Spiritual Direction: A Gift for Everyone

We spoke to Fr Bruce Batstone and Fr Jack Noble, both experienced spiritual directors and Jenny Erber, an ordinand in training who receives spiritual direction about their experiences of this ancient gift to the church.  

What is spiritual direction? Is it advice? Is it therapy? Is it prayer coaching? The answer is both simpler and more profound: spiritual direction is an ancient practice of sacred listening, a space where the complexity of life is explored under the gaze of God’s loving presence.

Rooted in Christian tradition, spiritual direction goes back to the desert fathers and mothers of Egypt and Syria, early monastics who withdrew to live lives of contemplation and then sought each other out for wisdom and companionship. Today, the practice has evolved but remains grounded in the same essence: one person accompanying another as they explore how God is at work in their lives.

A Sacred Listening Ministry

At its core, spiritual direction is not about giving answers. Rather, it is about creating a safe space where a directee—the person seeking direction—can speak honestly and openly, knowing that their life is held under the loving gaze of God. Spiritual direction is a one-on-one ministry where every part of a person’s life—faith, doubt, relationships, politics, finances, even sexuality—is considered holy ground.

As Fr Bruce Batstone explains, it’s a space where everything can be brought because everything belongs to the life lived with God. “Spiritual direction,” he says, “is about helping people stay in touch with the truth that God is always looking upon them with love.”

Jenny Erber describes spiritual direction as helping someone attend to the movement of the Spirit in their life. She is clear: “It’s not about advice or problem-solving. It’s about listening deeply and prayerfully, trusting that God is present and speaking.”

What makes spiritual direction distinct from counseling or coaching is that it explicitly includes a third presence in the room: God. The spiritual director listens not just to the directee, but with them, helping them notice where God might be present in their story.

A Journey Shared, Not Led

Fr Jack Noble emphasizes the simplicity of the relationship: “It’s just one person meeting another regularly to do God on purpose.” Spiritual direction isn’t a mystical mountaintop experience reserved for the ultra-spiritual. It’s as down-to-earth as a conversation at your kitchen table, and gives full permission to talk openly about your life with God—without awkwardness, apology, or pretense.

Importantly, spiritual direction is not just for the ordained or spiritually advanced. As Jenny puts it, “Anyone who wants to grow in their relationship with Jesus should be doing spiritual direction. I wish I’d known about it earlier in my Christian life.”

Personal Testimonies

Bruce reflects on having had multiple spiritual directors over his life, each offering something unique. “There were times when I needed nurturing,” he says, “and other times when I needed someone to challenge me.” His current director has accompanied him for over 20 years—a rarity, but sustained through mutual discernment and ongoing relevance.

Importantly, spiritual direction provided a rare safe space for Bruce to speak openly about being a gay man in the Church—something he found difficult elsewhere. That sense of safety, integrity, and attentiveness is central to the practice.

For Jack, becoming a spiritual director was a natural outgrowth of his own journey. He describes himself not as a sage, but as someone who listens, prays, and walks alongside others. He has directed people from all sorts of backgrounds—from musicians to professionals in their twenties—proving that spiritual direction is for everyone. “It’s not about being spiritual enough,” Jack says. “It’s just about being human.”

Deepening Discipleship

Spiritual direction isn’t about solving problems—though it can help with discernment in challenging times. Its greater gift is in helping us grow as disciples. Bruce recalls his experience with Ignatian spirituality—especially the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola—as a turning point in his faith, enabling him to discover a real friendship with Jesus.

Through gentle questioning and reflection, spiritual direction can bring clarity about how we live out our faith in everyday life: how we spend our time, how we handle our relationships, how we respond to injustice. It’s about integrating spirituality with the whole of life.

“Noticing where God is in the ordinary, everyday moments has been really pivotal for me,” notes Jenny. “And then there’s been times where I’m going through doubts or fears, and spiritual direction has enabled me to ground myself in in the identity of being God’s child, feeling utterly loved by him.”

As Jack puts it, “The greatest adventure we’ll ever go on is the interior one.” Spiritual direction invites us to engage that adventure with honesty and courage.

Accessing Spiritual Direction

If you’re wondering how to begin, there are several ways to find a spiritual director:

• Speak to your church leader: Vicars, rectors, or chaplains often have spiritual directors themselves and can refer you.
• Use online directories: The London Centre for Spiritual Direction maintains a comprehensive directory of trained, vetted spiritual directors, including those offering remote sessions.
• Contact a spirituality adviser: In dioceses like London, each area has a designated adviser to help people connect with a suitable director.

It’s typical to meet every 6–8 weeks for 50–60 minutes. Some directors charge a fee—often on a sliding scale—but many offer their time freely. As Bruce notes, “Nobody should be turned away because they can’t afford it.”

Jenny adds, “if you value getting the time to get your hair cut, then wouldn’t you put that investment into your relationship with God?”

Becoming a Spiritual Director

Could you become a spiritual director? Jack thinks so: “You don’t need to be a guru. You don’t need to be ordained. You just need to be someone who prays and listens well and is willing to offer that as a ministry.” Spiritual direction is open to and can be offered by anyone, irrespective of gender and background. There are a number of training courses—online and in-person—for those who feel called.

In a world that often values speed, productivity, and individualism, spiritual direction offers something radically different: slowness, attentiveness, and shared humanity. It’s a reminder that prayer connects us—not just to God, but to one another.

As Jenny reflects, “Spiritual direction is a gift of the church for everybody,” – for all of us who long to live more fully, more faithfully, more deeply rooted in love.

Interested?

Visit London Centre for Spiritual Direction to explore spiritual directors, training options, and resources.

Because in the end, as Jack says, “You won’t regret it. You really won’t.”

Spirituality advisers in your area