Can Spiritual Direction Be the Direction You're Seeking?

After first hearing about spiritual direction from our pastor friend, Dave in 2009, I’ve been in spiritual direction since that time and have now become a Spiritual Director. Can spiritual direction be right for you?

What is Spiritual Direction?

When you want to better your physical health, you will seek the expertise of a nutritionist or personal trainer.

When you want to change your mindset, overcome habits that don’t serve you, become more successful in your career or business, or attend to your mental health, you will seek out a coach, counselor, or therapist.

When dealing with matters of the heart, not the physical heart, but those inner yearnings or desires to have an intimate relationship with God and to become all that God created you to be, the person for that is a Spiritual Director.

SPIRITUAL: It’s focused on God’s Spirit within you and discerning God’s direction in your life.

DIRECTION: Implies that you are headed somewhere. Directors help their directees pay attention to the movement of God in their lives and in the world through the actual direction of the Holy Spirit.

Why Meet with a Spiritual Director?

We all face challenges in our lives. During these times, it’s important to lean on God for direction, peace, and comfort.

Then there are times when the yearning for God and to truly know God in a deeper way becomes great. It is helpful to have someone to walk beside you that is on the spiritual path.

Areas where spiritual direction can help:

Experiencing God’s presence in talking to and listening to God
A change in career or in a work environment
Retirement or wanting to discern God’s direction in your next stage in life
To turn your head knowledge of God to heart knowledge
Finding blocks that are keeping you from an intimate relationship with God or experiencing the joy that Jesus promises
Discerning God’s will for your life
If you are feeling stuck and don't know why
Learn to abide in Christ instead of stressing and striving

What Spiritual Direction is Not

Spiritual direction is not coaching, although your spiritual director is there to support you. Your director will listen and ask questions, directing you to seek answers from God through prayer, journaling, and scripture. They may recommend reading or other resources to explore.

Spiritual direction is not psychotherapy. Psychotherapy focuses on problem resolution. Progress is based on a change of symptoms such as mood improvement, improved stress management, and higher self-esteem.

However, through prayer and openness to God’s Spirit, you may uncover unconscious psychological dynamics that may impede or restrict spiritual growth.

Psychotherapy focuses on developing a healthy sense of self, confidence, and independence. Spiritual direction also looks to wholeness but focuses on identity being fully realized as a child of God.

How Long Do You Participate in Spiritual Direction?

The choice is up to you. Spiritual direction may go on for a few months or it can be on-going.

Sessions are 50-60 minutes. At the start of the relationship, you may meet every other week. Typically, you meet once a month unless you feel the desire or need to meet more or less often.

Personally, I have been seeing a Spiritual Director for 12 years. Just like working out or walking my dog, spiritual direction has been an important part of my self-care and spiritual well-being.

The results have been so transformative in how I respond to so many challenges in my life and in my relationship with God, that I felt God’s call to become a Spiritual Director. It’s important to note that the true Director in spiritual direction is the Holy Spirit.

Just like it’s important to choose the right personal trainer, coach, or therapist, it’s important to choose a Spiritual Director that you connect with.

Where Do You Meet for Spiritual Direction?

One of the blessings from the pandemic was the use of Zoom for meetings. My directees are in other states and different parts of the world.

If you live in the St. Louis area, we can meet in person. But many people like the simplicity of Zoom because it eliminates the need to spend time driving.

Spiritual Direction Certification and Qualifications

*Stephen Ministers are lay congregation members trained to provide one-to-one care to those experiencing a difficult time in life, such as grief, divorce, job loss, chronic or terminal illness, or relocation.

Stephen Leaders train Stephen Ministers and direct Stephen Ministry in a congregation.

Life Experience

While a lady is never supposed to reveal her age ; ), I am in my late 60’s. Did I type that out loud? : ) With age comes experience, healing, and wisdom. Because of this experience, I am able to listen and empathize with a compassionate heart to many of the challenges people face in their life.

30 years in the corporate world in sales, advertising, management, and consulting
Child of an alcoholic
Overcame an eating disorder
Was hurt by the church and turned away from my faith for 20 years
Divorce
Mother to a child on the spectrum
Was a full-time caregiver to my husband with Parkinson's/Dementia who has since passed away
Am a big fan of using the Enneagram in spiritual work

I am a member of First Presbyterian Church of Kirkwood, Missouri, however, I companion with others of various faiths in Spiritual Direction.

If you feel a yearning to connect more deeply with God, to experience God’s movement in your life, to have greater clarity and direction, then spiritual direction may help. Schedule a complimentary call with me. Let’s explore together if spiritual direction is right for you.