Frequently Asked Questions

That depends on you and Holy Spirit! I do not prepare a program for our meeting. I invite you to come with an experience that puzzles you, a reaction that surprised you, an issue that needs clarity, or a decision that weighs on you. I also invite you to come with just yourself. We will start in prayer and go from there. (I've never had that end in 58 minutes of silence so don't worry-it will work out.)

Yes, what you share with me remains confidential. The exception to this is if you share information that would lead me to believe you have, or are in danger of, hurting yourself or someone else. As part of my supervision, I may talk about our session but I will not use your name or other identifying details. You, of course, are free to share your experience with others.

Therapy and counselling happen with a trained therapist or counsellor, which I am not. They generally address psychological issues and problem solving. Spiritual direction focuses on your relationship with the Divine and is dependent on the leading of Holy Spirit. I recommend you let your therapist or counsellor know that you are meeting with a spiritual director. Doing both simultaneously can be beneficial, but there may be times of intense therapy when it would be appropriate to put spiritual direction on hold.

Normally, once a month but it doesn't have to be. If you would like to meet more or less often, we can work that out. And if you want to change after we've started meeting, no problem!

We can do either, and it can change from month to month. I can meet in person at a church in South Bend, Indiana. Online, it will be by Zoom.

That is fine! You are not obligated for any length of time or a certain number of meetings.

No, not at all. I come from a Christian background and continue to follow Jesus, but I am glad to work with people of all faiths or no faith.

Yay! So am I! The Christian church has a history of rejecting queer people and negating queer identities. The Christian journey is generally enriched when done in community, but there may be times when this is not possible. Meeting with a spiritual director can help heal the hurt that has been done and realign your relationship with the Divine One who loves you and desires relationship with you.

I give a range for my fee to try to balance accessibility for people with less discretionary income on one hand and paying my bills on the other. If you can't afford to pay within that range, talk to me about what you can afford.

I ask that you pay me before the session begins. If you're paying online, I appreciate it if you would pay the day before.

You will receive an invoice that you can pay with any major credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or PayPal. You can also initiate a payment on the "Make a Payment" page of this website.

At this time, I do not plan retreats, but can be engaged to lead at a retreat you've organized.

If you have a specific idea or theme, I can plan a retreat around that. Otherwise, I lead retreats that focus on contemplative practices to consider and (hopefully) deepen your relationship with the Divine. If the retreat is for a ministry team to plan their next year, season, or program, I will lead you in prayerful practices of listening and discernment, done individually and in a group.

There's no one answer to that. The cost will depend on things such as the length of the retreat, the number of participants, and whether individual spiritual direction is included. I also ask that accommodation and transportation costs be covered. If flying, that includes mileage to the airport and a flight from South Bend, Indiana, or Grand Rapids, Michigan, and transportation at the destination. If driving, mileage and tolls. If travel is by train, bus, or other public transportation, the cost of the tickets.

A deposit is required to hold the date. Full payment is due before the retreat begins.

I can send an invoice that you can pay with any major credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or PayPal. You can also initiate a payment on the "Make a Payment" page of this website. Please note that I will need to be paid by one entity or in one sum; I cannot accept separate payments from individual retreatants.