Mariners Church Weekend Messages

Episode: How Do I Know the Difference Between Good Therapy and Bad Therapy?

Speaker: Senior Pastor Eric Geiger
Date: January 21, 2025

Episode Overview

In this challenging, thoughtful message, Pastor Eric Geiger unpacks the increasingly complex relationship between faith, therapy, and mental health in our current “therapeutic culture.” He traces the cultural shift from the stigma once attached to counseling to a present-day context where therapy and therapeutic language are both widespread and, at times, problematic. Drawing on research, personal experience, and scriptural wisdom, Eric helps listeners discern the difference between wise and unwise counsel, both in therapy and in the broader influences of culture, friends, and even preaching.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Cultural Shift: From Stigma to Therapeutic Culture

• 20 Years Ago: Counseling was stigmatized; people were afraid to be seen seeking help.
  • Story: While launching a counseling center in Miami, the largest concern was designing a discreet entrance due to stigma (02:15).
• Today:
  • Therapy is common, at times, considered a badge of honor.
  • “We now live in what many have called a therapeutic culture. The term therapeutic culture is often defined by lots of access to content about anxiety, depression and other struggles...” (05:15)
  • Explosion of content: #trauma on TikTok with over 6 billion views; 5,500+ podcasts with “trauma” in the title.

2. Dangers of Overcorrection in Mental Health Discourse

• Overcorrection Noted:
  • Where once mental health was shameful to discuss, now people may self-diagnose and over-label ordinary challenges as anxiety or trauma.
  • Quote (Esther Perel):
    “There is such an emphasis on the self care aspect of it that is actually making us more isolated and more alone because the focus is just on the self.” (09:15)
• Labeling as Identity:
  • Examples: Students and adults claim anxiety or trauma as part of their core identity, risking a “fixed mindset” (11:00).
  • Quote (Darby Saxby):
    “I worry that for some people, anxiety became an identity marker that makes people feel special and unique. That's a big problem because anxiety as an identity gives people a fixed mindset...” (12:32)
  • Overuse of labels dishonors those with real trauma/abuse.
    • “When the words trauma become this massive junk drawer where everything gets thrown in, we actually cheapen the experience of those who've experienced real trauma.” (14:20)

3. Questions About Therapy’s Effectiveness

• Not All Therapy Is Good Therapy:
  • Research (Abigail Shrier, "Bad Therapy"): Therapy can sometimes create new problems or pathologize normal feelings (17:30).
  • Vulnerable Populations: Children are especially at risk; overexposure to therapeutic language may introduce issues rather than solve them (19:05).
  • Critique: Mental health organizations were slow to address the harms of social media for children (20:25).
• Paradox of Prevalence:
  • Despite widespread therapy, anxiety and depression rates have not decreased over 40 years (22:00).
  • In some studies, therapeutic instruction increased anxiety and depression among teens (23:00).

4. The Importance of Wise Counsel

• Therapy, Like Preaching or Any Counsel, Can Be Good or Bad:

  • Wise guidance is crucial because “who you listen to matters.”
  • Scripture: “The one who walks with the wise will become wise, but a companion of fools will suffer harm.” — Proverbs 13:20 (24:44)

• The Danger of Mixed Truth and Error:

  • Illustration: Pastor Eric’s unreliable truck fuel gauge—“Truth and error mixed together is the most dangerous kind of counsel.” (25:55)
  • Applies to both therapy and preaching; false teaching is more harmful than silence.

5. Three Broad Approaches to Therapy

(Discussed with Dr. John Townsend on companion podcast)

• Science-only Approach: Values scientific modalities; does not integrate faith.
• Scripture-only Approach: Counseling strictly from the Bible.
• Integrated Approach: Uses both, with Scripture holding ultimate authority. (31:00)
  • Pastor Eric endorses the integrated model.

Three Differences Between Wise and Unwise Counsel (Therapy or Otherwise)

1. Unwise Counsel Focuses Only on Feelings; Wise Counsel Applies Truth to Feelings

• Over-obsession with feelings is unhelpful (32:24).
• “Wise therapy not only validates your feelings... but questions the beliefs beneath the surface...” (32:55)
• Biblical Model: Psalm 42: The psalmist probes his own emotions and applies God’s truth.

2. Unwise Counsel Sets You as Authority; Wise Counsel Submits to God’s Authority

• “Just follow your heart” is a dangerous and pervasive cultural message (34:32).
• Quote (Augustine):
  “What am I without you, God, but a guide to my own downfall?”
• Scripture: “The heart is more deceitful than anything else; it's incurable. Who can understand it?” — Jeremiah 17:9 (35:24)
• True wisdom comes from submitting to Jesus as authority, not self.

3. Unwise Counsel Over-comforts or Over-challenges; Wise Counsel Balances Both

• A good counselor knows when to comfort and when to challenge.
  • “Jesus is our perfect one because he knows the moments we need to be comforted ... but he also knows when we need to be challenged and nudged.” (38:45)
• Cautions against an environment that only aims to make you always feel “safe” at the expense of growth or necessary conviction.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Labeling and Identity:
  • “You already have the best label, the greatest identity there is, because you have been made the son or the daughter of God.” (13:50)
• On the Influence of Counsel:
  • “He who walks with the wise grows wise. A companion of fools suffers harm.” (24:44)
• Personal Illustration:
  • “Truth and error mixed together is the most dangerous kinds of counsel. ... The odometer never lied to me. I knew it wasn't working. ... (but) the fuel gauge sometimes told me the truth and sometimes lied to me. And that is the most dangerous.” (25:55)
• Summary of Integrated Approach:
  • “All truth is God’s truth.” — Attributed to Augustine (31:40)
• Pastoral Heart:
  • “If you are his, he now insists on being the authority of your life. You don’t have to live with the burden of following your heart. You get to follow your Savior, Jesus, who always has your best in his heart for you” (36:10)
• On Victimhood and Victory:
  • “Because he's the victorious one, his sons and daughters don't have to live as perpetual victims. You can be a victor because Jesus is the victorious one.” (38:25)

Practical Application and Tools

Choosing a Therapist:

• The Mariners team (with therapists, counselors, and educators) developed a practical guide for discerning wise therapy—a set of questions to ask potential therapists and yourself after a session.

For the Church Community:

• Invitation to join recovery/support groups (e.g., Regen) for those needing further care and discipleship.

Spiritual Encouragement:

• Jesus is described as the “Wonderful Counselor” who ultimately brings both healing and wisdom.
• Invitation for prayer and healing at the close of the service.

Key Timestamps for Major Segments

• Therapeutic Culture & Overcorrection: 04:30–15:00
• Concerns with Therapy and “Bad Therapy”: 16:30–24:30
• Scripture & Wise Counsel: 24:44–32:45
• Three Differences (Feelings, Authority, Balance): 32:24–38:45
• Practical Steps & Next Actions: 38:50–end

Final Blessing & Prayer

Eric closes the message with a prayer for God’s blessing, mercy, and joy over the congregation, affirming Christ’s gentle and approachable nature.

“Jesus, I pray you'd bless your sons and daughters this week that you would remind them that you are gentle and approachable and that you love them, cause your face to shine on them. I pray they will experience your mercy and your joy…” (41:15)

For Further Help:

• Pick up the “Guide to Choosing a Therapist” at church exits
• Consider joining recovery and support ministries
• Seek prayer with church elders and the prayer team