What is Spiritual Direction?

Also known as spiritual accompaniment

Spiritual Direction process of contemplative listening carried out in the context of a one-to-one trusting and confidential relationship. A trained spiritual director journeys with another person by listening to that person’s life story and experiences with an ear for the movement of the spirit, the presence of the sacred, and/or the insights that come from making deep meaningful connections. By offering supportive responses as appropriate and encouraging deepening reflection, clients can open up to new understandings and paths of growth. Spiritual accompaniment is typically conducted in monthly sessions that range from 45 - 60 minutes.

OFFERINGS

Still Harbor is in the midst of developing a Spiritual Director Directory. To help create spaciousness for development, Still Harbor will not be offering spiritual direction until the pilot program is launched.

Thank you for your patience, grace, and understanding.

Should you have any questions, ideas, or feedback to share - please email us at info@stillharbor.org.

Two people sit across a table from one another in conversation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why would I journey With a spiritual director?

There is not just one reason or an exact list as to why one would need to journey with a spiritual director. Spiritual accompaniment as a form for of spiritual care moves at the abundance of time and at the pace of the Spirit/Divine/God/Universe. At Still Harbor, we believe spiritual accompaniment relationships can be spaces where we can be honest about the impact our movements for collective liberation have on the wellbeing of our personhood. Grief, anger, rage, compassion, justice, joy, pleasure, heartbreak and apathy are all parts of being a person in this world, and are all parts of our spiritual life and wellbeing.

Spiritual accompaniment is a spiritual care offering that invites a trained practitioner to witness the honesty of ourselves with care, gentle curiosity, and compassionate reflection.

Here are some common conversation themes that occur in the context of a spiritual accompaniment relationship:

Needing a space to grieve, lament, and process change without moving to quick fix or problem solve
Contemplative conversation on a work of art or poetry
Feeling a need to be heard, seen, or witnessed
Asking questions of vocation and/or purpose in the world
Recognizing personal shifting in your spiritual beliefs
Reflecting on the presence of cycles and recurring spiritual themes
Seeking to understand personal and collective spiritual trauma
Building capacity for spiritual flexibility and resiliency

Is spiritual direction/accompaniment therapy?

No. Spiritual accompaniment can bring about beautiful kinds of spiritual healing, but it is not therapy.

Our spiritual directors are trained as compassionate listeners for the sacred/spiritual elements of life that emerge through your stories and experiences.

Our questions are intended to support you in deepening you own spiritual self-awareness, in uncovering your own inherent wisdom in connection to the sacred/spiritual/divine, and in developing your relationship with your spiritual beliefs and how they operate in your life.

Is it confidential?

Yes. Spiritual accompaniment is a confidential space for you to process and share. Our spiritual directors will be required to break confidentiality only in the event what you share indicates that you pose a direct threat to yourself or another or that you are aware of a child or elder being abused.