Who uses spiritual direction?
Anyone longing to become more aware of God’s presence and how to discern where that presence is leading them. There is no prerequisite for coming to spiritual direction. If you desire it, then it is for you.

What kinds of experiences do people talk about in spiritual direction?
People frequently come wondering “where is God in all this busy-ness of my life?” Some have had powerful spiritual experiences and want to talk to someone who will take them seriously. Others come needing to make a crucial decision in their life and want assistance in prayer and discernment. Some people come because their relationship with God feels stale and they want to work on that–others come because their relationship with God is growing and they want to savor and celebrate that.

How are spiritual directors trained?
Many spiritual directors have been through formation and training programs. These programs vary in length, requirements and structure. Teresa has created a new form of training with The Apprentice Training Program of the Phoenix Center for Spiritual Direction. Teresa received her Diploma in the Art of Spiritual Direction while in seminary at San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo, CA. Some spiritual directors have had no formal training but have been doing spiritual direction for many years as part of their life’s ministry.

What is the certification process for spiritual directors? 
There is no standard certification for spiritual directors either here in the U.S. or anywhere in the world. Most training programs offer certificates of completion, but those do not guarantee that a person is a good spiritual director. Only God can truly certify a spiritual director. So when choosing a director, look for someone you resonate with, someone who listens well, a person who has an active commitment to prayer and meditation, and someone who helps you find the wisdom God has given you–within you.

What if I am not religious but want spiritual direction?
You are welcome in spiritual direction. In fact, more and more of you are seeking spiritual direction these days! No spiritual director worth the title is going to push you to affiliate with any particular religious tradition. We are about listening to your sacred story, not pushing you one way or another. If you find yourself in direction with someone who is judgmental or pushy, get out immediately. Spiritual direction is about freedom, not conformity. In addition, if God-language or religious terminology turns you off, just tell your spiritual director and they will do their best to use language that fits your experience.

How is spiritual direction different from therapy or pastoral counseling?
It’s quite different. First of all, spiritual directors are not trained in psychotherapy or counseling (unless you encounter one who is trained to do both) so we do not diagnose or attempt to “fix” anyone’s problems. We focus on God, spiritual energy and discernment. So if you are seeking to understand why you behave in a certain way or begin to ask for advice around a life problem, you need to see a therapist or counselor. We do, however, see lots of people who are in therapy. Spiritual direction seems to complement psychological counseling, but it is never a substitute for it. Also as many people know, some counselor sessions are covered by health insurance whereas spiritual direction is not.

What if I want to be in spiritual direction, but I’m not sure you’re the person for me?
No problem. Not every spiritual director is for every person. You may be looking for a man, or a person who is ordained within a certain religious tradition, or perhaps you want a spiritual director who also wears an additional hat, such as energy healer or pastoral counselor. There are lots of different spiritual directors out there. Seek and you shall find! In fact, check out the Spiritual Directors International website’s “seek and find” feature at www.sdiworld.org for starters. Remember, many spiritual directors do work by phone or skype so you are no longer geographically bound in your search for a spiritual director.

To make an appointment call 520-971-4724 or email me at teresa@teresablythe.net.