What is Spiritual Direction?
Welcome. Whether you have practiced spiritual direction for years or are simply curious about what this work is, I’m glad you’re here.
Spiritual direction is an ancient Christian practice of companioning one another in the life of faith. The name can be misleading — I do not direct, instruct, or counsel. Rather, I serve as a listening companion, attending with you to the movement of the Spirit in your life. We listen together for what is already at work beneath the surface, for the still small voice that speaks in the quiet places.
Theologian and spiritual guide Howard Thurman called this the sound of the genuine — that deeper voice within each of us that, when we slow down enough to hear it, opens us to God. My work is to help you listen for it.
My approach
I am a certified Spiritual Director through the Shalem Institute (SGP25), grounded in the Christian contemplative tradition. My approach is shaped by my own faith journey and by years of practice with prayer, scripture, and the wisdom of teachers who have walked this path before us.
In our time together, we slow down. We give space for silence, for honest reflection, and for the questions that don’t have easy answers. I often draw on contemplative prayer practices, scripture, the Enneagram, and the imagination of poets and writers to open doors that words alone cannot.
I am drawn to those navigating times of transition, those wrestling with codependency or boundaries in their relationships, and those wondering what to do with experiences of awakening or mystery they don’t fully understand. But the only real prerequisite is a desire to listen.
Is this right for you?
Spiritual direction may be a good fit if you find yourself:
- Longing for a deeper relationship with God, but unsure how to nurture it
- Sensing a stirring in your spiritual life that you’d like to attend to with care
- Walking through a season of transition — vocational, relational, or interior
- Seeking a safe and confidential space to wonder, pray, and be honest about your life
- Wanting to understand experiences of beauty, grief, or mystery that have shaped you
Please note: Spiritual direction is not therapy, counseling, or psychological care, though it can beautifully complement those forms of support. I am trained as a spiritual director, not as a mental health professional. If you are working with a therapist, I am glad to walk alongside that work. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or need clinical care, please reach out to a licensed professional or, in an emergency, call or text 988 (the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline).
Getting started
Initial Conversation. Before any commitment, I offer a complimentary 60-minute introductory conversation. This is a chance for us to meet, for you to ask questions, and for both of us to sense whether we are well-suited to walk together. There is no expectation that we will continue beyond this conversation.
Frequency. Sessions are typically once a month, lasting about an hour.
Commitment. After our initial conversation, I ask for a three-month commitment to the practice. Spiritual direction takes time to deepen — the slow growth of trust and attention cannot be hurried.
Fee. Sessions are $75. If finances are a barrier, please reach out — I want this work to be accessible.
Format. I meet directees in person in Darien, Connecticut, or by Zoom, as is practicable.
Confidentiality. What you share in our sessions is held in confidence. As with other helping professions, there are rare legal exceptions — such as a serious risk of harm to yourself or others — where I may be required to act.
Frequently asked questions
How is spiritual direction different from therapy?
Therapy and spiritual direction can beautifully complement each other, and many directees benefit from both at once. The difference is in focus: therapy, undertaken with a licensed mental health clinician, addresses persistent issues that affect well-being, draws on clinical methods, and may include treatment for diagnosed conditions. Spiritual direction explores your relationship with the Divine — your faith, your contemplative practice, your sense of being accompanied by Spirit. We are not solving problems so much as listening together for Presence. Spiritual direction is never a substitute for mental health care.
Do I need to belong to a particular church or denomination?
No. While my own tradition is Christian, I welcome anyone drawn to exploring their relationship with the Divine — including those who feel uncertain in their faith, in seasons of questioning, or returning after time away. The only requirement is a willingness to listen.
What happens in a session?
We usually begin in silence to settle and become present. You are invited to share whatever is alive in you — a stirring, a struggle, a moment of beauty, a question you cannot quite name. I listen, ask gentle questions, and sometimes suggest a prayer practice to sit with. The pace is slow. Sessions often hold silence, and these are not awkward — they are part of the listening.
What if I’m not sure what to talk about?
This is common, and it is welcome. Sometimes the richest sessions begin with “I don’t know why I came today.” In the silence and the not-knowing, the Spirit often does its quietest work.
Why a three-month commitment?
Spiritual growth is more like the slow turning of seasons than the flip of a switch. A few months allows us to develop the rhythm of meeting, the trust of being heard, and the depth at which the real work happens.
Reaching out
If you feel drawn to explore this together, please reach out. I look forward to meeting you.
As we open ourselves to spiritual growth, there is simply no part of our life that can be left out. Nothing is too dirty or smudged. Nothing is too ecstatic or passionate. Nothing is too mundane or ordinary. All of life is the food of our spiritual growth. We can grow closer and deeper in our relationship with God through every situation, depending on our attitude, our openness, and our awareness. Be aware of God teaching you through your life today.
Joyce Rupp
