In today’s fast-paced, digital world, many families find it difficult to remain emotionally connected. Family relationships are even more fragile now, with higher stress levels, unresolved trauma, and communication failures. Christian counseling provides a strong alternative to one that is clear-minded and actively guided by one’s values.
At Leadership Empowerment and Psychological Services, LLC (LEAPS), we offer professional, solution-focused therapy grounded in Christian values that helps families in the Orlando and Tampa areas restore, expand, and flourish.
What Is Christian Counseling?
Christian counseling is a form of psychotherapy in which both psychological and spiritual interventions are combined to help a person attain wholeness and spiritual maturity, or in other words, become more like Christ. Christian counseling, unlike traditional psychotherapy, is characterized by a strong emphasis on faith, forgiveness, grace, and spiritual guidance.
At LEAPS, our Christian counselors are licensed mental health professionals who:
- Value and integrate clients’ spiritual faiths
- Apply skills based on methodologies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotionally Focused Therapy, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, and Family Systems Therapy
- Provide prayer & scripture as requested by the client
This integration allows clients to explore their mental health while remaining rooted in their values and spiritual identity
The Impact of Christian Counseling on Family Relationships
- Restoring Marriages Affected by Infidelity
Infidelity, whether emotional or physical, can devastate a marriage. Christian counseling helps couples:
- Rebuild trust
- Acknowledge pain without judgment
- Explore forgiveness from a faith-centered perspective
Approaches used
- Emotionally Focused Therapy for a deeper emotional connection
- Narrative Therapy to reframe betrayal within a redemptive story
- CBT to manage intrusive thoughts and reestablish healthy boundaries
“Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3:13)
While not every couple will choose to stay together, Christian counseling equips both individuals to heal spiritually and emotionally.
- Supporting Parents and Children Through Trauma
Many families suffer silently from unresolved trauma, whether from abuse, neglect, or significant life transitions. Christian counseling provides tools to:
- Recognize trauma responses
- Build safety and trust
- Use Trauma-Focused Therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Integrating scripture and prayer supports spiritual recovery alongside emotional healing.
Example
A child struggling after the loss of a parent can benefit from Attachment-Based Therapy, while parents receive Stress Therapy to manage grief and maintain stability.
Common Family Issues and Christian Counseling Approaches
| Family Issue | Christian Counseling Approach | Relevant Therapy Types |
| Marital Conflict | Faith-centered communication tools | CBT, EFT, Marital and Family Therapy (MFT) |
| Infidelity | Forgiveness and healing work | Emotionally Focused, Narrative, Solution-Focused |
| Parenting Struggles | Faith-aligned parenting strategies | Adlerian, Positive Psychology |
| Teen Rebellion | Building mutual respect and identity in Christ | Integrative, Interpersonal Therapy |
| Loss and Grief | Spiritual meaning-making | EMDR, Grief Therapy, Existential Therapy |
Scientific Evidence Behind Faith-Based Counseling
Recent research has underscored the benefits of incorporating faith in therapy:
- Religious inclusion in treatment works for depression, anxiety, and marital conflict. When such individuals are treated, they generally experience significant improvement in symptom reduction, according to research conducted by the American Psychological Association (APA).
- A second 2021 meta-analysis in the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality found that faith-based sex therapy produced larger long-term increases in relational healing and forgiveness than purely secular approaches.
Clients of the Christian faith also tend to report feeling more satisfied and emotionally secure when attending therapy if their faith is valued in the therapy room.
Why Christian Counseling Is Especially Effective for Families
- Shared Moral Framework
Christian counseling offers a shared moral and ethical compass for families to navigate challenges together. This unity in values often enhances commitment to healing and reduces resistance to treatment.
- Hope-Centered Healing
Hope is central to Christian belief. Integrating this perspective into therapy helps:
- Reduce despair during family crises
- Foster resilience in the face of generational trauma
- Strengthen faith during mental health struggles
- Community and Accountability
Many Christian clients find strength in being part of a faith-based community. Counselors can encourage healthy engagement in local churches, small groups, or Bible studies as additional layers of support.
Counseling Techniques We Use at LEAPS
At LEAPS, our counselors integrate faith with a range of evidence-based methods tailored to your needs:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
For identifying and reframing destructive thought patterns
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
For exploring how inner parts affect family dynamics
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
For managing anxiety and trauma-related stress
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
For building psychological flexibility and values-based living
Multicultural Narrative Therapy
To affirm diverse cultural experiences within Christian families
We always respect your faith, your pace, and your goals.
Real-Life Example: A Family Reconnecting After Separation
A couple in Tampa came to LEAPS after a two-year separation due to emotional infidelity and communication breakdown. Through 12 months of Christian counseling, including joint and individual sessions, they:
- Identified harmful patterns using Relational Therapy
- Healed emotional wounds through scripture-based forgiveness work
- Reinforced their shared commitment to their faith and each other
Today, they serve as marriage mentors at their church, modeling what restoration through grace looks like.
How LEAPS Serves Orlando and Tampa Families
LEAPS is proud to support diverse families across Orlando and Tampa with:
- In-person and virtual Christian counseling sessions
- Culturally sensitive support
- Customized treatment plans that respect both faith and clinical needs
We serve individuals, couples, and families from pre-teen through elder stages of life, with specialties in:
- Marriage counseling and affairs recovery
- Teen anxiety and rebellion
- Trauma and PTSD
- Grief and life transitions
When Should a Family Consider Christian Counseling?
| Sign | What It Might Indicate |
| Ongoing conflict or cold silence | Unresolved emotional wounds |
| Constant parental stress | Need for co-parenting support and boundaries |
| Disengaged teenagers | Identity confusion or trauma response |
| Marital distance | Trust erosion, unspoken needs |
| Faith crises within the family | Need for safe spiritual exploration |
Begin the Journey Toward Healing and Connection
Family is one of God’s sweetest blessings. When affairs, trauma, poor communication, or stress have invaded a relationship, Christian counseling offers a spiritually grounded, research-based way back to wholeness. At Leadership Empowerment and Psychological Services, LLC (LEAPS), we accompany you with compassion, respect, and relentless dedication towards your growth.
The future for your family doesn’t have to be written in the language of today’s struggles. Discover how Christian counseling can benefit you.
Start Your Healing Journey Today
Visit www.leapsinc.com to schedule a consultation or learn more about our family therapy services in Orlando and Tampa.
