What is Spiritual Accompaniment?
I see spiritual accompaniment as giving you:
- a confidential space and a relationship where you can explore, and grow in your relationship with God
- dedicated time, in the midst of the business of life, to consider life's meaning and purpose
- encouragement as you travel along a journey of faith
- a place in which to explore questions and difficulties it is hard to voice elsewhere
- space to explore what prayer may mean to you
- opportunity for self-reflection and accounting
- companionship during a period of discernment or change
As a spiritual accompanier, I see my role as walking alongside you. I do not seek to tell you what to do, or how, or what you should believe. I do not know the answers, but I do believe that in travelling in relationship towards the divine, ordinary people are capable of extra-ordinary things!
My background is as an ecumenical Christian. I am a member of the Iona Community and am committed to accounting to other community members for my use of resources, daily prayer and pursuing justice and peace both in my own communities and the wider world.
My initial training was as a pastoral counsellor at St John's Theological College in the early 1990's and since then, alongside my work as a counsellor, supervisor, researcher and writer, have supported clergy and individuals of all Christian denominations, and none, and sometimes people from other faith or belief backgrounds.
I am a member of BACP spirituality division, and was for three years editor of the journal Thresholds the BACP journal linking therapeutic work with the spiritual.
Normally I meet with people for spiritual accompaniment on a regular basis (for example monthly), but this pattern can be adjusted to suit your specific need. I do not charge for spiritual accompaniment sessions, but suggest a donation to one of the charities I support which include Christian Aid, Childline and Practical Action.
