If you've ended up here, you're probably asking a reasonable question: what exactly happens in Christian counseling, and is it right for you? Ann McGaver hears some version of this almost every week. Usually the worry underneath is one of three things. Is this just going to be prayer and Bible reading? Will I be judged for where I am right now? And honestly, does it work?
Those are fair questions. Here's the short answer. Christian counseling, the way Ann practices it, integrates evidence-based coaching techniques with a biblical worldview that takes your spiritual life seriously. It isn't a substitute for clinical mental health care, and it isn't spiritual advice dressed up in therapy language. It's faith and practical strategies working together, each doing what it's good at.
What makes Christian counseling different
Traditional therapy draws on psychological frameworks alone: cognitive-behavioral approaches, emotion-focused work, attachment theory. Christian counseling uses those same frameworks and adds a spiritual dimension.
The verse that anchors Ann's work is Romans 12:2 (NKJV):
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."
That single line does a lot of work. It echoes what cognitive research has confirmed for decades: our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are deeply connected, and shifting one can shift the others. It also says something more. God is active in the renewal process. In Ann's sessions, clients work on both. The frameworks give them tools. Faith gives them meaning, hope, and a reason the work matters.
Ann doesn't think of it as faith versus science. It's faith and science doing complementary work.
What a session actually looks like
Most people imagine something more formal or more overtly spiritual than what actually happens. A typical session is, more than anything, a conversation.
Ann and the client talk about what the client is navigating. They notice the patterns in thoughts and emotions — the ones that have been running in the background for a while. They build practical strategies to try between sessions, and they set goals the client actually cares about.
Faith is woven in when it's useful, not forced. If a client wants to pray at the start or end of a session, Ann is glad to. If not, they don't. She references scripture when it speaks directly to what the client is working through, and leaves it alone when it doesn't. Clients lead the pace on how much faith is part of the conversation, and Ann follows.
Who is Christian counseling for?
People come to Ann from all over the map spiritually. Some are committed Christians who specifically want their faith in the room. Others are exploring, deconstructing, or curious about what it looks like when someone integrates both. Some aren't religious at all but liked the idea of working with a coach who sees the whole person — spiritual layer included — rather than bracketing it off.
The situations people bring are the ones you'd expect:
- Anxiety and depression
- Grief and loss
- Painful memories and trauma
- Relationship and marital challenges
- Major life transitions
- Parenting stress
- Quieter questions about meaning, identity, and hope
Ann works with individuals, couples, families, and kids and teens. If you're not sure whether your situation fits, the consultation is a low-pressure way to find out.
Is Christian counseling evidence-based?
Fair question, and the answer is direct. Yes.
The techniques Ann uses are grounded in research: cognitive restructuring (Cognitive Behavioral Coaching and CBT-based techniques), goal-setting, emotional regulation skills, and communication frameworks for couples and families. Faith integration isn't a substitute for those techniques. It adds meaning and purpose on top of them, which studies link to better outcomes on things like resilience and life satisfaction.
On credentials: Ann holds a Master of Arts in Counseling, is a Board Certified Mental Health Coach (BCMHC), is a Licensed Pastoral Minister, and is a Certified SYMBIS Facilitator. She is not a licensed psychologist or licensed mental health counselor. In practice, she works within the scope of coaching and pastoral ministry. When someone needs clinical care, she refers out and helps them find the right fit.
If you're wondering whether this is for you
The best next step isn't to decide right now. It's to have a conversation. Ann offers a free 30-minute consultation — no pressure and no commitment. You can ask whatever you'd like, and together you can figure out whether this is the right fit. If it isn't, she'll say so and point you toward someone who might be.
You can book a free consultation online or call Ann directly at (208) 819-0565.
If you're in crisis right now, please call or text 988 (the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or go to your nearest emergency room. A coaching consultation is the right next step when you're not in immediate danger.