Spiritual Direction
Spiritual Direction is a unique one-on-one relationship of spiritual accompaniment between a director and directee (person receiving direction). In Spiritual Direction, the director accompanies the directee on their spiritual journey with the goal of helping the directee discover how God is present and active in their life. A Spiritual Direction relationship is on-going. As long as the relationship continues to be a good fit for both parties, the director continues to accompany the directee. The spiritual journey lasts our entire lives. There is no goal to finish Spiritual Direction - only for the directee to go ever deeper in a loving relationship with God and to receive spiritual accompaniment in all life stages.
Typically, the director and directee meet about once a month for an hour at a time. The directee shares whatever is on their heart with the director, and the director guides the directee in going deeper into their interior world - always with the ultimate goal of helping to foster greater intimacy between the directee and God. Common topics of discussion include life events, emotion, prayer, discernment, and one’s felt sense of God. The conversation can begin anywhere - with whatever feels important to the directee. The director listens, reflects, and helps the directee go deeper into their own experience of life and of God.
What is Spiritual Direction?
I completed Divine Mercy University’s Spiritual Direction Certificate Program in March of 2023. This program comprises six courses that cover topics such as the foundations of Spiritual Direction, human development and life stages, human relating skills, discernment, and prayer. I completed 60 hours of supervised practical training prior to graduating. I meet monthly with my own spiritual director to continue to deepen and develop my spiritual life. I meet with a trained supervisor to continue my learning and growth as a director and to ensure I provide the best possible care to my directees.
My Training
What Spiritual Direction Is … And Is Not
Spiritual Direction Is:
Accompaniment and guidance in the spiritual life
A long-term relationship, as long as it continues to be a good fit for both parties. The exception to this is receiving spiritual direction on retreats.
Focused on the directee and their relationship with God
A place for growth, healing, and exploration of one’s interior life.
Spiritual Direction Is Not:
Coaching - A coach helps someone reach specific goals. The relationship may be long or short-term and is focused on education.
Therapy or Counseling - While real and deep healing can happen in a Spiritual Direction relationship, the goals of therapy and Spiritual Direction are different. Psychological therapy has the goal of helping a person reach or maintain healthy psychological functioning. The goal of spiritual direction is to help a person grow in intimacy with God. The events, emotions, and challenges of a person’s life are perfectly welcome in a Spiritual Direction conversation. It is the responsibility of the director to discuss these topics in a way that both honors the directee as a whole person and honors the nature and purpose of the Spiritual Direction relationship. It is not uncommon for a director to refer a directee for therapy to ensure that the directee has the proper accompaniment they need to flourish in all areas of life.
Mentorship - A mentor helps someone by training them in a specific skill set and serving as a model for growth. Directees may benefit from witnessing a director’s faith, but in Spiritual Direction, the focus is not on the director but always remains on the directee and their relationship with God.
Pastoral Counseling - In pastoral counseling, a person brings a specific concern to a pastor or other leader in a faith community. This leader offers guidance and support in helping the person resolve or navigate the issue at hand. Typically, this is a short-term relationship.
Preparing to Receive Spiritual Direction
Not much preparation is needed to begin receiving Spiritual Direction. A desire to grow in friendship with God and a willingness to attend to one’s interior life are all that are needed to begin.
If you are considering receiving Spiritual Direction and want to learn more, please feel free to schedule a free 30-minute phone consult with Anna. This is a great space to express what you are looking for from Spiritual Direction, have your questions answered, and discern whether this is the right Spiritual Direction relationship for you.
The Spiritual Direction relationship is unique and personal. It is important for both director and directee to prayerfully discern whether the relationship is a good fit for them. It is also important that both parties feel they can engage in this relationship in complete freedom - being able to be their true and honest selves with one another and to engage fully in offering themselves in service of the directee’s relationship with God.