Spiritual Direction
Do you seek to live more fully into the person God created you to be?
Are you seeking a deeper connection and encounter with God?
Have you given up (or perhaps silenced) your heart’s desires
for what pleases the world, or what’s become comfortable and familiar?
The following questions may be leading you to consider Spiritual Direction.
When you’re ready to take the next step, please fill out the Contact Form at the bottom of the page.
What is Spiritual Direction?
Spiritual direction - sometimes called spiritual companionship - is the practice of holding space for another person who is seeking to be transformed by moving from a formal to a more intimate relationship and connection with the God. At the heart of the work, spiritual direction helps people tell their sacred stories and lean into the transformational work happening in and through them.
Those who seek this service, typically feel drawn to discover more about the relationship between themselves and God. As they do, they discern more clearly the purpose for which they were created, and how they are being called to serve with their fully Beloved-by-God selves.
You may be someone who is questioning your faith and struggling to see how God is present in your life. Spiritual Direction is offered in a safe and nonjudgemental environment to individuals in every part of their faith journey. While my faith is expressed as a believer in Jesus Christ, I am open to walking with anyone on their faith journey.
Why is spiritual direction a good form of self-care for church leadership?
These days, pastors, church musicians, and worship leaders deal with conflict, crises, distractions, and work pressures in the context of an increasingly stressful and isolating secular culture. The Church itself is in a place of crucial change, and church leaders, who are on the front lines, need to care for themselves, so that they can serve God joyfully, wisely, and with integrity over the long haul.
Spiritual direction is a safe and confidential place where YOU will be heard, and accepted just as you are. It is a place where you do not have to be the pastor or leader, where you can attend to what is on your heart and mind before God, and begin to get clarity and perspective.
Spiritual direction offers the busy pastor or church musician a time and place to be cared for, to grasp the larger picture of life and ministry, and to reconnect with God’s love and wisdom for him or her as a child of God and follower of Jesus Christ.
Is spiritual direction only for pastors or church leaders?
No, spiritual direction is for all people. Those of us who see people for spiritual direction are glad to welcome and meet with anyone who is seriously seeking God in his or her life.
How do I find a spiritual director?
Ask friends, pastors, and other servant leaders if they know of spiritual directors they would recommend. Retreat centers, denominational offices, and seminaries often can give you names of spiritual directors, too. You may also find spiritual directors in your area by doing a simple website search that includes: spiritual direction and your city/state’s name, or nearest larger city. (Since spiritual direction is not about teaching a set of doctrines, you may very well find a helpful spiritual director outside your own denomination or tradition.)
Spiritual Directors International, an organization committed “to advancing spiritual direction around the world” has a listing of spiritual directors. Most spiritual directors work in person, but during this season of the coronavirus pandemic, most work with people via Zoom, Skype, FaceTime or phone.
Look for someone who is experienced and has had training that involved supervised work, but most of all find someone with whom you feel comfortable talking, who embodies a spirituality that feels authentic, caring, and helpful to you where you are now.
Many spiritual directors offer an initial consultation so you can get a sense of who they are, and how they might work with you. Any seasoned spiritual director will understand if you feel that it is not the right “match” for you at this time. Talk with him or her and see.
How long does a spiritual direction relationship last?
The spiritual direction relationship lasts as long as you want it to last. For some people spiritual direction is for a season, during a time of discernment or transition, for example. But for many people, it is part of their on-going self-care, a support for their own relationship with God – and it lasts a lifetime, though rarely with the same director. It is not a “quick fix” for the soul, but rather subtle and deep work in which transformation happens, gradually, over the long haul. What someone wants out of spiritual direction often determines how long the relationship lasts.
What is the difference between spiritual direction and pastoral counseling?
Although both of these are faith-based, the work and focus differ. Spiritual direction is focused on the movement of the Spirit of God in one’s life. The work involves paying attention to what God is doing, where God is leading, and noticing when God feels present or absent – all with the aim of knowing God better. It is about one’s desire for wholeness and purposefulness of life in God, and is focused on spiritual growth. Pastoral counseling, by contrast, is often problem-based. There is a presenting concern that needs to be “fixed,” unhealthy patterns that need to be changed, or psychological dynamics that need to be addressed, so that the person in question may lead a happier life. Sometimes both are needed or desired in a person’s life – in which case, a spiritual director may also recommend seeing a counselor or therapist, or taking a break from spiritual direction in order to address more pressing concerns.
Is there any kind of credential or certification for spiritual direction?
There is no official, universal certification for spiritual directors, and training programs vary in length, intensity, and focus. It is expected, but not required, that all practicing spiritual directors have had formal training, are in spiritual direction themselves, have a spiritual direction supervisor whom they see regularly, and have a genuine calling and charism (spiritual gift) for doing spiritual direction.
What is a spiritual direction experience like?
Spiritual direction is holy conversation. The traditional form for individuals is for a monthly (one hour session) where the individual seeking direction shares her or his personal encounters with God and explores a deeper and more intimate relationship with God and the spiritual nature of being human. The directee does most of the talking, while the role of the Spiritual Director is one of a holy listener and companion who may reflect back, asks questions, or offer an insight, image, or intuition while serving as a pointer to the work of the Holy Spirit - the true spiritual director - in the individual’s life. A skilled spiritual director will help you pay attention to the promptings and leading of the Spirit in your own heart and life. With a good match, the session is often infused with a sense of the sacred.
Tracy DePue is located in Little Rock, Arkansas and offers Spiritual Direction sessions via Zoom, FaceTime or phone.
How much does it cost?
It varies from director to director, and depends upon a variety of circumstances: whether or not it is the director’s primary vocation; the geographical area in which he or she is centered; and whether that person is otherwise supported by a religious order.
Spiritual Direction is my primary vocation and I am not supported by a religious order. My rate for spiritual direction sessions is based on a sliding scale: $50 - 100 per session. The sliding scale allows individuals to choose the amount that best matches their resources and reflects the value they place on this service and ministry.
Are there any resources if I want to find out more?
The official website for Spiritual Directors International, which has information about the field, is www.sdiworld.org. For other reading material, there are several books on spiritual direction. Two older classics on spiritual direction are Holy Listening by Margaret Guenther, and The Practice of Spiritual Direction by William Barry and Patrick Connelly. A newer book is Candlelight: Illuminating the Art of Spiritual Direction by Susan Phillips.
Tracy is a member of Spiritual Directors International - https://www.sdiworld.org, and has monthly meetings with her own spiritual director, as well as her supervisor.
Contact
If you have any questions, or would like to contact me for spiritual direction, please submit this contact form. Thanks!