Pastoral Care and Spiritual Direction

What is Spiritual Direction?

Spiritual Direction is listening, reflecting, and creating a safe space for another person. It is companioning with someone on their journey with God and helping them see where God is already working in their lives' mundane and sometimes spectacular events.
In spiritual direction, the Spiritual Director has the gift of creating sacred space for another to discover how they can live fully alive, or as Jesus puts it, how to live an abundant life.
Benner speaks to the human condition when he says, "…we are alarmingly capable of being less than fully human." (Benner, Soulful Spirituality, 27.) We are all, without voices, influences, friendships, and companions, capable of being less than who we were meant to be. The "why" of spiritual direction is that we, as people, need help to become aware of who we truly are and who we are called to be.
Spiritual Direction sessions with Amy:
Once a month we meet for an hour to pause and listen for God together. Spiritual direction is a sacred space for you to share your journey, and for me to listen with you, pray with you, and gently reflect back where I notice the Spirit at work. It’s not about advice or fixing, but about creating space to notice God’s presence and invitations in your life.

What is Pastoral Counseling?

Similar to Spiritual Direction, Pastoral Counseling also aims to create a safe space for a client.
There is a companioning piece, but pastoral care is focused on a problem or an issue that a client is wanting to work on. This can be relational, emotional, or spiriutal. (Or usually all of them together!)
This is not regular counseling, as I am a pastor and not a certified counselor. Sessions will be Jesus-focused, with inner healing and discipleship. There will be prayer through things that are brought up, as I believe the most change occurs when someone encounters Jesus, not just me!
The goal is the same in both Spiritual Direction and Pastoral Care: that the client would discover how they can live fully alive in light of what Jesus has already done for them.
Pastoral Care sessions with Amy:
Pastoral care sessions are usually more frequent than spiritual direction and focus on walking with you through specific concerns or life situations. These meetings give space for prayer, support, and guidance as you work through what’s in front of you. Unlike spiritual direction, pastoral care often has a natural end point once the particular need has been addressed.

Contact Amy