Spiritual Direction
What is Spiritual Direction?
Christian Spiritual Direction is the practice whereby one person helps another to pay attention to God, and to God’s presence, voice, and sanctifying work in his or her life. As the two disciples on the road to Emmaus experienced (Luke 24), it is the shared noticing of Jesus, revealed in Scripture and the daily events of a walk and a meal, attended to in feelings of disappointment and hope, of joy and burning hearts.
Spiritual direction is God-oriented rather than goal-oriented–giving one’s attention to God rather than to a particular problem that needs to be fixed or behavior that needs to be modified. It is responsive rather than directive, listening together to the Holy Spirit’s presence and ways rather than the director telling the directee what to do. It is about listening with–together noticing senses of God’s voice and direction–rather than talking to. It occurs in an atmosphere of loving trust; trusting that God is for us (not against us), in love, and that God’s work over time is about transforming us into the image of Christ, through the loving shaping of his Holy Spirit, so that we might live life fully, and to the Father’s glory.
Spiritual direction meetings between a director and directee usually occur once a month, for an hour each time.
Spiritual direction occurs in an atmosphere of prayerful listening. Often beginning and ending in silent prayer, to create an awareness of God’s presence with the director and directee, it’s common for the director to ask a directee to return to a few moments of silence in the middle of a session, again to clear away the clutter of talk and notice more deeply what the Holy Spirit may be saying.
Spiritual Direction conversations include all the “stuff” of ordinary life–vocation, relationships, circumstances, health, the life of worship and prayer and service, joys and sorrows, boredoms and adventures–and seek to notice God’s presence, work, and invitations in the midst of those.
Begin by praying. God, who is stirring this desire in you, is also working to meet that desire!
Then prayerfully make contact with potential directors, by email and/ or by phone. Ask them about their theology of spiritual direction—how do they understand what happens in the direction session? How do they try to pay attention to God’s presence? What might regular times with them look like? As you listen to their answers, notice what goes in your own internal reactions. Is there a particular director with whom you feel a desire and freedom to share more deeply? Do you sense this as a relationship where already, in your back-and-forth conversation, there’s an awareness of the Holy Spirit’s presence and leading?
Once you identify a potential director, set up a time to meet. (Although in-person direction is preferable, some directors do offer direction by phone or skype.) Unless it’s clear right away that this isn’t what or who you want, you’ll meet a further one to two times, before together discerning if this is a direction relationship that the Lord is inviting you into. Then you’ll commit to a period of time together, usually a year, before further evaluation.
Clarify with the director where you will meet, how often, and how you will offer financial compensation for his or her ministry. (Some directors request a particular amount, others suggest a scale based on your ability and freedom to give, others are covered already by their ministry organization. Do be prepared to offer something, either to them or to their ministry organization, for this is a ministry for which people have invested time and money in training, and your contribution enables them to give time to it.)
Listing of Spiritual Directors
As a service to those seeking spiritual direction, LTI provides a listing of people who have received a Certificate of Completion of training in LTI’s Selah Program. They are “trained” spiritual directors, not “certified” spiritual directors (there’s no certifying oversight body in the U.S. so claims of being “certified spiritual directors” are misleading). Because there’s no certifying body, the only guarantee we may make is that those listed here have completed their training in good standing, with some measure of discernment as to their desire and call to offer the ministry of spiritual direction. Confirmation of that call is granted by the Holy Spirit, and is experienced through the Spirit’s work in the director and their practice in the context of the community of faith, and ultimately only you and the director will know if you are a good match for each other. Each person listed here is individually responsible as a solo practitioner, and not employed by LTI in their role as a spiritual director. By accessing and using this list to connect with a spiritual director, you understand and agree that LTI is in no way responsible for the acts, omissions, or services of any of the members listed, and we make no guarantee that any individual here will be a good match for you. Finally, this list is intended to help you connect with a spiritual director. Please do not use this for any other purposes.
Note: The directors listed here have made the additional commitment of adopting our shared Selah Rule of Life for the nurture and integrity of their spiritual direction ministry practice. This includes receiving ongoing spiritual direction and supervision themselves, attending at least one retreat or conference each year that nurtures and refines their call as a spiritual director, and making an annual assessment of their direction ministry practice and life.

Jovin Adjeitey
Houston, TX

Kimberly Alexander
Charlotte, NC

Maureen Alianza
Phoenix, AZ

Amy Alves
Oxford, MA

Rick Anderson
Colorado Springs, CO

Claire Andrews
Christiansburg, VA

Julie Athans
Anchorage, AK

Gil Banton
Columbia, CT

Tom Benson
Stokesdale, NC

Sally Breedlove
Chapel Hill, NC

Robbie Brooks
Phoenix, AZ

Tiffany Chen
Stouffville, Ontario, Canada

Stephanie Smith Choo
Cambridge, MA

Renee Clark
Scottsdale, AZ

Julie Commander
Auburn, AL

David Deters
Hudsonville, MI

Brenda Dinell
Chandler, AZ

Toni Donnelly
Phoenix, AZ

Carolann R. Duffin
Dallas, TX

Gail Edmonson
Katy, TX

Lori Ferrell
Vero Beach, Florida

Elizabeth Fitch
McLean, VA

Dwight Fox
Stoneboro, PA

Ginger Fox
Charlotte, NC

Ann Gemmel
Wheaton, IL

Debbie Gill
Griffin, GA

John Hall
Clemson, SC

Corbett Heimburger
St. Louis, MO

Roger Hornbeck
Glendale, AZ

Meg Howard
Dorado, Puerto Rico

Cheri Hudspith
Flower Mound, TX

Dan Huie
Seattle, WA

Renee Huie
Seattle, WA

Lorie Jones
Newport News, VA

Mary Kendrick
Shreveport, LA

Kathy Koy
Pagosa Springs, CO

Kate Laymon
Citrus Heights, CA

Marcos Leon
Porter, TX

Winnie Li
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Leslea Linebarger
Southborough, MA

Owen Lovejoy
Black Mountain, NC

Becky Magnuson
Columbia, SC

John March
Eden Prairie, MN

Susan Marks
Charlottesville, VA

Sylvia McGuire
Colorado Springs, CO

Amy McLaughlin
Austin, TX

Kimberly Mervyn
Canada

Douglas Mitts
Frankfurt, Germany

Tamara Murphy
Bridgeport, CT

David Nichols
Bryan, TX

Andrew Osmun
New Haven, CT

Celah Pence
Harrisonburg, VA

Jason “JP” Philipose
Cedar Park, TX

Linda Rankin
San Diego, CA

LuAnn Roberson
Scottsdale, AZ

Raquel Rogers
Raleigh, NC

Debbie Sanders
Farmville, VA

Jamie Snow
Austin, TX

Joshua Stump
Nashville, TN

Ellen Uebele
Green Bay, WI
ALASKA
Julie Athans
Anchorage, Alaska
jathans@me.com
offered – in person, skype, facetime not taking new directees at this time
ARIZONA
Maureen Alianza
Phoenix, AZ
email me
602-509-4823
offered – in person, phone, FaceTime
Julie Bennett
Phoenix, AZ
offered – in person
Robbie Brooks
Phoenix, AZ
email me
602-690-9002
offered – in person, phone, Facetime, zoom
Renee Clark
Scottsdale, AZ
email me
602-791-3307
offered – in person, phone, zoom
Brenda Dinell
Chandler, AZ
email me
480-695-7876
offered – in person, phone, skype
COLORADO
Rick Anderson
Colorado Springs, CO
email me
offered – in person
Kathy Koy
Pagosa Springs, CO
email me
970-946-2958
offered – in person, skype, FaceTime, phone
Sylvia McGuire
Colorado Springs, CO
email me
offered – in person, skype, FaceTime, Zoom
Colorado Springs, CO
email me
719-306-4929
offered – in person, skype, Facetime, Zoom, phone
not taking new directees at this time
Nicole Rowell
Parker, CO
email me
303-246-7026
offered – in person
CONNECTICUT
Gil Banton
Columbia, CT
email me
804-994-4098
Brian Barclay
Ashford, CT
email me
860-942-6550
offered – in person, Zoom or Skype, phone
Daryl Ann Driscoll
Darien, CT
email me
Cell: 203-940-0424
offered – in person, phone, FaceTime
Bob Japenga
Avon, CT
email me
860-478-0562
offered – in person (preferred), phone, skype
Tamara Hill Murphy
Bridgeport, CT
email me
offered – in person, phone, skype
KANSAS
Cheryl Poole
Overland Park, KS
email me
offered – in person, Skype, Facetime, Zoom, international welcome
MAINE
MASSACHUSETTS
Amy Alves
Oxford, MA
email me
offered – in person, Zoom, Facetime
Deb Bellevue
Bridgewater, MA
email me
774-688-1863
offered – in person, phone, skype
Diana Curren Bennett
Hingham, MA
email me
781-556-5782
Not Presently Taking Directees
Stan Bohall
Quincy, MA
email me
508-410-9008
offered – in person, Skype, Facetime
Christie Borthwick
Lexington, MA
email me
781-534-3084
(Female directees only)
offered – in person
Josh Davis
Arlington, MA
offered – in person
Mary Lou Day
South Hamilton, MA
email me
410-876-454
offered – in person, phone
Susan DiCamillo
Osterville, MA
email me
offered – in person, skype
Cheryl DiCiaccio
Hopedale, MA
email me
508-634-1762
offered – in person
Jim Ennis
Billerica, MA
email me
offered – in person
John French
Gloucester, MA
email me
offered – in person, skype, Google Hangout and FaceTime
Meah Hearington
Danvers, MA
email me
978-406-9332
offered – in person, skype
Gayle Heaslip
North Falmouth, MA
email me
774-392-6362
offered – in person, phone, skype
not taking new directees at this time
Pam Jones
Plymouth, MA
email me
339-832-3680
offered – in person
Rebecca Kim
South Hamilton, MA
email me
847-754-6136
offered – in person
Deanne Leavitt
email me
847-754-6136
contact – by email
Meet for SD in person
Leslea Linebarger
Southborough MA
email me
508-624-0802
offered – in person, skype
Daniel Moran
Beverly, MA
email me
offered – in person
not taking new directees at this time
Hillary Oosting
Haverhill, MA
email me
offered – in person
not taking new directees at this time
Shirley Paz
Haverhill, MA
email me
978-373-3034
603-329-8047
offered – in person
Judy Pierce
Lexington, MA
email me
offered – In person, phone, skype
Libby Glenn Ruffing
Boston, MA
not taking new directees at this time
Sara Singleton
Ipswich, MA
email me
offered – in person, phone
not taking new directees at this time
Susie Skinner
Gloucester, MA
email me
offered – in person
Nikki Stournaras
Brookline, MA and Framingham, MA
email me
508-667-8252
offered – in person
Gretchen TenBrook
Needham, MA
email me
781-248-2887
offered – in person, phone
Kathy Tuan-MacLean
Winchester, MA
email me
offered – in person
Lori Wassermann
Burlington, MA
email me
781-296-1664
offered – in person
Vernée Wilkinson
Boston, MA
email me
617-312-1783
offered – in person, FaceTime, Zoom
Rev. Brian Wood
Sagamore Beach, MA
email me
offered – in person
NEW MEXICO
NORTH CAROLINA
Kimberly Alexander
Charlotte, NC
email me
offered – in person, phone, Skype, Facetime, Zoom
Tom Benson
Stokesdale, NC
email me
Sally Breedlove
Chapel Hill, NC
email me
919-604-3060
offered – in person, phone, skype
Bob Childs
Mint Hill, N.C.
email me
203-253-3754 (cell)
980-237-1192 (home)
offered – in person
Janet Clinton
Raleigh, NC
email me
offered – in person
TENNESSEE
Joshua Stump
Nashville, TN
offered – in person
TEXAS
Jon Ingle
Austin, TX
offered – in person
VIRGINIA
Rev. Mary A. Gardner
Alexandria, Virginia
offered – in person or Zoom
Lorie Q. Jones
Newport News, VA
email me
757-880-1175
Celah Pence
Harrisonburg, VA
email me
540-246-9182
offered – in person
Joe Pouliot
Fredericksburg, VA
email me
413-977-1868
offered – in person, skype
WASHINGTON DC
Meriwether Zeager
offered – in person
SPAIN
Rex Winn
Malaga, Spain
offered – in person
Several of our Selah graduates are also members of wider networks of spiritual directors. Both organizations maintain lists of their members, and you will find additional spiritual directors listed there:
- epiphany New England: a New England-based regional network
- Spiritual Formation Society of Arizona (SFSAZ): an Arizona-based regional network
- Lumen Center for Mission and Spirituality: a Texas-based regional network
- Evangelical Spiritual Directors’ Association (ESDA): a national network that’s part of Grafted Life Ministries