Spiritual directionWhat is spiritual direction?
Janet Ruffing describes spiritual direction as a relationship in which one person helps another ‘with a personal understanding of the spiritual life, growth in self-knowledge, and deepening intimacy with God.’ (To Tell the Sacred Tale: Spiritual Direction and Narrative. New York, NY: Paulist Press, 2011, p. 2). In practical terms, it means meeting one-to-one, usually monthly, to talk about spiritual issues and to explore where God is in the midst of daily life and work. The term 'spiritual director' might suggest someone who is going to tell you how to live your spiritual life, but that is not how it works. Rather, the person who comes to spiritual direction decides what they want to talk about, and the director walks alongside as a companion and a co-discerner. This is something I both enjoy and find to be a great privilege. |
My spiritual direction practice
As noted on the home page, I did my spiritual direction training with Spiritual Growth Ministries and now help to train spiritual directors in this same programme. To ensure that I keep developing my own practice as a spiritual director I am committed to my own regular spiritual direction and supervision. I am also a member of the Association of Christian Spiritual Directors in New Zealand (ACSD) and Spiritual Directors International (SDI). I am not a counsellor, but I do incorporate some of the insights of narrative therapy in the way I work. That means treating each person's story as sacred and listening always for the presence of hope.
I am a Christian and belong to an Anglican church, but I am happy to work with all kinds of people from all kinds of spiritual backgrounds. There is a cost for spiritual direction and this is negotiable depending on people's circumstances.
If you would like to know more, or to meet to talk about the possibility of spiritual direction, please get in touch via the Contact page on this website.
As noted on the home page, I did my spiritual direction training with Spiritual Growth Ministries and now help to train spiritual directors in this same programme. To ensure that I keep developing my own practice as a spiritual director I am committed to my own regular spiritual direction and supervision. I am also a member of the Association of Christian Spiritual Directors in New Zealand (ACSD) and Spiritual Directors International (SDI). I am not a counsellor, but I do incorporate some of the insights of narrative therapy in the way I work. That means treating each person's story as sacred and listening always for the presence of hope.
I am a Christian and belong to an Anglican church, but I am happy to work with all kinds of people from all kinds of spiritual backgrounds. There is a cost for spiritual direction and this is negotiable depending on people's circumstances.
If you would like to know more, or to meet to talk about the possibility of spiritual direction, please get in touch via the Contact page on this website.