College
It is a tremendous privilege to wear the mantle of a minister of the Gospel of Christ. We have the honor of standing in the pulpit, Sunday after Sunday, declaring to our people that salvation through Christ is the ultimate answer to every human problem. But what happens when the proclaimer of Gospel Truth struggles with mental wellness? We have all known preachers who have “burned out” in ministry without ever even considering seeking mental health treatment.
Why is it that so many pastors are hesitant to seek help while they are struggling with personal problems? In 2011 and again in 2014 the World Health Organization conducted a survey of over 60,000 individuals from 24 countries looking for the most common reasons why people avoid seeking professional help. The survey identified several key factors.
1. Low Perceived Need: Many people who are dealing with mild mental health issues just don’t think they need help. The common attitude is, “I can handle this on my own.” However, counselors generally agree that a depressive episode is officially “clinical” after only two weeks of symptoms. These symptoms may include moodiness, irritability, restlessness, unexpected weight or sleep changes or even occasional thoughts of suicide. Many pastors wait months or even years before seeking help because they have told themselves, “It’s not that bad.” We shouldn’t have to wait for a huge crisis to arise in order to seek help.
2. The Stigma of Counseling: Many pastors mistakenly feel that if they seek professional counseling help, that they have somehow failed in living out the very Gospel they preach. To seek help, for may carries the stigma of failure on an emotional, professional and even spiritual level. We need to work hard in listening to the very advise we so often give to our parishioners, “Seeking professional help is not a sign of spiritual failure.” The Scripture admonishes us to bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2). We encourage our people to come to us when they are struggling. Are we so proud that we are unwilling to admit that, at times, we need help with our own emotional and professional burdens. Seeking help is not a sign of failure. It is a sign of being human.
3. Negative Expectations: Sometimes we know that we need help. We also know that our mental condition is not a result of emotional or spiritual failure on our part. Yet, we are still reluctant to seek outside professional help. This often stems from the belief that we will not have a good counseling experience. Sadly, some of these negative expectations come from horror stories we have heard from our friends about a bad experience with a counselor. Unfortunately, not every counseling experience is positive. However, the overwhelming abundance of evidence is clear: Counseling helps relieve mental health symptoms. It doesn’t really matter about the technique or method used by the counselor. Those who share their burdens generally find help.
My son-in-law, Dr. Andy Melton, head of the Melton Counseling Group in the Nashville, TN area, affirmed all of the above hinderances and why we need to work hard to overcome them. He has taught me that with new counseling methodologies and modern technology it is often not even necessary to go to a counselor’s office to receive help. Through “Zoom” meetings over the internet, an individual can receive high level, profession care and never have to leave their own office.
Below are two websites that will provide help in finding a Christian Counselor in your area:
May God grant us the grace to overcome the negative stereotypes that hinder God’s hardest workers from seeking and finding the help that they need.
Sources:
Kristen Kansiewicz, “Why Christians Don’t Get Mental Health Treatment.” Key Ministry, December 17, 2019.
