Exploring Therapy from a Christian Perspective
Therapy has evolved significantly lately. It’s not just accepted—it’s somewhat celebrated now, almost as a status symbol. As research in the field expands, there’s a wider array of treatments available than ever before.
But how do Christians fit into this growing landscape of therapy? Just because something is labeled as effective, does that mean followers of faith can back it?
In a recent episode of “Relatable,” host Allie Beth Stuckey delves into secular therapy, pinpointing certain practices she considers incompatible with Christian beliefs, like the idea of the “inner child.”
According to her, the “biggest threat” to Christian women isn’t progressivism, feminism, or the so-called toxic empathy—it’s the therapy culture itself.
She argues that notions like progressivism and toxic empathy are offshoots of secular therapy and pop psychology, which have infiltrated even the most spiritual environments like Bible studies and conferences.
Stuckey finds that many of the phrases used in therapy merely serve as justifications for what she sees as complaints or self-centeredness and distract from genuine spiritual growth and self-denial.
Nowhere is this clearer, she asserts, than in the concept of the “inner child.”
In therapy, the “inner child” represents aspects of oneself still affected by childhood emotions, desires, and traumas. Therapists work with clients to identify and heal these old wounds through various methods like visualization and emotional processing.
However, Stuckey maintains that “in the Christian worldview, there is no such thing as an inner child.” She acknowledges childhood memories and experiences that shape us, but argues against the existence of a separate, emotional self rooted in childhood.
She also points out the troubling origins of the inner child concept for Christians. Sigmund Freud introduced the idea that repressed childhood traumas shape adult behavior, a notion Stuckey believes overlooks the inherent sinful nature present since Adam.
Then, Carl Jung, a follower of Freud, termed it the “child of God.” This idea symbolizes the untouched potential within each individual. But Stuckey rejects this notion too, explaining that it dismisses the scriptural reality of our sinful nature and has contributed to the New Age idea of an “inner goddess,” representing a divine essence within individuals.
“The assumption that your true self is perfect and deeply loved, just waiting to be unearthed, is a secular concept,” she says, referencing Jeremiah 17:9 and its warning about the deceitfulness of the heart.
Ultimately, Stuckey believes that focusing on the inner child and similar concepts steers attention inward, away from God.
“This quest to find the flawless divine self inside is futile; it simply leads to more self-obsession, which confines us rather than liberating us.”
To hear Stuckey’s full biblical take on the inner child, along with other therapies she considers unbiblical, check out the episode.
