Creative Spiritual Direction
Spiritual Direction Agreement
This is a companion relationship designed to support you as you pay attention to your inner life. To encourage you in your discernment of God’s presence and action in your spiritual journey and listen to the Sacred’s movements in your soul. The director doesn't actually do much directing, but rather, helps you focus your attention and awareness. A spiritual director is a person who has experience in the spiritual journey and is willing to be in service to a person’s desire to open to and recognize the presence of the Divine (God/Spirit/Source) in their life.
Our Spiritual Direction Agreement
1. Spiritual direction is not therapy, counseling, mental health care, or treatment for substance abuse. The director is not functioning as a licensed mental health professional and spiritual direction is not intended as a replacement for counseling, psychiatric interventions, treatment for mental illness, recovery from past abuse, professional medical advice, financial assistance or advice, legal counsel, or other professional services.
2. Spiritual Direction is an ongoing relationship for a season, months, and sometimes years, although either person can bring the relationship to an end at any time. This is a spiritual practice, and not simply one or two meetings when someone is experiencing a spiritual crisis. There is no binding obligation to continue sessions if either person doesn’t believe it is a correct fit. We both agree to have one final (no fee) meeting together to honor and bring the formal relationship to a close.
3. Spiritual Direction sessions can and may involve periods of extended silence, meditation, prayer, listening, identifying plans of action, and questioning currently held beliefs.
4. Spiritual Direction is a confidential relationship and the director agrees to keep all information strictly confidential, except in those situations in which such confidentiality would violate the law or could jeopardize the safety of the client or others. The Spiritual Director is required to report suspected cases of child or elder abuse. Also, professional ethics regarding confidentiality require spiritual directors to report imminent self-endangerment (suicide) or harm to others.
5. Each meeting will last approximately 60 minutes. We commit to beginning and ending our sessions on time. If you wish to change your appointment, you will let me know at least 24 in advance by text, phone message, or email. Without this notice, you will pay for the appointment time. Understandably emergencies are the only exception. I will send an appointment reminder several days in advance giving us both a chance to reschedule if needed.
7. A session fee of $70 is payable in advance of each session by check, Venmo, PayPal, or Zelle. This fee is guaranteed for at least 12 months.
Venmo:
PayPal:
Zelle:
What to expect in a typical session:
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We engage in silence, centering & grounding active listening, and a prayerful posture throughout the session.
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The directee will be prepared to share what they want to bring to the session - it may be a thought, a question, a concern, a prayer, a pain, as it relates to their life and in particular, their spiritual life.
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The Spiritual Director will be attentive, listen deeply, mirror & echo back to the directee, ask questions, and provide support in service to the person’s soul journey.
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A session may include engaging in contemplative practices to support the directee in their journey.
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Resources will often be suggested or provided that can be used in between sessions.
Annie Gustely. 111 Dogwood Drive, Black Mountain, NC 28711
Phone:
AGREEMENT FORM (Please complete and submit)
Name
Address
Phone
Text:
I have read and understand the Agreement Form and give my consent to begin Spiritual Direction under these terms
Sign _________________________
Date_________________________