Lies My Therapist Told Me

Why Christians Should Aim for More than Just Treating Symptoms

De: Greg E. Gifford

Narrado por: Greg E. Gifford, Todd Friel

"Few books combine theological precision with practical wisdom as skillfully as Lies My Therapist Told Me." — Jonny Ardavanis

From beloved Christian counselor, professor, and podcaster Greg Gifford comes a bold and balanced critique of the mental health establishment.

Too many people are caught in a vicious cycle of visiting every doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist, and therapist in their area only to find frustrating labels and numbing medications at the end of each path. Rather than eradicating anxiety in the same way vaccines conquered smallpox, the mental health establishment has seen the number of diagnoses and prescriptions skyrocket on its watch.

How did we get here? And does Christianity have any answers for this mental health crisis?

In Lies My Therapist Told Me, Dr. Greg Gifford delivers the definitive Christian critique of secular psychiatry and psychology. He shows how mental health culture spreads beliefs that misinform our understanding of ourselves and our issues, and he debunks popular myths such as:

• We feel and act the way we do because the body keeps the scores of trauma
• Addiction is a disease
• If you improve your brain health, your mind will follow
• Medications can heal your mind
• Every abnormal or sinful behavior is caused by a mental disorder

These ideas, though common, are ultimately unhelpful because they are based on unbiblical assumptions. Gifford brings clarity where secular therapy has created confusion, and offers hope even for those struggling with the hard cases. Through deep research, biblical teaching, and the inspiring stories of real counselees, he shows why we can’t blame the past—or even a diagnosis—for our bad behavior, and why our society’s growing unhappiness is not primarily a medical issue.

With a foreword by Todd Friel of Wretched Radio, this book is a must-listen for counselors and counselees alike. You can read all the mental health research in the world, but you still won’t learn God’s answers for winning the battles in your mind. Lies My Therapist Told Me is a powerful, cutting-edge argument that the supernatural wisdom of the Bible is truly enough for every need.

©2025 Greg E. Gifford (P)2025 HarperCollins Publishers

challenging

this goes against mainstream and all you are taught, I really liked it! He makes really good points.

A well researched book. Very helpful.

This is a very helpful book for practical info for counseling or even being counseled. The author knows his topic well and gives very good insight into so many areas to consider. Backed by scripture and gives clear explanation of what is behind therapy.

The Mind and the Brain

The distinction made between the mind and the brain was a revelation I had not considered before. It has truly helped me see the scriptures in a more biblical way. This is something all believers need to properly understand.

Excellent Book

I just finished this excellent book. Wow!!! I am so grateful for @gregegifford sharing with us his vast knowledge. More importantly, for him staying true to the word of God.

There is hope .. in Christ

Excellent book. I found much hope in the acknowledgment that as Christians we are not stuck in our “diagnosis”. Thank you for writing this book!

God timing is Perfect

The brain is not the mind
Stop making excuses that’s you can’t help but sin because that’s how you were wired.
Let Jesus Christ renew your mind.
This book has changed my thinking highly recommend
Praise the Lord Jesus Christ
Thank you GG

Very detailed and backed by scripture!

Loved the whole book. Gave me a lot to think about and will be sharing this book with others! Gave me a whole new perspective. I knew “mental health” culture had a lot wrong with it and this gave me clarity. Thanks for separating the brain from the mind!

Exceeded my expectations

This was an amazing book. I came in expecting it to be really good, as I've been listening to Dr Gifford's podcast Tranformed since it first started and he's held a conference at the Church I belong to. The book however, exceeded all my expectations. So much information that continued to point back to scripture being the source of truth and hope. If you are a human being you can benefit from the truths in this book. I'm looking forward to going through it for a second and third time. I know even after that I won't be able to retain all the hopeful truths it contains.

Buy this audiobook!!

One of the bes books I've read on this topic. I appreciated how Gifford didn’t attack therapy or dismiss us that benefit from it. However, he invited me to think more deeply about how we define the mind and healing.

Lasting change isn’t just about brain chemistry or behavioral strategies, it’s about the renewal of the mind through God’s Word. The book challenged cultural assumptions I hadn’t questioned before especially in approaching personal struggle, pain, and healing.

Again, I feel his goal is to equip Christians to think critically and faithfully about mental health language and solutions. He recenters the conversation around a biblical understanding by making the argument that the mind and the brain are not the same: the brain is physical, but the mind involves the whole person, accountable to God and capable of transformation through Spirit and truth. @timprattjr