To not take my 8y/o to a Child Psychologist who's vocally Christian?

[Dustyblue]

I'm an atheist, as is most of my family. I've friends who are solid Christians and we just choose not to discuss certain issues.

The one child psych in town has a website full of god talk. My child is not a child of god, thank you very much! A lot of his site sounds reasonable, some of it a bit woo, he treats a long list of disorders, is very experienced.

My 1st reaction was NO, I'll find someone else. But I was chatting to a friend (also atheist) and she pointed out that he might not necessarily being bringing anything religious to his therapy. As in, he's likely not actually using prayer to cure children. Which makes sense I guess.

But I'm just uneasy about this guy. You could slip in all sorts of ideas without going as far as saying "Let us pray now". Am I overreacting & being unreasonable?

Go with your gut.

He's allowed to have Christian beliefs and be a therapist! The receptionist who said you should find someone else was right, as you will probably be worried about it influencing the sessions, even if that is very unlikely.

I don't think them being a Christian is an issue at all.

But I think writing about religion on their website is very strange and unprofessional. You would think, as a psychologist, they might understand the impact of their language and cultural views of others? Have you checked their qualifications, as psychologist isn't a protected term.

I wouldn't use a psychologist who did that. It takes it as an indicator that can't maintain appropriate boundaries.

I would pass, if someone is vocal on their professional website it would put me off. Might aswell put their political beliefs down too!

Any chance of video call therapy to give you a better choice?

DS’s psychiatrist is a Christian minister, it has never been raised during consultations.

I would be quite suspicious of this persons qualifications if I’m honest, I’m a clinical psychologist (in the uk) and we have to be revisgered with the professional body HCPC , when qualified we are Dr’s (which is usually a good indicator of whether someone is qualified) . The term psychologist- or ‘child psychologist’ is not a protected title so anyone can call themselves that.

I think the reason I’m saying this is because I would be very surprised for any practicing clinican to be so overt about their personal religious/political beliefs. Generally we sit with an awareness of our bias and beliefs, and we might share that if it has a clinical benefit to our patient but we wouldn’t be advertising that (unless there is a good reason). I don’t know how it works in Australia, maybe it’s different but I think you were right to have alarm bells.

can you have remote therapy support if f2f is not possible? The difference between the qualified clinicians with true expertise and untrained therapists is quite striking, it’s well worth spending the extra money and time.

I mean, if his website is full of religious stuff, he clearly doesn't keep work and his personal beliefs separate.

Fine for a therapist to hold beliefs, as long as they don't allow them to impact upon their work and clients.

I certainly would never take my child to a therapist who is openly religious. Who knows what they would try and tell them under the guise of therapy?

I see you are in Aus and not sure of rules there but completely agree with @Psychologist123 . It isn't usually appropriate for a registered clinical psychologist in the UK to share their religious beliefs with a client, it should have no bearing on what we do. A lot of my colleagues are religious and I am not. I think we all try to assess and treat people in similar ways. So the religion bit is no problem for me but advertising it would put me off.

"Clinical psychologist" (has a PhD) and "Counselling Psychologist" (has a masters) are protected terms in Australia. There isn't a specialty for child psyciatry the way there is in medicine but AHPRA is pretty strict, if he was claiming expertise he didn't have he'd lose his registration.
I actually think it's a good thing he's upfront about his faith, if it forms a central part of the way he practices. I had a Social Worker who counselled me, decades ago now, but at the time her atheism was really important to me (religious upbrining with sexual abuse, lots to unpack). I don't think it's a bad thing if a therapist is something more than a blank page, neutral scientist type approach. It makes the process more humane.
Very difficult that you're remote though, OP. I also live in Australia in the middle of nowhere and I know from experience there are city based psychs who work over Zoom with patients, is that a possibility?

Just because he is a Christian doesn't mean he incorporates God into his treatment plans

This is true, but I don't know why it would be on a professional website if it has no bearing on the treatment that he offers?

I wouldn't be comfortable with this either.

I’m a clinical psychologist and I personally wouldn’t, not because of my religion or lack of religion but because I shouldn’t be bringing this my clients (they don’t need to know this about me!). So I’d be concerned more about his ethical practise rather than his being Christian. Check if he is registered with HCPC as I am also wary of anyone calling themselves a child psychologist as it’s not a protected term - he is clinical, counselling specialising in working with children that’s different .

He's in Australia- not sure I'd the same rules apply

Ah sorry I missed that - well check out the regulatory body there then!

Of course he is. But why on earth does any potential patient need to know that? I don't have a clue about the religious beliefs or otherwise, of any mental health professional I have encountered (and there have been a few, between me and my children.) And that is as it should be. Surely?

Very visible looking professional Muslim here. There is no way on earth I'd bring my religion into work- though my faith does guide what I do- help those in need. The only time I've spoken about religion is when we were on a training course and I provided the Muslim perspective re: death and funerals. I'd call up the office of the person, ask more about their approach and share what your worries were and how you'd prefer any interventions, etc. not to include anything faith based.

I would care if someone was Christian. I would care if they plastered it all over their professional website. That strongly suggests that it's a factor/used in their practice. And a therapist potentially has a lot of power/influence. So I would not be trusting a therapist with my child that does that.

I'm not saying this therapist is the same as the person in this podcast but this does give you an idea of how powerful the therapist relationship can be, and what can happen if that power is in wrong hands.

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/dangerous-memories-tortoise-investigates/id1590561275?i=1000661511254

I’m a charismatic Christian and wouldn’t go to a vocally Christian therapist if you paid me. Plastered all over their website would make me think they’ll put religious slants on things and stuff will be filtered through their worldview.

Ive had so much hurt from Christian “counsellors” I’m very wary that correct psychology would come second to religious worldviews.

Wouldn’t care if a therapist was religious but didn’t have it plastered all over the place.

Why is that ‘yuck’ ? He is letting prospective clients know his beliefs probably so that people can choose whether or not to engage him. He is not doing anything wrong.

He was very explicit on his professional site so it is very reasonable to assume he does bring his beliefs to work unprompted

And it seems the assumption's been proved correct with the admin person's advice to OP to find someone "more in tune" with her way of thinking

FWIW I've no issue at all with people's faith in a private context, but I'd wonder why it was considered appropriate to "fill a professional website with god talk" and feel this is a red flag

I'd take the admin person at their word. As a business it doesn't sound accommodating at all and I'd not want my child unsupervised with someone who is bringing faith into work in such an overt way. He might be responsible but he might be terribly evangelical or giv your child or.literally put the fear of god in them.

The posters that keep questioning the appropriateness of a therapist including their faith on their website, do you not get that it's a selling point???? some people are looking for precisely that. They are advertising their therapy as incorporating their faith as well which is a very specific type of therapy. Nothing odd about it at all.

Thanks everyone. Suffice to say, I've done a bit more inquiring with the locals and blimey, everyone should avoid this man! I'd say more but I don't want to create trouble, I'll just leave him well alone.

I appreciate your posts!

If it's all over his website it will be part of his practice, that will be a selling point to some people though obviously doesn't suit you. Realistically at this point you know what to expect, especially after the conversation with the admin person.

If it's going to be hard to find someone else I guess you need to weigh up if he's better than nobody/better than the inconvenience of having to travel a long way for someone else.

A Christian client may want to talk to a Christian professional as faith may be so central to who they are as a person that they would want to connect on that level. Perhaps this man is signalling his availability to engage at this level Also If he is a member of a professional body he surely would be professional enough to offer other methods if a Christian oractice was not wanted.

Agreed