SPIRITUAL COUNSELING

The Spiritual Development Process is a Spiritual Counseling approach designed to consciously integrate an individual’s principles, values, and practices with their physical, mental, and emotional life.

As spiritual care providers, we recognize spirituality at the center of our work, rather than seeing it as a component. We are not therapists, nor do we act in place of denominational religious ministers. We take a holistic approach vs. traditional pathologic approach, observing the unified system that contributes to personal health and development. This is Sensible Spirituality. We work with our clients to help them unify all three dimensions of their lives (physical, mental, and emotional; i.e. body, mind, and heart) in order to access and support the spirit and soul of the individual.

An inductive, “bottom-up” approach to spirituality relies upon lived experience as the foundation for creating spiritual meaning. Our approach thus counters more common deductive, “top-down” spiritual approaches, which try to mold or form people and organizations to its beliefs, rules, and practices. In other words, this is a reality-based, empirically-oriented approach to a spirituality that is sensible.

After a free initial consultation, the Spiritual Development Process (SDP) unfolds over a season of commitment, typically at least 90 days. In the initial phase, we will assess, reflect and counsel clients as they identify their principles, values, and practices and come to terms with what needs to change. Meditation is introduced as a recommended practice at this point. We then move into a navigational mode, providing regular weekly sessions to set and meet goals. We also identify tools and practices helpful for spiritual development. Finally, we support the spiritual practices which ground their sustaining story in a new sense of integrity, citizenship, growth and spiritual development. If a client desires a deeper meditative practice, we will work with them to find a balanced approach that will serve their sustaining story. Sessions are currently available in-person at the Arroyo Grande, CA office, or video (FaceTime, Skype, Messenger or Zoom).

The Spiritual Development Process begins with a written questionnaire to be filled out by the client, which serves as the basis for an initial interview. This is a way of beginning to map an individual’s spiritual journey. Talking about experiences, values, memories, feelings and losses helps us avoid defensive reactions and discern where an individual finds meaning and purpose. The questions are designed to help people begin to articulate principles, values, and practices which will allow them to develop a sustaining story of grounded spirituality.

Key Points of the Questionnaire and Initial Interview:

• Sensible Spirituality is the conscious integration of a person’s principles, values, and practices with their physical, mental, and emotional life.

• The process identifies physical, mental, and emotional experience as essential lenses for spiritual integration.

• The process addresses formation of character, conscience, and the principles, values, and practices that undergird an ongoing spiritual life.

From the story-telling practices of all the great spiritual traditions, we have refined a narrative methodology which is particularly well-suited to navigating all stages of spiritual development. As Spiritual Care Counselors, we avoid antagonism and arguments about the name and nature of “G*d” and the relative merits of any particular belief system. As Spiritual Coaches, we help our clients focus on the principles, values, and practices that are part of their own life experience. With this new awareness, they can then begin to articulate and navigate the foundational and evolving stories of their own spiritual journey, and find their sustaining story.