What is Spiritual Direction?
Spiritual
direction is a discipline for healthy, mature, adult believers who understand
the Christian faith. Spiritual direction is a Christian discipline in which a
“directee” seeks out a “director” to help discern what God is doing in his/her
life. The director seeks to provide an atmosphere in which the directee can
discern the presence of God in one’s daily life and respond meaningfully.
Spiritual direction is not teaching, disciple-making, counseling, mentoring, or
therapy.
A
spiritual direction session is a time to look at one’s relationship with God in
a safe, prayerful, and welcoming atmosphere. Where are you being stretched in
your faith right now? What is God saying
to you in all areas of your life? How is God inviting you to grow more fully
into the person He wants you to be? How do spiritual disciplines help or hinder
your growth?
Here is
a helpful illustration to distinguish between a spiritual director and other
helping relationships. When an individual seeks help for his/her marriage:
A friend listens and shares joys and
struggles about marriage.
A teacher tells what the Bible and wise
Christians have to say about the subject.
A disciple-maker develops a biblical plan
for growth in marriage.
A counselor finds problems that affect
the marriage and seeks to change behavior.
A mentor models a healthy marriage and
builds a relationship with the person.
A spiritual director helps the person
discern God’s presence and listen for God’s voice in the joys and sorrows of marriage.
How will our
director-directee relationship work?
During
our initial meeting, we will explore the possibility of developing a spiritual
direction relationship. If we agree to continue meeting, we will decide on meeting
times, location and other logistics. I meet directees in offices designated for
spiritual direction at the Church of the Nativity in Northborough and at Grace
Church in Oxford .
Other venues are also possible.
I
recommend meeting once a week for the first few sessions. After that, depending
on your needs, we can schedule appointments every other week or once a month.
The time belongs to you, so bring your questions, reflections, and insights from
your life with God. If you do not bring anything to discuss, I will ask
questions to discern how God is working in your life. I may offer some insights
or a passage from the Bible that relates to your experience. My main desire is
for you to hear the Lord speaking personally. It is my practice to pray with directees
during each session.
What is the directee’s
responsibility?
I
ask you to come to each session with a desire and willingness to welcome God’s
active presence in your life. Be honest with yourself and with God. Please make
a commitment to watch for the hand of God in your daily life and to take steps to
grow in following Him as you sense His invitation.
We will discuss an affordable financial arrangement during
your first appointment. A fee makes it possible for me to provide spiritual
direction. It also gives you incentive to receive the most from our time
together.
I
ask you to be on time for each appointment. If you are not able to keep an
appointment, please contact me at least two hours in advance or I will expect payment
for the time.
What about confidentiality?
I am
ethically committed to hold all information expressed in our conversations as
sacred and confidential. I will not release any information to a third party
without your signed consent, unless it is legally and/or ethically required, as
in cases of actual or suspected abuse, or other risk of injury to myself, to a
minor, or to any third party. Also, because of confidentiality, it would not be
appropriate for me to serve as a reference. If you are receiving counseling or
pastoral care, and want me to communicate with your therapist or pastor, I will
need written consent from you before initiating any communication. While I am
bound to confidentiality, you are free to share whatever you choose about our
conversations.
What is the director’s
responsibility?
If
we decide to establish a relationship, I will pray for you regularly, I will
offer you my prayerful attention when we are together, and I will attempt to be
honest and biblical in my conversation. I will review the terms of our meeting
with you annually, but either of us may terminate the relationship at any
point. We will develop a termination plan together.
While
our conversations may touch on psychological and relational issues, I do not
offer psychotherapy. Nor do I offer professional financial advice. Any
decisions and actions you take in regard to finances are done without my advice
or recommendation; they are solely your responsibility.
What is my training and experience?
I
have met consistently with a spiritual director since 2010. Prior to that, I worked
with several spiritual directors, from various Christian traditions, over the
past twenty years. In June 2012 I completed a two-year certificate program in
spiritual direction offered by Selah (http://www.leadershiptransformations.org/selah.htm), a ministry of Leadership
Transformations, Inc.
I
have a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Roberts Wesleyan
College
Stan
Bohall
41 West Summit Street #23
South Hadley, MA 01075
508-410-9008
s.bohall@verizon.net
*Adapted from a similar form created
by Hallie Cowan.
Spiritual Direction Covenant*
Date: ___________
Directee’s
Signature: ____________________________________
Name:
_____________________________________________________________
Address/Phone/E-mail:
____________________________________________________
Director’s
Signature: _____________________________
Stan
Bohall
508-410-9008
s.bohall@verizon.net
*Adapted from a similar form created
by Hallie Cowan.
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