David Scheuneman, M.Div. Meditation & Contemplative Spirituality

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"Spiritual Direction" My Philosophy My Background & Qualifications Resources

What is Spiritual Direction? continued ... People enter formal spiritual direction for a variety of reasons.  For some, it flows out of enthusiasm for developing their higher potential.  For others, it starts with seeking assistance through difficult times of life.  A range of motivations can be appropriate.  A preliminary conversation helps determine if spiritual direction would be helpful in a given situation. Unlike psychotherapy, spiritual direction does not focus on solving problems.  It may have a therapeutic effect, but spiriutal direction is more about discerning and responding to the leadings of one's innermost spirit and developing a more authentic way of being.  Sometimes traditional mental health counseling is necessary before a person can benefit from spiritual direction.  Those suffering from acute distress or a mental health disorder are advised to seek appropriate medical and psychological care.  In collaboration with other health professionals, however, spiritual direction can play a helpful role in an overall program of holistic care.