What is spiritual direction?

Spiritual direction is an ancient religious service dating back long before the advent of Christianity. People have always sought out assistance with their spiritual lives from sages experienced in and conscientious of personal journeys. All of the world's great religious traditions delineate a path of some sort that leads to greater union with the Ultimate, one's God, the Universe, or a Higher Power. In Christianity, Jesus demonstrated the path of dying to one's old worldly self and rising to new life in Christ with greater unity with God, self, and neighbor. All spiritual directors are commissioned to be companions with a patron for a time as the patron progresses into deeper relationship with the sacred. The spiritual director simply helps facilitate a relationship that has always existed between God and the human person. Non-theistic spiritual direction essentially focuses on the spiritual aspects of the patron in relation to humanistic values.

Why should I pursue a spiritual direction relationship?

Spiritual direction helps persons notice and respond more openly and consciously to the interior movements of Reality in their everyday lives and to grow in closer relationship with their Creator or Higher Values. Our patrons become more self-aware, centered individuals who understand and trust their own life experience to know the Ultimate better as a living reality in their everyday lives. Spiritual direction can be a rich, transformative, and life-giving experience.

How does personal spiritual direction work?

You'll meet one-one-one with your spiritual director generally once a month. The purpose of spiritual direction is to help facilitate and deepen a person's relationship with God. Most patrons work with their spiritual director to co-discern or sort out felt experiences of God and God’s callings in the concreteness of their lives. You may talk about your experiences in prayer or lack thereof, current life issues and directions to choose, your inspirations, what you aspire to do, knowing better who you are most deeply, your sense of vocation or mission in the world, or the general direction of your life. Your spiritual director is knowledgeable about how the Spirit works in people lives and will ask questions or draw insights to help you know how the Universe is speaking to you. Your spiritual director will listen attentively, offer support, challenge you, help to deepen your own awareness, clarify perspectives, and invite you into deeper union with the Holy.

When do we meet?

Generally, patrons will meet with their spiritual director on a monthly basis, depending on their needs. Meetings are spread out so that the person has the "food stuff" to discuss with his or her spiritual director. Usually, it takes time, experience, and intentional reflection to see the Spirit moving in one's life. Reflecting on this experience with your spiritual director helps deepen your relationship with the Spirit.

Is spiritual direction only for Christians?

Not necessarily. Many LGBT people often seek the Spirit by a variety of means. Traditionally, spiritual direction helps people who experience a relationship with a personal God. Spiritual direction focuses on the lived experience between the patron and his or her God. Organized religion, theology, and one's religious tradition - while important - come secondary in the spiritual direction relationship. Spiritual direction typically assumes that a person believes in and relates to the Spirit as a living reality. Ideally, spiriutal directors will meet their clients where they are on their own spiritual journeys.

How much does spiritual direction cost?

Some people will find spiritual directors who will minister to them at no charge. However, individual spiritual direction "rates" or suggested donations range from $25/session up to $100/session for each one-hour (monthly) meeting with your spiritual director. Generally, it's customary to pay $40-$50/session.

What credentials do spiritual directors possess?

The qualifications of a spiritual director vary greatly. Some hold religious degree, may be ordained as official "religious" of some order, or he or she may be a "lay" minister. There are no state licensure or any kind of certification requirements to be a spiritual director, although there are professional standards. Members of Spiritual Directors International ascribe to its Code of Ethics. Good spiritual directors will have their own spiritual director and will engage in individual or group supervision. Additionally, spiritual directors usually complete an experiential diploma, certificate, or internship program.

How does spiritual direction differ from psychotherapy?

Psychotherapists provide valuable mental health care services for people experiencing adjustment, emotional, or psychiatric problems. Their focus generally is on working with people who seek mental health and wellness and to overcome troubling personal experiences. By contrast, spiritual direction focuses on the person's spiritual life with the sacred. Spiritual direction is informed by proven psychological principles, especially with respect to human psychological development, but spiritual direction is not psychotherapy. If therapy may be in your interest as an alternative or complimentary service, we’ll help you find the right professional.