Scripture Foundation
“We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29, King James Bible, 1769/2017).
“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God” (Romans 13:1, KJV).
“Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake” (1 Peter 2:13, KJV).
“But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ” (Ephesians 4:15, KJV).
The Word of God calls Christians to live in obedience to Him first, while at the same time honoring lawful authority. For Christian counselors, this dual mandate becomes a daily tension: how do we remain faithful to Christ while practicing ethically under the laws and standards of the American Counseling Association (ACA)?
The Challenge of Conflicting Values
This conflict has been tested in the courtroom. In Ward v. Polite (2012), counseling student Julea Ward requested to refer a client whose goals conflicted with her Christian beliefs about sexuality. Eastern Michigan University dismissed her from the program, citing nondiscrimination requirements. Ward filed suit, arguing that her religious freedom as a counselor-in-training had been violated. The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that her case deserved to go to trial because a jury could reasonably conclude that she was dismissed because of her religious convictions. Although Ward did not regain her place in the program, the case was settled out of court in 2012, drawing national attention to the challenges Christian counselors face when their faith collides with ACA ethical standards.
Conversely, in Keeton v. Anderson-Wiley (2011), Jennifer Keeton, a counseling student at Augusta State University in Georgia, openly stated her intent to recommend “conversion therapy” to LGBTQ+ clients, asserting this as consistent with her Christian beliefs. Faculty expressed concern that this approach would violate the ACA’s Code of Ethics, which prohibits imposing personal values or using interventions considered harmful or lacking scientific support (ACA, 2014, A.4.b; C.6.e). To continue in the program, Keeton was required to complete a remediation plan, which included attending workshops on multicultural competence, reading peer-reviewed research on LGBTQ+ counseling, and reflecting on her ability to provide nondiscriminatory services. She refused, claiming the plan violated her religious freedom.
Keeton filed suit, but the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the university. The court concluded that requiring her to follow a remediation plan was not an attack on her faith, but a legitimate enforcement of professional standards designed to protect clients. The ruling emphasized that counselors may hold personal religious convictions, but when functioning in a professional role, they are obligated to provide competent, nondiscriminatory care. This decision affirmed that client welfare and adherence to ACA ethics outweigh personal objections when the two directly conflict.
Together, the Ward and Keeton cases illustrate both sides of the tension: in Ward’s case, the court recognized that universities must respect students’ religious freedom when alternatives such as referral exist, but in Keeton’s case, the court reinforced that practices harmful to clients cannot be justified by personal belief. Both cases remain central to discussions of how Christian counselors navigate their dual commitments to Christ and professional ethics.
Examples of Successful Integration
Not all stories end in conflict. Many Christian counselors successfully integrate their values within ethical practice by working transparently and client-centered.
- Narrative Integration of Faith
Coyle (2024) presented a case study in which a counselor used narrative therapy to invite theological reflection from a Christian client. The counselor asked questions such as, “How does God appear in your story?” without prescribing doctrine. The approach allowed the client’s own faith to guide meaning-making, respecting both ACA ethics and biblical values. - Prayer and Evidence-Based Therapy
In Counseling Today, a licensed counselor recounted a session where a client with anxiety requested prayer. The counselor paused, sought explicit permission, and then integrated prayer with cognitive-behavioral strategies. This balance upheld the ACA’s emphasis on informed consent while honoring the client’s desire for spiritual support. - ACA-Endorsed Vignettes
In the ACA’s own text on integrating spirituality, multiple clinical examples show counselors using Scripture meditation, forgiveness exercises, and encouragement of church involvement—always initiated by the client (Cashwell & Young, 2020). These cases highlight that integration is both possible and professionally sanctioned when conducted ethically. - Faith-Based Specialization
Some Christian counselors identify openly as “Christian counselors.” By advertising this specialty, they attract clients seeking biblical integration. This reduces hidden values conflicts and ensures that both counselor and client enter the relationship with shared expectations.
Together, these examples demonstrate that Christian values can coexist with ACA ethics when integration is transparent, voluntary, and rooted in the client’s worldview.
Application: Walking the Narrow Path
For the Christian counselor, discernment is essential. In clinical practice, the counselor must safeguard client autonomy. If a client invites Scripture or prayer into the session, the counselor can ethically integrate those resources, documenting informed consent and ensuring the intervention is clinically appropriate.
At the same time, Christian counselors must recognize the limits of their professional role. Some convictions cannot be fully expressed within state-regulated counseling without risking ethical or legal violation. For this reason, many believers find their fullest freedom in pastoral counseling under church authority, where Scripture can remain central, prayer is foundational, and discipleship is explicit. Distinguishing clearly between licensed clinical counseling and pastoral counseling allows practitioners to serve faithfully in both domains without compromise.
In practice, this means Christian counselors may wear “two hats.” In professional spaces, they operate under ACA ethics and state law, offering care that respects client diversity and autonomy. In the church, they function as ministers of the gospel, applying the Word of God without restraint. Both roles are sacred, and when held with integrity, they reflect the fullness of Christ’s calling to embody both grace and truth (John 1:14, KJV).
Summary
Christian counselors today live in a tension-filled space, called to honor both God’s Word and professional standards. Court cases like Ward and Keeton show where the clash becomes visible, but countless quiet successes reveal that ethical integration of faith is not only possible but thriving. With informed consent, role clarity, and a client-centered approach, Christian counselors can uphold their values while serving well within ACA ethics. Still, the fullest liberty to apply the Word of God lies within the church, where pastoral counseling allows Scripture to guide without restriction. In both settings, the counselor’s mission is the same: to glorify Christ, protect the welfare of those they serve, and model a life of integrity that reflects the One who is full of grace and truth.
References
American Counseling Association. (2014). ACA code of ethics. https://www.counseling.org/resources/aca-code-of-ethics.pdf
Cashwell, C. S., & Young, J. S. (2020). Integrating spirituality and religion into counseling: A guide to competent practice (3rd ed.). American Counseling Association.
Coyle, A. (2024). A case study method for integrating spirituality and religion into counseling. Religions, 15(3), 361. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15030361
Holy Bible, King James Version. (2017). Thomas Nelson. (Original work published 1769)
Keeton v. Anderson-Wiley, 664 F.3d 865 (11th Cir. 2011).
Ward v. Polite, 667 F.3d 727 (6th Cir. 2012).
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