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About Spiritual Counseling & Spiritual Direction
Spiritual counseling is a holistic approach that integrates psychological wellbeing with spiritual exploration. It can help you tap into your inner guidance, find your own personal power, transform your suffering, deepen your self-awareness, and connect to your higher purpose.
Signs You Could Benefit from Spiritual Counseling
You have deconstructed your faith and you’re wondering “now what?”
You deeply long to feel more connected to spiritual guidance
You know deep down that spirituality and psychology are inseparable, and want someone who can help support you in knitting the pieces back together
You feel lost in a sea of religious teachings, new age spirituality, and self-help gurus on the internet, and want to finally feel grounded in something that makes sense for you instead of searching outside of yourself for answers
You have wounds and burdens from past religious experiences, groups, and/or teachings, and you want to find wholeness and empowerment again
You are wholeheartedly committed to a path of inner work, personal growth, and evolution as a human being
You are concerned with questions of meaning, purpose, morality, and virtue. You want a container that helps hold you as you move toward your highest way of being in the world
You are experiencing a spiritual crisis or dark night of the soul, and want someone to help you navigate this difficult time
What is spiritual counseling?
Spiritual counseling, also known as transpersonal counseling, views spirituality as deeply interconnected with the psyche and the whole person. It is a fundamental aspect of the human experience—offering meaning, purpose, peace, and a sense of connection to the universe.
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While some spiritual counselors work within a specific faith tradition, such as Christianity or Judaism, my approach is non-denominational. Though I am ordained as a Buddhist minister and have advanced training in yoga and shamanism, there is no expectation or requirement to adhere to any particular belief system. The only thing I ask is that you believe in yourself—your ability to access inner wisdom, find your own path, and transform your suffering.
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I take an integrative approach to spiritual counseling. Sessions may include a blend of talk-based inquiry, hypnosis, meditation, shamanic journeying, energy work, parts work, and trauma healing, all tailored to your individual needs.
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While some seek spiritual counseling for relief from diagnosed mental health conditions, others come for personal growth, meaning-making, or deep transformation. Suffering takes many forms, and no diagnosis is required to pursue healing. You are welcome to engage in spiritual counseling in isolation or in addition to psychotherapy.
Benefits of Spiritual Counseling
Increased access to a wellspring of inner guidance, providing clarity, confidence, and strengthened intuition
Transformation of any traumas, beliefs, patterns, or stuck points related to spirituality and mental health
Increased access to your personal power and a clear understanding of how to use it for good
A connection to what I call “inner-directed spirituality,” spirituality that comes from within
An enhanced ability to self-heal
A deeper connection to meaning, purpose, and wisdom
Increased peace, contentedness, and happiness
An ability to make peace with past religious experiences, both good and bad
Improved relationship quality
Frequently Asked Questions About Spiritual Counseling & Spiritual Direction
I belong to a religious group. Are you going to try to convert me?
It’s important to understand that my approach is shaped by certain spiritual traditions. I incorporate Buddhist perspectives on the origins of suffering, the shamanic view of the soul, and the belief in our innate ability to heal. I see these as spiritual philosophies rather than religious doctrines. If you are fundamentally opposed to any of these ideas, you may be better served elsewhere.
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I have worked with clients from diverse faith backgrounds, including Christians, Catholics, Buddhists, those who are “spiritual but not religious,” atheists, and agnostics. All I ask is that you believe that a connection with spirituality can be sourced from within you, that you have a genuine desire to reduce your own suffering, and a willingness to tap into your inner guidance and personal power. Beyond that, you are free to believe (or not believe) whatever feels right for you. Some of my clients find a deepening of their faith, while others experience shifts in their beliefs over time. These changes are entirely self-directed and never the result of coercion.
What are sessions like?
Sessions are typically guided by your own concerns. For example, you may choose to bring up life questions you are grappling with, discuss grief or loss, explore “big questions” about meaning or purpose, or address religious or spiritual traumas and difficulties from your past. Sessions may be primarily talk and insight-based. I may ask you questions to help you deepen your understanding and find answers to your questions. Sessions may also contain hypnosis, meditation, or shamanic journeying. These methods alter your state of consciousness so that you may achieve deeper healing and insight.
What if I’m skeptical about spiritual concepts?
To this question I will respond with questions for you to consider: What does spirituality mean to you? And do you think you might benefit from focused time to help you deepen these things for yourself? If so, you may benefit from spiritual counseling. Skepticism is welcomed, explored, and honored. There is no buy-in to a higher power, afterlife, etcetera that is required. In the broadest sense, I define spirituality as your connection to meaning, purpose, values, and the world around you.
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What is the difference between spiritual counseling and spiritual direction?
Spiritual counseling integrates your spiritual journey with emotional and mental well-being. It can help you navigate life's challenges and face specific difficulties in addition to deepening your spirituality. Spiritual direction, on the other hand, is less focused on psychological well-being and more on your relationship with spirituality and the universe. Spiritual direction may be longer-term and less frequent, a touchstone to help keep you centered on your spiritual path. Those with specific concerns will likely begin with a more frequent spiritual counseling format, and may choose to switch to a less frequent spiritual direction format over time as major concerns are resolved. For the sake of simplicity, I may refer to both as spiritual counseling. You precise needs and desires can be discussed in our consultation.​
Spiritual Counseling Biography
Emma began asking “big questions” from a very young age. She carried this curiosity throughout her life and took it to college, graduating with dual bachelors degrees in Religious Studies and Global Studies.
The world then became her school, and she has traveled to over 30 countries, learning about various spiritual traditions and ways of life. She even worked at a mindfulness-based healing center for 18 months. After obtaining a Master of Arts in Professional Counseling, she continued her spiritual education by completing training in Internal Family Systems, Depth Hypnosis, Applied Shamanic Counseling, mindfulness and Buddhism, Spiritual Direction, and Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy. ​
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Credentials
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Ordained Buddhist Minister
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Certified Depth Hypnosis Practitioner
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Certified Applied Shamanic Counselor
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Certified Psychedelic Assisted Therapist
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Level 3 trained Internal Family Systems Therapist
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Completed a Spiritual Direction course
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Licensed Professional Counselor
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A full list of all qualifications can be found here