Faith and Therapy: How Spirituality and Professional Help Can Work Together

 


In my previous article, I discussed the stigma surrounding mental illness—how people are often told they have weak faith or need an exorcism. These harmful beliefs cause many faithful individuals to hesitate seeking help, fearing isolation from their spiritual communities.

📊 The Reality in Indonesia

• WHO (2022): Indonesia has only 0.3 psychiatrists per 100,000 people—far below the global standard. Therapy is hard to access and often expensive.

• American Journal of Psychiatry (2021): The best recovery outcomes come from combining professional therapy, prayer, and faith-based community support.

Faith and therapy are not enemies. They can walk hand in hand—complementing, not canceling, each other.


❌ Why People Avoid Professional Help

1. Stigma and Fear

Beliefs like “mental illness means weak faith” or “you’re possessed” lead people to hide their struggles. They fear being labeled “crazy” or rejected by their religious community. This isolation only deepens the pain.


Instead of seeking help, many turn only to prayer—without realizing that healing can come through multiple paths.

2. Lack of Understanding

Many don’t know that conditions like depression and anxiety can be treated medically. They rely solely on repeated prayers or exorcisms, unaware that therapy is a valid and effective option.

3. Limited Access

In rural areas like Sulawesi and NTT, access to psychiatrists and CBT therapy is extremely limited. Friends in the mental health community often struggle to refill prescriptions due to long travel times. Regional health centers (puskesmas) rarely stock mental health medications.

4. Fear of Costs

Before the government insurance program (BPJS), psychiatric care was unaffordable for many. In extreme cases, families resorted to pasung—physical restraint of mentally ill individuals—due to lack of resources.



🌿 Combining Faith and Therapy

✝️ Faith as a Foundation


Faith builds mental resilience. Prayer, scripture, and spiritual community can strengthen the heart and mind. Start with daily affirmations from your holy book—like Romans 12:2—to renew your thoughts.

🩺 Therapy as a Tool God Provides

Doctors and psychiatrists are not enemies of faith. Mental illness is just as real as physical illness. If you had a fever for days, you’d see a doctor—why not do the same for your mind?

🙏 Find Faith-Friendly Professionals

When I once consulted a doctor of a different faith, she advised me to seek a Christian psychiatrist. Today, many Christian and Catholic hospitals offer faith-integrated care. Muslim patients can also seek Muslim professionals who understand their spiritual needs.


🛤️ Steps to Begin Healing

Step 1 – Consult a Psychiatrist

Most Indonesians go directly to psychiatrists since CBT is rare outside major hospitals. A psychiatrist can:

• Provide a diagnosis

• Prescribe medication

• Refer you to therapy if available

Step 2 – Build a Spiritual Routine

Use books like Utter the Word by Marilyn Hickey for daily affirmations. Speak verses aloud each morning and night to replace negative thoughts.

Examples:

• Philippians 4:6–7 → “The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard my heart and mind.”

• Psalm 34:18 → “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Step 3 – Combine Prayer and Therapy

Pray for yourself—and for the professionals helping you. Therapy becomes part of your faith journey, not a replacement for it.

Step 4 – Seek Community Support

Join a prayer group or small support group at church. If none exists, create a safe space where people can share without judgment.

Step 5 – Monitor Progress

Evaluate regularly with your psychiatrist and spiritual mentor. Never stop medication or therapy without guidance.


🧠 Case Example

Issue: Severe anxiety disrupting sleep

Solution:

• Consulted a psychiatrist → prescribed a mild sedative

• Read Philippians 4:6–7 aloud daily as affirmation

• Joined a supportive, nonjudgmental prayer group

• Gradually improved with regular medical evaluations


📚 Sources

• WHO (2022). Global Health Observatory Data Repository

• American Journal of Psychiatry (2021). Integration of Faith and Therapy for Mental Health Recovery

• Kementerian Kesehatan RI (2023). Laporan Riset Kesehatan Dasar tentang Kesehatan Jiwa di Indonesia

• Marilyn Hickey. Utter the Word

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