Spiritual Direction Practice Policies

Effective date: July 19, 2026

These policies describe the nature of the spiritual direction relationship, what you can expect from our work together, and the practical arrangements governing appointments.

My practice is informed by the Code of Ethics of the Christ-centered Spiritual Directors Association. Spiritual direction depends upon trust, mutual clarity, appropriate boundaries, and respect for the dignity and freedom of each person.

1. The Nature of Spiritual Direction

Spiritual direction is a practice of prayerful companionship centered on your life with God. During our sessions, we may attend to prayer, relationships, desires, questions, emotions, experiences of God, spiritual practices, Scripture, and the circumstances of your ordinary life.

My role is not to make decisions for you, prescribe a spiritual program, or claim authority over your relationship with God. I will listen, ask questions, offer observations, and help create space in which you can attend more carefully to God’s presence and invitations.

You remain responsible for your own choices, beliefs, relationships, health, and participation in the spiritual direction process.

2. Spiritual Direction Is Not Therapy

Spiritual direction is distinct from:

• Psychotherapy or professional counseling

• Medical or psychiatric treatment

• Crisis intervention

• Pastoral counseling

• Professional coaching

• Legal or financial advice

Spiritual direction may complement these forms of care, but it does not replace them.

I do not diagnose or treat mental-health conditions through spiritual direction. When a concern falls outside the scope of my training or practice, I may recommend that you seek support from a therapist, physician, pastor, another spiritual director, or another qualified professional.

If you are currently working with a therapist, you are encouraged to inform your therapist that you are also receiving spiritual direction.

3. Introductory Conversation

New directees begin with a complimentary thirty-minute conversation.

This conversation gives us an opportunity to discuss what you are seeking, answer questions about spiritual direction, and consider whether working together appears to be a good fit.

An introductory conversation does not establish an ongoing spiritual direction relationship. Either of us may decide that another director or form of support would be more appropriate.

4. Sessions

Ongoing spiritual direction sessions ordinarily last 50–55 minutes.

Most directees meet approximately once every four to six weeks, although frequency may be adjusted by mutual agreement.

Sessions are currently offered online. You are responsible for joining from a location that provides sufficient privacy and freedom from interruption.

Appointments may be scheduled through the online calendar.

5. Fees and Payment

The standard fee is $70 per session.

Payment is due at the time of booking unless another arrangement has been made in advance.

A limited number of reduced-fee spaces may be available for those for whom the standard fee would be prohibitive. Reduced-fee arrangements may be reviewed periodically.

Fees may change in the future. Reasonable advance notice will be provided before a fee change applies to an existing directee.

6. Cancellations and Rescheduling

Appointments may be cancelled or rescheduled without charge when at least 24 hours’ notice is provided.

Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice may be charged the full session fee. The fee may be waived in circumstances involving sudden illness, emergency, severe weather, or another significant and unavoidable event.

If I must cancel a session, you may reschedule it or receive a refund of any payment already made.

Repeated cancellations or missed appointments may lead us to reconsider whether the current scheduling arrangement is workable.

7. Late Arrivals

If you arrive late, the session will ordinarily still end at the scheduled time so that later appointments are not affected.

If you are more than fifteen minutes late and have not contacted me, the appointment may be treated as a missed session.

8. Online Sessions and Technology

Online sessions depend upon technology that can occasionally fail.

If a technical disruption occurs, we will attempt to reconnect. If the session cannot reasonably continue, we may complete it by another agreed method, reschedule the remaining time, or make another appropriate arrangement.

Neither participant will record a session without the explicit written consent of the other. As a general practice, spiritual direction sessions will not be recorded.

Email, text messages, social-media messages, and scheduling platforms should not be assumed to provide absolute confidentiality. Electronic communication should ordinarily be limited to scheduling and practical matters rather than substantive spiritual direction.

9. Confidentiality

I will treat your identity and the content of our sessions as confidential.

I will not disclose that you are receiving spiritual direction or share what you discuss with churches, employers, family members, referring persons, or other organizations without your permission.

Confidentiality is not absolute. Information may be disclosed when:

• You provide permission for a particular disclosure;

• Disclosure is required by applicable law;

• There is a serious and immediate concern that you may harm yourself or another person;

• I have reasonable cause to suspect abuse, neglect, or exploitation that must be reported under applicable law;

• A valid court order or other binding legal requirement compels disclosure; or

• Limited information is discussed through confidential spiritual direction supervision or professional consultation.

When reasonably possible, I will inform you before making a disclosure.

Spiritual direction communications may not receive the same legal privilege that can apply to communications with licensed therapists, attorneys, or clergy acting in particular legally recognized roles.

10. Supervision and Consultation

Regular supervision is an important part of responsible spiritual direction practice.

I may discuss aspects of our work with a qualified spiritual direction supervisor or confidential consultation group for the purposes of accountability, discernment, professional growth, and providing appropriate care.

When doing so, I will limit identifying information as much as reasonably possible. Supervisors and consultation participants are also expected to preserve confidentiality.

By entering spiritual direction, you acknowledge and consent to this limited use of session material for confidential supervision and consultation.

11. Records and Privacy

I may maintain limited records necessary for operating the practice, including:

• Contact information

• Intake-form responses

• Appointment and payment information

• Relevant correspondence

• Brief notes intended to support continuity and responsible supervision

Records will be stored with reasonable privacy and security protections. Spiritual direction records are not psychotherapy or medical records.

Information will be retained only as reasonably necessary for spiritual direction, administration, supervision, legal obligations, accounting, security, or dispute resolution.

Additional information about website, scheduling, and data practices is available in the Privacy Policy.

12. Boundaries and Multiple Relationships

The spiritual direction relationship involves a difference in role and responsibility. I will seek to maintain boundaries that protect your freedom, dignity, and spiritual well-being.

I will not engage in sexual, romantic, coercive, exploitative, abusive, or manipulative behavior with a directee.

Because church and community relationships sometimes overlap, we may encounter one another in other settings. When an additional relationship could affect the safety or integrity of spiritual direction, we will discuss it openly and determine appropriate boundaries.

You may choose to follow or interact with my public social-media accounts. I will not publicly identify you as a directee or acknowledge the direction relationship without your permission. Social-media messaging is not an appropriate setting for substantive spiritual direction.

Gifts, invitations, financial relationships, business arrangements, or other interactions that could complicate the direction relationship may be declined or discussed before being accepted.

13. Referrals and Limits of Practice

I will seek to practice within the boundaries of my training, experience, and capacity.

I may recommend another spiritual director or professional when:

• Your needs fall outside my competence or scope of practice;

• A different theological, cultural, linguistic, or personal background would serve you better;

• A dual relationship or conflict of interest could compromise the work;

• Medical, psychological, pastoral, legal, or crisis support is needed;

• I cannot provide the consistency or availability the relationship requires; or

• Continuing the relationship no longer appears beneficial.

A referral is not necessarily a judgment about you or your spiritual life. It may be the most responsible means of helping you receive appropriate support.

14. Emergencies and Crisis Support

Spiritual direction is not an emergency or crisis-response service. I may not see or respond promptly to emails, texts, form submissions, or appointment requests.

If you are in immediate danger or believe you may harm yourself or another person, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

In the United States, you may also call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

15. Reviewing the Relationship

Spiritual direction is voluntary and open-ended.

We may periodically discuss:

• Whether the relationship continues to be helpful;

• Whether the frequency of sessions remains appropriate;

• Whether expectations or boundaries need clarification;

• Whether another director or form of care may be more beneficial; and

• Whether the direction relationship should pause or conclude.

You may end spiritual direction at any time. When possible, a final conversation is encouraged so that we can reflect on the experience and bring the relationship to a thoughtful conclusion.

I may also recommend pausing or ending the relationship when I believe that I am no longer able to serve you responsibly. When appropriate, I will attempt to offer referrals.

16. Concerns and Disagreements

If you have a concern about something that occurs in spiritual direction, you are invited to raise it directly with me.

I will seek to receive concerns without defensiveness, clarify misunderstandings, acknowledge mistakes, and determine whether repair is possible.

You are never required to remain in the spiritual direction relationship while a concern is being addressed.

17. Changes to These Policies

These policies may be updated as the practice, applicable laws, technology, or professional standards change.

Material changes affecting an ongoing direction relationship will be communicated within a reasonable period.

18. Acknowledgment

By scheduling and participating in spiritual direction, you acknowledge that:

• You have read and understood these Practice Policies;

• You understand the nature and limitations of spiritual direction;

• You understand the fee, scheduling, cancellation, confidentiality, supervision, and referral policies;

• You understand that spiritual direction is not psychotherapy, medical care, or crisis intervention; and

• You voluntarily agree to participate under these terms.