Spiritual Direction Agreement
This information is intended to provide a general overview as to how we will work together in the process of spiritual direction
What is spiritual direction?
The one who is receiving direction is called a Directee – and the one giving direction is called a Spiritual Director. When a Directee engages in Spiritual Direction, he/she receives help discerning how God is speaking to him/her, how to respond to Him, and how to live out his/her relationship with Him.
The purpose of Individual Spiritual Direction is to help you grow in your capacity to relate to God. Therefore, the conversation between a directee and spiritual director shall be centered on your relationship with God. Spiritual direction session shall be a time, to grow in your capacity to relate to God, discern how the Holy Ghost is speaking to you, discern the direction and actions of the Holy Ghost in your life as a directee.
Our Relationship
You are meeting online or by phone with me as your spiritual director because you want to examine and develop your spiritual life. Spiritual direction is a contemplative practice of helping another person or group to awaken to the mystery of God in all of life, and to respond to that discovery in a growing relationship of freedom and commitment. As a spiritual director, I recognize that God has called each person into being through God’s own love and God desires to
be the true Director and Guide for each soul. Through prayer and reflective listening, I will serve as the human spiritual companion – a Spiritual Director to help you discern the work of the Spirit in your life.
Although I believe it is appropriate at times to discuss psychological and relational difficulties in the context of spiritual direction, I am not providing services as a psychotherapist. Similarly, you may recognize that spiritual direction is not financial advice and any decisions and actions you may take in that regard are done without my advice or recommendation and are purely your responsibility.
Disclaimer and Referral
The stance of Spiritual Direction is different than and should not be a substitute for medical care or professional counseling. Therefore, for the best interest of you, if at any point in time the content of our conversation goes beyond the scope of spiritual direction, outside counsel will be refereed.
Spiritual Direction vs Therapy
Spiritual Direction allows you to focus on and look for God’s activity in your life, presently and in the past. It is important to understand that spiritual direction is not psychotherapy nor is it a substitute for therapy. It can be useful to consider the differences between the two before engaging in a spiritual direction to determine which service would best meet your needs:
Spiritual Direction:
- Less formal; collaborative partnership between you, your spiritual director, and God
- Current and past focused
- Focus on attending: aims to answer the question “where is God at work in you life presently?” and “how has God been at work in your life in the past?”
- May not diagnose or treat mental illness or disorder
- Not regulated by any government agency
- No license or certification required, but your spiritual director has a graduate degree in clinical mental health counseling and extensive theological experience
- Information shared is considered private
- Directee is encouraged to let go of the ego
- Directee is encouraged to move toward surrendering to the Spirit
- Detach from harmful behavioral patterns
- Focus on a personal interaction with God
- Discovery of spiritual wisdom
- Spiritual transformation
Psychotherapy:
- More formal; “expert-patient” relationship
- Often past-focused and reactive
- Focus on healing: overcoming problems, resolving issues causing past or current emotional pain or impaired functioning
- Includes the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of mental illness or disorder
- Regulated by state and local government agencies
- License and/or certification required to practice
- Information shared is confidential and legally protected
- Developing ego
- Changing behavioral patterns
- Focus of interaction between the therapist and client
- Challenge of misperception
- Change
Confidentiality
As your Spiritual Director, I will hold our conversations in strict confidence, regarding our time together as sacred, whether they are by telephone, online media, or email. I will not reveal the content of our conversations unless I am required to do so by law or court order. On the other hand, you are free to share whatever you choose about our conversations with anyone.
Technology
There are unique limitations to engaging in Spiritual Direction online as opposed to in person. You must recognize and accept these limitations. You also agree that as your spiritual director, I cannot be held responsible for breaches in provision of services that are due to phone or
computer malfunction, loss of electricity or internet connectivity
Fee
Spiritual Direction is both a ministry and a professional service. The first session shall be free. A fee range schedule will be discussed at our first meeting. The normal fee per one-hour session is payable at the beginning of the session. This amount is guaranteed for at least 12 months. A person’s inability to pay will not be an obstacle to his or her opportunity to participate in this ministry. In the case that the normal rate would prohibit you from taking spiritual direction, we will work out a rate you can afford. We will agree upon the amount before our first session. You can pay electronically or by check.
Time of Sessions and Changes
We commit to begin and end our sessions on time. If you wish to change your appointment, you will let me know at least 24 hours in advance by emailing me and calling me as well. Without this
advance notice, you will pay for the appointment time. I will not call or send you reminders for the sessions. Although we agree to a monthly, 60-minute session, you may desire to meet more frequently or
for a longer session periodically, and that is fine, if we schedule in advance. If you would
like to share a success or a problem with me in between sessions, you may contact me via email, text, or leave me a voice mail message. I do not bill for additional time of this type, but do not make it too long.
Spiritual Direction in Marriage and Family Agreement
This information is intended to provide a general overview as to how we will work together in the process of spiritual direction
What is spiritual direction?
The one who is receiving direction is called a Directee – and the one giving direction is called a Spiritual Director. When a Directee engages in Spiritual Direction, he/she receives help discerning how God is speaking to him/her, how to respond to Him, and how to live out his/her relationship with Him.
The purpose of Individual Spiritual Direction is to help you grow in your capacity to relate to God. Therefore, the conversation between a directee and spiritual director shall be centered on your relationship with God. Spiritual direction session shall be a time, to grow in your capacity to relate to God, discern how the Holy Ghost is speaking to about your marriage and family, discern the direction and actions of the Holy Ghost in your marriage and family life as directee (s).
Our Relationship
You are meeting online or by phone with me as your spiritual director because you want to examine and develop your spiritual life. Spiritual direction is a contemplative practice of helping another person or couples to awaken to the mystery of God in marriage and family of life, and to respond to that discovery in a growing relationship of freedom and commitment. As a spiritual director, I recognize that God has called each person into being through God’s own love and God desires to
be the true Director and Guide for each soul. Through prayer and reflective listening, I will serve as the human spiritual companion – a Spiritual Director to help you discern the work of the Spirit in your marriage and family life.
The Guidelines for Ethical Conduct explains my role in a general way.
Although I believe it is appropriate at times to discuss psychological and relational difficulties in the context of spiritual direction, I am not providing services as a psychotherapist. Similarly, you may recognize that spiritual direction is not financial advice and any decisions and actions you may take in that regard are done without my advice or recommendation and are purely your responsibility.
Disclaimer and Referral
The stance of Spiritual Direction is different than and should not be a substitute for medical care or professional counseling. Therefore, for the best interest of you, if at any point in time the content of our conversation goes beyond the scope of spiritual direction, outside counsel will be refereed.
Spiritual Direction vs Therapy
Spiritual Direction allows you to focus on and look for God’s activity in your life, presently and in the past. It is important to understand that spiritual direction is not psychotherapy nor is it a substitute for therapy. It can be useful to consider the differences between the two before engaging in a spiritual direction to determine which service would best meet your needs:
Spiritual Direction:
- Less formal; collaborative partnership between you, your spiritual director, and God
- Current and past focused
- Focus on attending: aims to answer the question “where is God at work in you life presently?” and “how has God been at work in your life in the past?”
- May not diagnose or treat mental illness or disorder
- Not regulated by any government agency
- No license or certification required, but your spiritual director has a graduate degree in clinical mental health counseling and extensive theological experience
- Information shared is considered private
- Directee is encouraged to let go of the ego
- Directee is encouraged to move toward surrendering to the Spirit
- Detach from harmful behavioral patterns
- Focus on a personal interaction with God
- Discovery of spiritual wisdom
- Spiritual transformation
Psychotherapy:
- More formal; “expert-patient” relationship
- Often past-focused and reactive
- Focus on healing: overcoming problems, resolving issues causing past or current emotional pain or impaired functioning
- Includes the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of mental illness or disorder
- Regulated by state and local government agencies
- License and/or certification required to practice
- Information shared is confidential and legally protected
- Developing ego
- Changing behavioral patterns
- Focus of interaction between the therapist and client
- Challenge of misperception
- Change
Confidentiality
As your Spiritual Director, I will hold our conversations in strict confidence, regarding our time together as sacred, whether they are by telephone, online media, or email. I will not reveal the content of our conversations unless I am required to do so by law or court order. On the other hand, you are free to share whatever you choose about our conversations with anyone.
Technology
There are unique limitations to engaging in Spiritual Direction in marriage and family online as opposed to in person. You must recognize and accept these limitations. You also agree that as your spiritual director, I cannot be held responsible for breaches in provision of services that are due to phone or
computer malfunction, loss of electricity or internet connectivity
Fee
Spiritual Direction is both a ministry and a professional service. The first session shall be free. A fee range schedule will be discussed at our first meeting. The normal fee per one-hour session is payable at the beginning of the session. This amount is guaranteed for at least 12 months. A person’s inability to pay will not be an obstacle to his or her opportunity to participate in this ministry. In the case that the normal rate would prohibit you from taking spiritual direction, we will work out a rate you can afford. We will agree upon the amount before our first session. You can pay electronically or by check.
Time of Sessions and Changes
We commit to begin and end our sessions on time. If you wish to change your appointment, you will let me know at least 24 hours in advance by emailing me and calling me as well. Without this
advance notice, you will pay for the appointment time. I will not call or send you reminders for the sessions. Although we agree to a monthly, 60-minute session, you may desire to meet more frequently or
for a longer session periodically, and that is fine, if we schedule in advance. If you would
like to share a success or a problem with me in between sessions, you may contact me via email, text, or leave me a voice mail message. I do not bill for additional time of this type, but do not make it too long.