I believe Pastoral Counseling and Spiritual Direction are Sacred Trusts.

PASTORAL COUNSELING  

Typically focuses on a person’s problems, pain, decisions, and emotional struggles in light of faith. It often addresses things like grief, anxiety, marriage stress, life transitions, depression, conflict, or trauma. 

As a pastoral counselor, I help people seek healing, clarity, coping, and wiser ways forward. It is often more problem-centered and may be somewhat therapeutic.

SPIRITUAL DIRECTION 

Focuses more on a person’s relationship with God and on noticing how the Spirit is moving in their life. The question is less “How do I fix this problem?” and more “Where is God in this? What is being invited in me now?” It is usually more soul-centered, reflective, and contemplative. 

A simple way to say it:    

•   Pastoral counseling helps with life difficulties through a spiritual and pastoral lens.    

•   Spiritual direction helps a person listen for God’s presence, guidance, and transforming work. 

In my particular practice there is, of course, overlap: A person in spiritual direction may talk about grief, fear, or confusion. A person in pastoral counseling may also talk about prayer, calling, and faith. 

For many people, both can be valuable at different seasons of life.

My work as a pastoral counselor and spiritual director is rooted in the belief that growth touches every part of who we are. God is not interested in polishing only one part of us so that we appear more acceptable to ourselves or to others. Rather, I believe God desires to lovingly shape our minds, hearts, bodies, memories, relationships, and sense of vocation. Becoming fully human and becoming spiritually whole belong together.

In our time together, we may explore questions such as these:

What is the meaning of my life?

How can I heal from trauma?

What will be required of me to deal with addiction?

How can I strengthen my marriage or other signifcant relationships?

How can I discover a sense of purpose and learn to live it fully?

What can I do to foster a deeper relationship with God?

What or who is shaping me right now, and are they helping me become more truthful, more loving, more free, and more like the person I desire to be?

What are my greatest obstacles to growth?

What is God’s invitation in this situation?

How can I find healing from spiritual trauma?

Each counseling or spiritual direction session—usually about an hour either in person or via Zoom—is a space for listening, reflection, honest questions, meaningful dialogue, and prayerful discernment. The decisions you make will always be your own. My role is not to direct your life for you, but to accompany you with care, respect, attentiveness, and compassion as you seek the way forward.

You do not have to navigate life’s challenges or spiritual longings alone. I would be honored to walk alongside you.