Gender spiritual counselling

Let's sit together, usually over Zoom or Whereby, and ask your higher Self or the God of your understanding to offer direction on whatever matter you might be searching answers for, wanting to make sense of or needing words of comfort, a listening ear or assurance for. Let me be your partner in your searching and a compassionate friend.

What is "spiritual" counselling?

Through prayer, compassionate listening and being open to guidance, spiritual counselling offers a sacred space for tuning into matters of the heart. It is relevant for whatever question, curiosity or challenge you may be facing. This of course includes questions of gender and how this may impact the way you interact with the world.

"Spiritual counselling" is in many ways an unfortunate term. To counsel typically has therapeutic connotations, but this misses what spiritual counselling is about. This said, spiritual counselling offers an opportunity to attend to whatever might be on your mind or heart – working out the way forward, coping with a major life change, moving on from past pain, coming out to others about your gender or sexuality, amongst many other situations. It creates a unique space for opening to what your heart has to say, and is always relevant where matters of a 'soul in anguish' are concerned.

This form of counselling is more of a dialogue, created in an especially reserved space. For those who can accept this, this means inviting the Divine (Whoever or whatever you may conceive them to be) to sit right at the centre of our conversation. This is what I and many others call creating sacred space, a place in which we might be open to inspired leading, revelation and exploration. It is a dialogue in which I act as a compassionate friend, a partner with you, working alongside you to gain insight, comfort and inspiration.

In such a space, we aim to help you find answers to whatever you want to bring to the conversation. This may involve open questions, soul searching and trying to understand why something is happening. Answers come through the questioning, listening and occasionally invited suggestions or thoughts that I may offer, but most importantly, from what comes into your mind and heart.

At times, this may involve delving deep. Issues that at first seemed to be upper-most in your mind may be underpinned by hidden motivations, fears, past experiences or subconscious beliefs. Often, they may ultimately be directed at ‘life’, ‘the Universe’ or ‘God’.

Asking for healing or stepping back in time to give assurance to a once troubled child might form a part of the process. As a coach, counsellor and as someone who has experienced different practices and been exposed to different teachings and perspectives, I may be able to suggest appropriate reading, guided mediation, suggested practice or prayer to help in any situation. But my role isn’t to steer our conversation, merely to be a facilitator and a listening ear, as well as a second brain, heart and body through which the Divine might act.

I'm no kind of expert, though am properly trained and supervised to serve my clients with integrity. Neither am I a miracle-worker, psychologist, or therapist, although have other training and professional experience in these or similar fields. I always strive to understand what the boundaries for the help I can offer are. I do not impose my own beliefs on my clients, but act as a companion to them. This involves sincerity, holding those I work with, and being ready to make space for silence when it’s called for. I come to conversations with an open and loving heart, always having a client’s best interests at heart.

What is spiritual counselling? In this brief video, I attempt to offer my thoughts on the meaning and value of spiritual counselling. Simply click on the play button above to watch.

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