FAQs

I consider our time together sacred and firmly hold our conversations in strict confidence. Unless I am required by law, I will never reveal the content of our conversations. I may occasionally discuss our sessions with a supervisor so that I might learn how best to support you or others. However, confidentiality around your identity is always strictly maintained. 

I offer an introductory meeting at no charge.  An introductory meeting can help us mutually determine if the relationship seems like a good fit.

My rate is $65 per session after the introductory meeting. However, I never want finances to be a barrier to anyone in need of spiritual direction. If needed, we can discuss other rate options that are workable.

Sessions are one hour. It usually works well to meet every 4–5 weeks.  This rhythm provides space to reflect upon aspects of your life and to allow the Holy Spirit to continue to reveal more deeply and fully any insights or awarenesses between meetings. In certain circumstances, it may be beneficial to meet more or less often. We can decide together the frequency most helpful for you in this season of your journey.

Anything that is important to you!  No part of your life is irrelevant to our work together. Some examples of concerns others and I have brought to sessions include: where you are in your faith journey; where you’d like to be; difficult relationships that intersect with your life of faith; wondering where God is in certain situations; what to do with troubling emotions;  vocational discernment; hopes and dreams; fears and anxieties that seem to be impediments to spiritual growth; anger at God; griefs; wondering where God seems to be taking you; at a crossroads in work, relationships, or with God; leaving something familiar; welcoming something new; navigating a good or hard season of life; disappointments, burnout;  what delights you, challenges you. What you bring is really as unique as you are! Your whole life is your spiritual life; God is in every aspect of it and is interested in all of your life. We will also practice quiet together as we talk through the things on your heart. Pauses and silent prayers give space and clarity for new thoughts and questions to emerge or deepen.

The term “spiritual direction” can sound a bit misleading, even authoritarian. I recognize the true director is the Holy Spirit and together we are listening for the voice of love, the movements and revelations of the Spirit in your life. Let me assure you, I am certainly not directing or telling anyone what to do or how to live one’s life in different situations.  Rather, together, we are cultivating a listening posture for the voice and invitations of the Spirit in your sacred journey.

We are so fortunate in our time to have a variety of options available for healing and greater interpersonal wholeness through the helping professions. However, which avenue to take for your particular need can be confusing.

In general, the focus of counseling or therapy is a person’s relationship to her/himself and to others.  Counseling can be helpful when it becomes necessary to examine and heal unresolved wounds from family of origin issues that are showing up in the present. Or sometimes communication or behavioral issues threaten to undermine significant personal or work relationships and require new skills. A counselor or therapist can be helpful in these situations.   

The focus of coaching centers on helping a person set goals or overcome obstacles to achieving goals. Goals can be as varied as weight loss to career direction to improved relationships, and everything in between.

The focus of spiritual direction is on offering help for tuning into your soul and finding greater connectedness with God in the feelings and experiences of your life.

Other helping professions exist such as pastoral counseling, mentoring, discipling to name a few.  And often, people (myself included), have found spiritual direction in combination with another type of helping relationship to be fruitful in certain seasons.