How Therapy and Coaching Can Help—or Harm—Believers

Guest Post by Olivia Huffman, LMSW - Therapist & Executive Coach

Introduction by Debbie Simler-Goff

I first met Olivia Huffman at The Center for Apostolic Counseling’s Sound Mind Conference in Monroe, Louisiana earlier this year. She immediately struck me as warm, approachable, and overflowing with the Spirit of God. During the meet-and-greet, I felt drawn to her kind presence and later learned she wasn’t just an attendee—she serves in a leadership role at the Center and was one of the conference speakers.

What impressed me most was her transparent spirit and how quickly our hearts connected. As a licensed therapist, professional life coach, and ministry-minded leader, Olivia bridges the gap between clinical skill and Apostolic truth in a way that is both rare and refreshing. I knew right away I wanted her voice here at Pursuing Wholeness. This post is the result of that conversation.

Olivia’s Words

First, I want to thank Debbie for the opportunity to share a few words with her beautiful community. It’s an honor to be invited into your space and speak on a topic that’s deeply personal to me—how therapy and coaching can be both helpful and harmful for believers.

My Roots in Faith and Compassion

I was raised in a Pentecostal pastor’s home. My parents worked hard to give me and my siblings a safer, more stable upbringing than they had themselves—one marked by alcoholism and abuse. I’m incredibly grateful for that legacy of faith. But I’ve also learned that even when you’re raised in church by godly, loving parents, it doesn’t exempt you from the brokenness of this world.

As a young girl, I was deeply empathetic. I didn’t always know how to help, but I could feel others’ pain and wanted better for them. It wasn’t until after starting college that I felt drawn to social work. Since then, I’ve spent over 13 years in the helping profession as a social worker, therapist, and, more recently, an executive coach.

The Good in Therapy and Coaching

Throughout my journey, I’ve seen how therapy and coaching can be beautiful tools for believers. They can help us:

• Process pain in a safe, healthy environment

• Learn practical skills to manage emotions, relationships, and stress

• Gain clarity in our calling and rhythm in our daily lives

• Find support and accountability in making meaningful change

The Risks if We’re Not Careful

But I’ve also seen how therapy or coaching—when sought instead of walking closely with God—can become unhealthy. We risk looking to people or programs for answers that only God can give. It’s easy to fall into the trap of striving for wholeness without ever surrendering to the One who is wholeness.

Keeping Jesus at the Center

As believers, we must regularly return to the presence of God—to His Word, to prayer, to the stillness where He meets us. No coach or therapist, including me, can replace the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

This truth became even more real to me after a deeply personal loss. Several years ago, my father passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack while serving at his church. He loved God and people deeply. He gave and gave. His passing broke my heart—and it also opened my eyes.

A Calling Refined Through Loss

It reminded me that serving well must never come at the cost of your own well-being or your family’s. That realization birthed a new part of my calling: launching a coaching practice specifically for leaders. I work with pastors, entrepreneurs, and community leaders to help them serve with excellence—while also caring for their own minds, hearts, and homes.

Because burnout is real. But it’s not inevitable.

A Final Word of Encouragement

If you’re feeling stretched thin—or have forgotten it’s okay to tend to your soul—I hope you’ll hear this invitation:

“Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” — Galatians 6:2

This is one of the most beautiful aspects of therapy and coaching—when done in the right spirit. A good therapist or coach won’t try to take away all your problems, but they will walk alongside you. They’ll help you lift what feels too heavy to carry alone. They’ll offer support, perspective, and tools to help you navigate the weights and stresses of life—always pointing you back to the Source of true strength.

Let’s seek that rest. Let’s pursue healing. And let’s do it with Jesus at the center.

If this post has spoken to your heart, take a moment to connect with Ms. Huffman and explore the powerful resources she offers.

About Olivia Huffman

Olivia Huffman, LMSW is a licensed therapist, professional life coach, and leader with the Center for Apostolic Counseling. She brings over 13 years of experience in social work, counseling, and executive coaching, serving pastors, entrepreneurs, and community leaders nationwide. Olivia is passionate about blending evidence-based strategies with Apostolic truth to help people live, lead, and serve with both excellence and balance.

📍 Huffman Counseling Services, LLC – Grand Rapids, MI

📞 Phone: 616.209.8229 | 📠 Fax: 616.236.4253

🌐 counselingforgr.com

👍 Follow Ms. Huffman on Facebook: facebook.com/HuffmanCounselingServices

👁 Check out her incredible self-paced Anxiety Series: coachingforgr.thinkific.com/courses/ConquerAnxiety