Spiritual Health Counseling & Coaching

“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience.”   Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

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Having a healthy spiritual life may be one of the most underrated aspects of being human.  Yet a healthy spiritual life may be your greatest asset in facing physical and mental illness, addiction, loss, transitions, the changing global climate, or social unrest.  A robust spiritual life may also be one of your greatest tools in creating, leading, and building the life you want.  The great questions in life demand answers.  Connection to oneself, to other people, and to the world around us is our birthright and destiny as humans.  Why am I here?  What is my purpose in life?  How do I find love?  How do I connect with something greater than myself?

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For millennia, humans have asked these questions, seeking meaning and connection.  And for millennia, attempts have been made to answer them.  MANY times, these answers have come from outside of us:  our parents, our tribe, our church, our religion, our friends, books we read, things posted on social media.  There is SO much information written and scattered and disseminated all over the globe about who you are that it is an explosion of noise!!  Or maybe you are experiencing a complete vacuum.  You feel lost.  You don't even know where to start after life has given you challenges that have robbed you of hope.

Bringing the focus towards one's spiritual health helps dampen the cacophony of noise.  To answer the big questions of life, it helps to turn down the voices and messages you have been hearing for years and tune in to your inner voice, your intuition, your soul.  The answers are within you.  You are the primordial, expressed in human form.

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Spiritual Health Counseling and Coaching

“When someone deeply listens to you, your bare feet are on the earth and a beloved land that seemed distant is now at home within you.”  John Fox

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Listening is the primary path to feeling seen, heard, and understood.  As your spiritual health practitioner, I will be fully present with you.  A non-judgmental, open-minded listener.  I will be a witness to your story and your life experience, encouraging wholeness-centered approach within which to process significant life changes, grief, self-esteem, lingering anger, loneliness and many other elements of human life.  I call it “wholeness-centered” because you are already whole.  You already have within you all the love, wisdom, and courage you need.  Having someone listen to you will assist you in discovering and nurturing these gifts within you.

With focus and attention, spaciousness and patience, a greater sense of mindfulness and unconditional regard for one's self can emerge.  Self-understanding and self-love have an invitation to develop and bloom.

Calling upon my education and experience, together we can also explore the spiritual traditions and practices that might help you illuminate and direct your inner life.  We might help you develop a personal meditation practice.  Maybe you will start drumming.  Maybe you will rekindle a beloved art, such as painting or writing.  Maybe you'll spend more time in nature.  Maybe you are interested in learning shamanic journeying or healing techniques.  Maybe you want to deepen your experience of working with the 12 Steps.  Your interests and intuition will guide our exploration and serve as our map. 

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FAQs

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Although I have over 20 years of experience providing spiritual counseling for persons experiencing physical illness, mental illness, and chemical dependency, I am not a licensed psychologist or counselor.  Spiritual counseling and coaching is not meant as a substitute for essential mental health therapy or medication.  The experience and insight I have gained working in hospitals and treatment centeres can guide the two of us discern together your immediate and long term needs for mental health or addiction care.

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That said, all illnesses have as their origin some form of imbalance or disruption in the natural harmony of your body, mind, and soul.  Spiritual counseling can sometimes be enough—more than enough—to help you through challenges and towards understanding of your own innate love and wisdom. 

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How is spiritual counseling different from traditional counseling?

We are not going to ‘fix’ you.  Spiritual counseling starts with the assumption that you are already whole, that you are not wrong, sinful, bad, or irreparably broken.  The wholeness and love within you will find its unique way to slowly regain prominence in your intent and being.  There is nothing truly wrong with you.  There is nothing wrong with you!  Things happen in everyone’s life:  things we do to ourselves, things done to us, things we do to others, and things that just happen!  It is not because you are bad that these things happened, nor have the circumstances of your life in some way made you inherently wrong.  You cannot be wrong.  You are the primordial, part of everything, connected to love. 

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How many times will we meet?

The journey to ‘who you are’ will be different for everyone.  A couple months of work together might be enough for you to jump-start your soul into a new life led by love.  Some people might meet for extended periods of time to begin healing from significant loss or cope with long-term illness or explore their soul's unique path.  Our time together will be tailored to and attentive to you and your spiritual life.

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For how long?

Individual sessions are 50 minutes long.  

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What is the cost?

Individual therapy is $155 per session.

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Where will we meet?

In-person sessions are conducted at my office in Portland:  1318 NW 20th Ave., #A3. 

Zoom appointments are also available for those who prefer to meet online or for those who are not in Portland Metro Area.