Choosing A Spiritual Director

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Adult spiritual director Like finding a new dentist, accountant or other professional, locating a spiritual director may require a creative and intentional search. Word of mouth is always good, but you may not want to see the same director as a friend. Spiritual Directors International is the only membership organization for this "profession". You can call (415-566-1560) or email office@sdiworld.org to get a regional coordinator for your area. The coordinator will suggest a few names for your consideration. SDI has members from a wide spectrum of theological perspectives and its listings do not indicate an endorsement. Retreat centers, seminaries, church-related organizations, or denominational offices may also help point the way.

Before picking up the phone, it would be wise to reflect on your own place in life. Seek clarity as to the type of director that would best work with who you are at this stage of your journey. Are there theological perspectives that you would like to hold in common with the director? Are gender, age, marital status, or level of training important factors to you? Mundane concerns like travel distance or ease of scheduling often come into play as well. Most spiritual directors are employed outside this field, so finding a mutually agreeable meeting time can be a challenge.

Once you have located a "candidate" feel free to interview him/her. Ask your theological questions. Find out if he/she provides both direction and supervision. What is her fee? If both of you feel comfortable to begin, it is common practice to meet together three times and then evaluate how it is going. This hour each month can become a surprisingly rich spiritual discipline used by God to form you into what God has created you to be.