Lies My Therapist Told Me

“People visit therapists because they want change, but below the surface are important questions about definitions of problems and methods of effecting change. With competence and compassion, Greg Gifford skillfully identifies distinctions between solutions offered by various therapeutic methods and the answers in the Bible. Whether or not you come to this discussion with faith, you should consider the important comparisons found in this book. Modern psychiatry can seem mysterious. Having the curtain lifted will help you understand the nature of the problem so that you can move towards the best solutions.” – John Crotts, Pastor of Faith Bible Church, Sharpsburg, GA; author of Hope: Living Confidently in God; host of the Integrated podcast

“In this age of science and medical intervention, there is much confusion in the culture, and unfortunately in the Church, on the topic known as ‘mental illness.’ Dr. Gifford offers much-needed wisdom on the topic. His thoughts are well-balanced to the truth of Scripture and the issues of science. This book is a must-read to better understand being human, both body and soul.” – Lee Edmonds, MD; Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons (Retired); Chief of Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine, Bassett Healthcare (Retired)

“Few books combine theological precision with practical wisdom as skillfully as Lies My Therapist Told Me. Dr. Greg Gifford’s careful analysis cuts through the fog of contemporary mental health discourse. Rather than merely critiquing secular approaches, this book provides a robust, hope-filled biblical alternative for those seeking true transformation rather than symptom management. Gifford demonstrates that God’s Word speaks authoritatively and sufficiently to our deepest inner struggles, showing us that Christ offers more than coping mechanisms –He offers true renewal of the mind. This is an essential resource for navigating mental health issues with biblical faithfulness.” – Jonny Ardavanis, Pastor of Stonebridge Bible Church, Nashville, TN; author, Consider the Lilies: Finding Perfect Peace in the Character of God

“The Church has needed this book for decades. With compassion, sympathy, and above all biblical clarity, Greg Gifford demonstrates that in so many cases, what we are suffering from are not psychological ailments, but spiritual ones. And we go on suffering because we fail to turn to the Great Physician. Lies My Therapist Told Me offers a courageous and convincing case that God’s Word is the balm that heals the deepest afflictions of the mind.” – Megan Basham, Culture Reporter for The Daily Wire, and New York Times bestselling author of Shepherds for Sale: How Evangelical Leaders Traded the Truth for a Leftist Agenda

“This well-researched book makes an important contribution to the biblical counseling movement. Greg Gifford seeks to help Christian counselors correctly identify the spiritual issues behind their counselees’ struggles along with biblical solutions. I highly recommend this book and plan to commend it to my students.” – Jim Newheiser, Professor of Christian Counseling and Pastoral Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte; Executive Director, The Institute for Biblical Counseling and Discipleship

“We are surrounded by a therapeutic culture that represents one of the most dangerous and seductive powers of this age. We should be thankful for convictional voices who are pressing back on the regime of the therapeutic and the ideologies of the self in order to direct Christians to the only source of true wisdom and wholeness: the gospel of Jesus Christ and the unsearchable riches of Scripture. I’m thankful to Greg Gifford for pressing back and pointing forward in just this way.” – R. Albert Mohler, Jr., President, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

“Gifford cuts through the confusion raging over the mind and brain while demonstrating how the treasures of wisdom and knowledge found in our Lord Jesus Christ are sufficient and strong to rescue us from deep and dark affliction. Lies My Therapist Told Me will grow your discernment in a confusing world. This book will be helpful, and we need a hundred more like it!” – T. Dale Johnson, Jr., Executive Director of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC); Professor of Biblical Counseling at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; co-host of the Transformed TV series; host of the Truth in Love podcast

“Lies My Therapist Told Me will be the definitive book on the problems with secular psychology. Greg Gifford not only exposes the barren wasteland of secular therapy, but he also provides the cure. He points to Jesus Christ and His sacred Word as the rich soil out of which all faithful counseling grows.” – Heath Lambert, Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church Jacksonville; author of The Great Love of God: Encountering God’s Heart for a Hostile World

“Lies My Therapist Told Me offers a bold and thought-provoking critique of the secular mental health paradigm. It’s incredibly helpful and will undoubtedly be a great resource for many. The world may have limits on what it can heal, but Jesus has none.” – Shelbi Cullen, Assistant Professor of Biblical Counseling and Women’s Ministries at The Master’s University; co-host of the Women’s Hope podcast

“Lies My Therapist Told Me is more than just a book; it is a thoroughly biblical masterpiece and a must-read for anyone seeking clarity and God-glorifying sanity in a world gone mad.” – Emeal (E.Z.) Zwayne, President of Living Waters and author of Fight Like a Man: A Bold, Biblical Battle Plan for Personal Purity

“This book explains how therapy has often become a substitute for Biblical teaching about sin, repentance, and the renewing of the mind. Rather than experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit, Christians today frequently rely on humanistic solutions that offer no real help for the soul. Be prepared to take a deep dive into some controversial issues that relate to the distinction between the mind and the brain and how our reliance on drugs can at best cure only the symptoms of a deeper malady.” – Erwin W. Lutzer, Pastor Emeritus, Moody Church, Chicago

“Spiritual infirmities cannot be cured with psychotropic drugs. The guilt and dysfunction with which sin has marred the human soul is not fundamentally a medical issue. Those are truths which the atheistic, materialistic worldview that now dominates our culture cannot comprehend. Dr. Greg Gifford unpacks these truths in careful detail, with extraordinary clarity, and biblical insight in Lies My Therapist Told Me. This is an extremely helpful answer to the so-called ‘mental health epidemic.’ I highly recommend it. – Phil Johnson, Executive Director, Grace to You

“While certain issues can stem from the brain, Gifford–with wit, clarity, and pastoral care–reminds us that Christians can renew their mind, be transformed, and have true freedom instead of being enslaved to sin just as the Bible commands. In an age of mental health and therapy, this is a must-read for Christian discernment.” – Abner Chou, President, The Master’s University and Seminary

“We live in a day that talks incessantly about ‘mental health’ and ‘mental illness’ while still not understanding these issues clearly or deeply. Greg Gifford writes with clarity, compassion, and depth as he points the way back to real hope and help. And thankfully, Greg doesn’t just write about the people who’ve been trapped in this secular model; he writes to them with a pastor’s heart that longs for them to experience something better. This book is not simply about what he’s against. It’s a biblical foundation and framework for something he believes can transform your life. Buy it. Read it. Give it away to others.” – Brad Bigney, Pastor of Grace Fellowship Church, Florence, KY; author of Gospel Treason: Betraying the Gospel with Hidden Idols; host of the Thrive marriage and parenting podcast

Greg E. Gifford is the host of the Transformed podcast and television series, the Chair of the School of Biblical Studies at The Master’s University, and a fellow at Fortis Institute. He is also the Pastor of Counseling at Faith Community Church in Santa Clarita, CA. He holds a PhD in Biblical Counseling from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, an MA in Biblical Counseling from The Master’s University, and a BA in Pastoral Ministry from Baptist Bible College. He served as a captain in the United States Army from 2008-2012 and is the author of Helping Your Family Through PTSD and Heart & Habits, which won the Biblical Counseling Book of the Year for 2021. He is married to his high school sweetheart, and they reside in California with their three sons.

Todd Friel is the host of Wretched TV and Radio and the Executive Director of Fortis Institute. He has authored five books, five evangelistic booklets, and has produced of over two dozen Bible study courses.