The Spiritual Director listens and asks questions to assist the directee in his or her process of reflection and spiritual growth. Spiritual direction is not psychotherapy or counseling.
As a member of Spiritual Director’s International, I abide by the following ethical Standards.
I acknowledge that directees’ spiritual lives are first and foremost directed by God. As a Spiritual Director I seek to follow God’s leading in directees’ lives, and not impose my ideas of what should be done or should happen. I exercise spiritual direction ministry aware of God’s redemptive presence in each spiritual direction session.
Since directees are coming to spiritual direction to meet firstly with God, the true Director, I consider the time and space with a directee to be sacred – a reverent place to encounter God’s presence – and therefore I honor the experience with appropriate preparation, atmosphere, consideration, care and boundaries.
I respect each person as made in God’s image and treat each person that seeks direction with appropriate dignity and care. I may choose to refer a potential directee to work with someone else due to my own personal limitations – such as lack of experience in a specific religious background or interests; or age, language and cultural limitations. I will do my best to help a directee find an appropriate person with whom to work.
I will maintain collegial relationships within and across disciplines and refrain from disparaging others. I love that Spiritual Directors seek to support one another, value collegial sharing and assist one another in bettering their ministries.
At the onset of a direction relationship, I will enter into a covenant or agreement with the directee, either in writing or verbally, which outlines the boundaries of the spiritual direction relationship.
Foremost for me as a Spiritual Director is obeying the commandment repeated from the Old Testament in Matthew 22:39, the injunction to love the neighbor. It light of this commandment, I respect and honor all persons in society regardless of age, race, ethnicity, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, marital status, political belief, any personal characteristic, attribute, condition or status.
I received extensive training and practice working with people in crisis. I specialize in companioning people in crisis situations and coping with end of life issues.
If you would like to explore spiritual direction as a way to enrich your life, contact Gabriella (see the contact page) to set up an appointment.
