INDIVIDUAL SPIRITUAL DIRECTION & SOMATIC SUPPORT
You have a life to live. Let's pay attention to it.
Individual spiritual direction and somatic support in Virginia's New River Valley and online.
There are seasons when something in our lives asks for more attention than we've been giving it.
Perhaps you're reconsidering what you believe. Perhaps your body has been carrying the effects of a difficult season. Or perhaps you're doing everything expected of you and wondering where you've gone in the midst of it all.
I offer individual spiritual direction and somatic support for people who want to take an honest look at their lives, with room for faith, questions, the body, and the possibilities that emerge when we pay attention.
Spiritual Direction
Faith, questions, prayer and discernment.
There are questions about God, faith, and life that we cannot settle in a hurry.
Spiritual direction offers a place to bring those questions, along with your experiences of prayer, change, loss, discernment, and the ordinary work of being human.
My faith is rooted in Jesus. You are welcome to bring your own faith, your uncertainty, or the questions you may never have spoken aloud.
We pay attention together to what is happening in your life and where you may be encountering God.
Somatic Support
Breath, movement, awareness and embodied practice.
Sometimes we can explain exactly what has happened to us and still feel its effects in our bodies.
The tension that returns. The breath we didn't realize we were holding. The exhaustion that doesn't disappear simply because we understand it.
Somatic support brings the body into the conversation through gentle movement, breath, sensation, and attentive practice.
Drawing on my experience and training as a C-IAYT certified yoga therapist, I work with you to explore how you're experiencing your life and what may help you respond with greater choice and awareness.
An explanation of the first appointment, how we work, and what to expect.
What Happens When We Meet?
We begin with a conversation.
I'll ask what has brought you here, what you're hoping for, and what you'd like me to know. You'll have time to ask questions, too.
In spiritual direction, our time may include conversation, silence, prayer, and reflection on your experience of God and the life you're living.
In somatic sessions, we may explore gentle movement, breathing, posture, or bodily sensations. Nothing needs to be forced or performed. You remain free to participate, pause, or decline an invitation.
Some people arrive with something quite specific they want to explore. Others aren't entirely sure where to begin.
Both are welcome.
Our first meeting is an opportunity to get acquainted, discuss your needs, and consider whether working together would be a good fit.
Where We Meet
I'm based in Blacksburg, Virginia, and online.
Online appointments allow us to meet across distance, while in-person sessions offer the opportunity to work together here in the New River Valley.
You can choose your preferred appointment type when scheduling.
A Few Questions
Do I need to be Christian to work with you?
No. My faith is rooted in Jesus, and that shapes how I approach spiritual direction. I welcome people who are certain of what they believe, people whose faith has changed, and people who are still asking questions.
What is the difference between spiritual direction and somatic support?
Spiritual direction focuses on your spiritual life, your relationship with God, and the questions and decisions you are discerning.
Somatic support works with your embodied experience through practices such as breath awareness, movement, and noticing sensation. Both approaches take your whole life seriously, but they have different starting points.
Is somatic support a replacement for psychotherapy?
No. My somatic work is not a substitute for licensed mental health care. When appropriate, I work alongside other professionals involved in your care, with your permission.
How often will we meet?
That depends on what brings you here. Some people meet regularly, while others seek support for a particular season. We can discuss what makes sense during your intake.
What if I'm unsure which kind of appointment to choose?
You can contact me before booking. Tell me a little about what you're looking for, and I'll help you understand the differences between the two options.
Perhaps We Should Talk.
You don't need to have everything figured out before we meet.
If something in your life is asking for attention, I'd be glad to hear about it.
Choose the kind of conversation that interests you. We can begin there.