Why Catholics Need Catholic Therapists

A veteran psychotherapist argues that the shortage of Catholic mental health professionals creates a pastoral danger for the faithful. Writing for Catholic Exchange, Angie Allen noted that she is one of only two Catholic therapists serving one of the largest dioceses in the United States.

Allen suggests that Catholics often lack a mental health framework that aligns with Catholic anthropology, which is the Church's understanding of the soul and the human person. She notes that many people seeking therapy are in vulnerable states of shame, fear, or emotional pain and may not understand the differences in training and worldviews between counselors, social workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists.