Do You Need Therapy, Prayer, or Both? | Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Bonaventure Chapman

September 13, 2026

Is It Spiritual or Psychological? Faith and Mental Health

How should Catholics approach mental health, therapy, depression, and anxiety while taking the spiritual life seriously?

In this episode of Godsplaining, Fr. Bonaventure Chapman and Fr. Gregory Pine explore the relationship between mental health and the Catholic faith. They consider how the physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual dimensions of the human person are distinct but deeply interconnected, and why understanding those distinctions matters when seeking help.

The friars discuss when someone might benefit from a therapist or clinician, when spiritual direction or pastoral counsel may be appropriate, and why these forms of care don’t have to compete. They also examine the importance of family, friendship, and Christian community in recognizing when a struggle is limiting our freedom and may require additional support.

Finally, they address the Christian desire for healing alongside the reality that some struggles may need to be managed rather than completely resolved. Our lives do not begin after we’ve fixed everything that’s wrong. Even amid psychological or emotional suffering, the Christian remains capable of receiving grace, loving others, and encountering God.