Spiritual Direction

No. Atheists, agnostics, and seekers of all identities find Spiritual Direction to be a window into understanding and claiming a deeper, more meaningful experience of life.

• Experience a profound sense of settledness in the midst of trying times
• Live with radical authenticity, where your values and your choices consistently align
• Experience connection with your body, with the earth, and with your fellow human being
• Discover spiritual practices that support your well-being
• Connect with and affirm your wholeness
• Hold onto hope when everything seems to be crumbling
• Cultivate a connection with the sacred, however you define it
• Discern where life is calling you at this stage of your life

• They offer deep listening which helps people find and follow their own spiritual path
• They ask insightful, open-ended questions that help people connect with their authentic selves
• They allow space for stillness and silence (contemplation) to help people become aware of what is deep within them
• They build trust and openness by being authentic, kind and open themselves
• They do not proselytize, nor seek to influence or convince, but instead walk alongside people as they make their individual and unique spiritual journeys
• They honor the free will and discernment of each human being, especially in spiritual matters
• They offer a mirror to those they companion so they may see themselves as whole beings if they so choose
• They help the people they accompany create a stronger relationship with self and others and God, or however they refer to the ground of all being.
• They hold themselves accountable to a supervisor, and community.
• They follow universal ethical principles, with the most important one being to “do no harm.”

In the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, we approach Spiritual Direction with 5 principles:

• Inclusive and Holistic: We are inclusive of all religious, non-religious and spiritual worldviews and welcome the full humanity and diversity of each person.  Spiritual Direction takes a holistic approach, recognizing the interconnected nature of mind, body, soul, the social, and the natural world. 
• Embodied: Our bodies and inner knowing contain deep wisdom and can be a source of insight.
• Spacious: Our priority in spiritual direction is to hold space for all that you are and all that you bring. We approach each session with curiosity, receptive to the divine spark or inner knowing within you. 
• Deep Listening: Deep listening is key to spiritual direction. This is what helps us ask powerful questions, hear the movements underneath your words, be present with you in pain, offer helpful images and analogies, and sit quietly as you discern your way forward.
• Equity-Centered, Trauma-Informed:  We seek to honor our multiple social identities and the histories and experiences that shape our lives.  Through deep listening and reflection, we aim to create space where histories and current experiences of inequity and harm can be tended and held.  Individual, historical and collective trauma impacts our body, mind, and spirit. While spiritual direction is not therapy, our approach to spiritual direction is deeply grounded in neuroscience and trauma-informed care.

• The goal of the 30 minute preliminary session is for you to meet the spiritual director and see if it feels like the right fit. Ask the director as many questions as you like about their approach, their spiritual background, etc.  You can also ask any questions about spiritual direction.

• The director may invite you to share about your background: spiritual path, family of origin, current life situation. Share as much or as little as you like.

• You may also wish to bring up a specific topic – a current question or concern of yours. This allows you to jump right into spiritual direction, and get a feel for the director’s style and presence.

• If you would like to continue, you can set up a time for a first session for spiritual direction.

• A typical session is one hour and takes place once a month. 

• You may be invited to a minute of silence, to settle into presence.

• You are invited to choose the topic. You can bring a variety of topics to discuss including your relationship with the sacred, career and life discernment, love & relationships, big questions about life, experiences of sexuality, gender, race, ability, economic challenges, spiritual crisis, or loss & death (to name a few).  If you are moved to do so, you are welcome to bring in a poem, song, quote or sacred text that is meaningful to you for reflection and conversation.

• Throughout the session, your spiritual director will hold the space through deep listening and thoughtful questions. Sometimes sacred or inspired texts and images or meditation, silence, and prayer may be used as part of a session, if helpful.

• You may want to meet with a director/companion once to discuss a particular issue or you may want to continue to meet monthly.  Your spiritual director may check in after a few sessions and ask for feedback. You are invited to regularly discern if this person is the best fit for the season of life you’re in. If not, you’re always welcome to switch to a new Spiritual Director or take a break.

Spiritual Direction welcomes a private and intimate conversation where folx are given the space, trust, and vulnerability to share in a way that feels safe and right for them. By nature of the spiritual director being employed by the university, they may be obligated to contact appropriate resources if there is an imminent threat to you or another person. This may include situations that involve, but are not limited to sexual assault, harassment, suicidality, and discrimination.

At times, Spiritual Direction may look or sound like therapy and vice versa but there are clear differences. While any part of our life can be the starting point for therapy or spiritual direction, the focus of the sessions is different. Therapy is designed to help you work on thoughts, emotions and behaviors that impact your life and relationships. You may explore your past to see how it has influenced who you are today. Therapy may be problem-solving and goal-oriented. If you are struggling or having a personal challenge in your life, therapy is designed to support your mental and emotional well-being.  

The main focus of spiritual direction is on your spiritual journey—your deep longings, sacred experiences and your response to what is holy and meaningful in your life.  Spiritual Direction takes an approach to recognize and honor the wholeness and completeness of an individual despite their difficulties and helps the individual integrate that complexity into their personal life. Most importantly, spiritual direction is not a substitute for a therapy or counseling relationship but can provide a beautiful compliment. You can contact Counseling and Psychological Services at La Verne for individual therapy.