Pastors Face Crisis, Yet Most Don’t Turn to Therapy

In recent years, pastors have become far more vocal about mental health. They encourage their congregations to seek counseling, speak openly about burnout, and acknowledge that faith and therapy can work hand-in-hand. According to a Lifeway survey, 90% of pastors say they actively encourage members of their congregation to pursue therapy when needed.

But there’s a striking gap between what pastors preach and what they practice: only 9% of pastors themselves see a counselor regularly.

This isn’t just a statistic. It’s a warning sign.

An Impossible Load

A recent Lifeway study revealed that 75% of pastors describe themselves as “extremely” or “very” stressed, and nearly one-third have seriously considered leaving ministry in the past year. The demands of pastoring are immense. In a single day, a pastor might prepare a sermon, counsel a couple in crisis, visit a hospital, mediate conflict, run staff meetings, and manage a church budget. Add to that the pressures of cultural polarization, online criticism, and the expectation to remain always available, and the toll becomes staggering.

Max Lucado, the well-known author and pastor, has shared candidly about his own battle with burnout. “I was that pastor who wanted to do everything just right and solve every problem,” he said in one interview. “I developed insomnia, and my wife was clinically depressed. I was a mess. I couldn’t sleep at night. I had no business being in the pulpit that day. I stood before the congregation and faked it I faked my faith, my strength, my smile.”

Lucado’s story echoes what many pastors quietly endure. Ministry is deeply rewarding, but it can also be isolating. When everyone looks to you for guidance and support, who do you turn to when you are the one in need?

The Stigma of Seeking Help

While most pastors today acknowledge that mental illness is real and treatable 87% say so in surveys few take the step of getting personal counseling. Fear of being seen as “weak,” concerns about job security, or the pressure to appear spiritually strong often keep pastors from seeking help. Vulnerability from the pulpit may be celebrated, but when a pastor’s own struggles surface in daily life, they’re often met with quiet scrutiny instead of understanding.

Instead of getting support, many pastors overfunction, working harder and longer, all while quietly unraveling. Burnout, contrary to popular belief, is not an overnight event. It’s a slow erosion marked by cynicism, emotional distance, fatigue, and a loss of joy. A pastor might still show up every Sunday, but inside, they’ve already checked out.

A Culture Problem

The crisis facing pastors isn’t only about leadership; it’s about church culture. A burned-out pastor can’t lead a healthy congregation, and churches that expect their leaders to operate without rest or emotional care set them up for collapse.

If therapy is encouraged for the congregation, it must be normalized for the pastor too. Church communities can play a critical role by creating safe spaces for pastors to be real, offering sabbaticals, supporting healthy work-life boundaries, and celebrating emotional well-being as much as spiritual discipline.

What can you do?

• Talk openly about counseling. Share your own experiences or positive views about therapy to help break the stigma.

• Encourage rest. A pastor taking a Sunday off isn’t a sign of weakness — it’s wisdom. Advocate for sabbaticals or extended rest when needed.

• Respect their humanity. Pastors have bad days, doubts, and personal struggles like anyone else. Listen without judgment when they share.

• Pay attention to signs of burnout. If your pastor seems withdrawn or exhausted, reach out with kindness and support instead of criticism.

• Offer practical help. Sometimes what pastors need most is someone to step in with meals, errands, or childcare so they can catch their breath.

Healing Begins with Honesty

As Max Lucado reflected on his recovery, he emphasized the power of admitting weakness: “The Holy Spirit came to me as a friend more with a whisper than a shout, and I began to sense strength in my day-to-day life.”

For pastors, healing doesn’t start with working harder it starts with admitting they need help. And for congregations, supporting a pastor’s well-being isn’t just an act of kindness. It’s an investment in the spiritual and emotional health of the entire church.

If the church is called to be a place of healing, it must first begin by helping those who are leading it. We can’t take away every burden, but we can make sure they’re not carrying it alone.

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