Spiritual direction is separate and distinct from other forms of individual support and guidance such as: counseling, psychotherapy, analysis, coaching, mentoring, or pastoral counseling. Spiritual direction is not typically problem centered but rather God centered. Thus, spiritual direction establishes a special relationship among the director, directee, and God, to help aid a directee in their relationships with God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), with themselves, and with others.
My role as a Christian spiritual director is to come alongside the directee with the desire for the directee to grow in discerning God’s love, presence, and direction in their life; and then to help the directee in their faith response to God’s love, presence, and direction.
The Holy Spirit is the true Spiritual Director. Therefore, it is my role as a spiritual director to listen with one ear to the directee while also listening to the movement of the Holy Spirit. Thus, I am seeking to uncover from the directee how they encounter God uniquely. Although teaching and instruction do occur, I typically observe and highlight what happens when the directee becomes aware of the presence of God in their lives, and how to foster continued intimacy and knowledge of God by considering what Christian spiritual practices might be incorporated into the directee's often newly found holy rhythm, whether daily, weekly, monthly, or annually. This is a process that is to be life-giving and restful rather than legalistic or burdensome.
