Spiritual direction and spiritual counseling are both types of counseling that can help people grow and develop, but they differ in their focus and goals:
- Spiritual direction – A relational process that can be temporary or long term, where a trained guide listens to and supports someone who wants to deepen their relationship with God. Spiritual direction may incorporate psychology, physiology, spiritual practices, and Scripture to help people develop holistically. The goal is to help people become more like Jesus and grow closer to God and themselves.
- Spiritual counseling – A healing process that focuses on an individual’s beliefs and values, and their desire for meaning beyond themselves. Spiritual counseling relationships are usually short term and centered on a specific problem.
Spiritual Coaching provides a way to address these and other desires, intentions, and questions related to your spiritual journey. Different from both counseling and spiritual direction, but with intersectional qualities, this process invites a spiritual coach to walk alongside you on your path, and help you to uncover what your inner wisdom is trying to tell you.
Spiritual coaching is not religious counseling. In fact, religion doesn’t play a role at all in spiritual counseling.