Deacon Doubtmonger

It is, in a manner of speaking. Under the broad heading "Other Conditions That May Be a Focus of Clinical Attention," there's code V62.89, Religious or Spiritual Problem. "Examples include distressing experiences that involve loss or questioning of faith, problems associated with conversion to a new faith, or questioning of spiritual values that may not necessarily be related to an organized church or religious institution." (DSM-IV-TR, (c) 2000, p. 741). This was first proposed in 1988 but didn't actually show up in the DSM-IV until 1994.

Though a V-code alone is only a secondary diagnosis, and by itself does not merit insurance coverage, Anderson, Zuehlke and Zuehlke consider it a big first step in legitimizing Christ in the treatment process. They elaborate a page later:

===quoted===

The best alternative is to address the spiritual issues from the biblical-Christian worldview as legitimate interventions for the wide variety of impairments that exist, as do humanist, utopianist, and New Age practitioners.... If questioned, defend them as legitimate interventions from the worldview of the client and the therapist, citing the parallel interventions from other worldviews. Only in this way will we begin to influence the field of counseling on behalf of the only worldview based on the truths of the Word of God. (*Christ Centered Therapy*, p. 208)

===end quoted===

Ever wonder how these people define mental health in the first place?

===quoted===

... people are mentally ill if they have a distorted concept of God and themselves ... When secular therapists observe this, some will blame the church for messing up people's minds; most will try to free their clients from their "religious obsessions" by discouraging them from Bible reading or church attendance. The world, the flesh, and the devil all stand in opposition to our sanctification. (ibid., p. 184)

===end quoted===

Which leads to an argument for God's existence I posted in the humor forum (sorry if anyone's already sat through it there):

ARGUMENT FROM THERAPIST SMUGNESS (my true story)

(1) Depressed atheist teenager's father learns from a co-worker that a Christian psychotherapist did wonders for his kid.

(2) Teenager is sent to this guy and asks him how any God who puts someone on trial just after death, acts as prosecutor, judge and jury, allows no defense counsel to be present, and then acts as executioner, could remotely be considered loving.

(3) Therapist replies gently but scornfully, "You have a distorted image of Christ."

(4) Teenager is given a written gospel-themed sentence-completion test including "Prayer _______".

(5) Teenager, being cynical, gives the driest, most clinical response he can think of: "induces a state of psychocatharsis."

(6) Therapist reads answer, clucks his tongue, smiles thinly and shakes his head gently but scornfully without saying a word.

(7) Therefore, God exists.

Deacon Doubtmonger of Denver

"In any decently-run universe, this [God] would've been out on his all-powerful ass a long time ago." -- George Carlin