The Benefits of Being an SDI Member

SDI Membership is about being a part of a global contemplative movement that contributes to peace, justice, and living in right relationship with all living beings. Your membership supports networking opportunities, publications, educational programming, outreach, and more.

Together we are changing the world through the contemplative action of spiritual companionship. Everyone is welcome to become a member of SDI.

The SDI global learning community is a group of compassionate listeners who are committed to peace and justice. Become a new member or renew your membership on SDI’s secure online store.

Membership benefits include:

  • Being part of a worldwide contemplative movement, supporting the spiritual awakening and growth of all beings.
  • Frequent global and local community and networking opportunities.
  • Listing in the Find a Spiritual Companion Guide: A Worldwide Directory of Available Spiritual Companions
  • Discounts on all educational events and gatherings
  • Discounts on SDI brochures and resources
  • Access to exclusive Group Spiritual Companionship sessions and online Town Halls and Gatherings
  • Subscriptions to Presence Journal, Listen, and Connections Newsletters
  • Discounted liability insurance

Join The SDI Tree of Life

SDI Membership is about being a part of a global contemplative movement that contributes to peace, justice, and living in right relationship with all creation. Your membership supports networking opportunities, publications, educational programming, outreach, and more.

SDI Companions are committed to peace, justice, and the healing of our world.

SDI Companions are committed to community, learning and growing together.

SDI Companions connect here, sharing their stories across our media platforms.

SDI Companions are supported by its programs, events, and media offerings.

SDI exists to nourish spiritual companions and to connect them in community.

Spiritual companions go to work every day – listening, asking questions, offering compassion – to help people find their own answers. Workable answers. Answers that are both personal and practical. That build inner strength and outer equanimity. Spiritual companionship is a calling that honors everyone’s right to choose their own spiritual path. Spiritual companionship serves all society by helping each person find balance and compassion.

But who takes care of the spiritual companions? We do!

SDI exists to support, educate and connect spiritual companions all around the world. We provide a digital community where seekers and directors can find one another. This is the public square of spirituality –  where all people are welcome the way they are, carrying their own traditions (or none). Here we all benefit from being open to the practices, beliefs and rituals of others. Here we share universal human values of love, compassion and respect.

 

SDI Members Come From Here, There, and Everywhere!

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Grow your Practice, Serve the World

SDI maintains the largest database in the world of professional spiritual companions, including spiritual directors, life coaches, chaplains, retreat centers, and training programs. Tens of thousands of people a month search the Find a Spiritual Companion guide for a spiritual companion. SDI Members receive the option to create a searchable profile to be found by spiritual seekers, companions, and directors who require supervision and/or training. 

Publications for SDI Members

Every member receives access to the digital version of Presence: An International Journal of Spiritual Companionship, with the print version mailed out to Members at the Enhanced and Premium levels. Presence is a journal for spiritual directors and companions, formation and training centers, and others in related fields such as pastoral counseling, ministry, and transpersonal psychology. Presence journal is published in March, June, September, and December. Members also have access to the digital version of the prior three issues.

Connections is the official SDI newsletter where members learn of recent developments and news within our inclusive, global learning community. Articles are written by spiritual companions in the SDI Community. The newsletter is available only to Members and is published in Feb, May, August, and November.

Gatherings and Events

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Each year SDI sponsors multiple annual events – local, regional, and large-scale conferences – for those who work in spiritual companionship.

Members receive deep discounts to these events – often the discount is more than the cost of the membership!

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All types of companions participate in our events, including students, faculty, chaplains, spiritual directors, hospice care providers, and ministers who provide pastoral care. All are welcome in SDI’s Public Square of Spiritual Companionship!

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At these events, the focus is on new work and service in support of spiritual companionship as well as opportunities to help hone spiritual companionship skills and contemplative practices.

Organizational Membership

SDI’s Organization Membership includes a listing on our Find A Spiritual Companion Directory, the main search engine on our website. The cost is the same as an individual membership – with options to upgrade so you can post longer descriptions, an image and even a video. This is a great way for prospective students and seekers to find formation programs – and other education programs related to spiritual direction.

Formation programs can add descriptions to the Find a Spiritual Companion Directory so potential students can make a better choice of where they want to learn. Higher tiers of Membership options provide longer descriptions, photos and even videos. 

The Find a Spiritual Companion Directory is a one-stop resource for anyone interested in getting training in spiritual companionship or finding a retreat or a workshop or any other educational program.

Inclusion of all faiths and traditions – including no tradition at all – is central to what we do at SDI. We believe all people and all programs are welcome in the public square of spiritual direction. We celebrate diversity and the mutual respect that can unite us all.  

So please, whether you are a formation program or you offer other spiritual education services, join us … and make your listing available to the thousands of people who visit the Directory every month

Connections is the official SDI newsletter where members learn of recent developments and news within our inclusive, global learning community. Articles are written by spiritual companions in the SDI Community. The newsletter is published in Feb, May, August, and November.

Discounted Liability Insurance (if you qualify*)

As a member of SDI, very affordable liability insurance rates are available, if you qualify*. To contact the American Professional Agency, Inc. for an application form, call 1-800-421-6694 and ask for the Mental Health Programs Team. If you are a spiritual direction student or intern studying in seminary, rabbinical college, or in a spiritual direction enrichment, formation and training program, your membership in SDI affords you special discounted student rates through American Professional Agency, if you qualify. Ask for a student insurance application form. Students receive special discounted rates.

If you are not a student, but are a member of Spiritual Directors International and interested in liability insurance, contact the APA and ask for the regular application form. When you fill out the application, fill in “Spiritual Directors International” in the “Organization” field and identify yourself as a member. Throughout the application form, cross out the mental health titles and insert, “spiritual director.” Upon qualifying for liability insurance, you may request a certificate of insurance specifically for spiritual direction.

Your active membership in Spiritual Directors International does not guarantee you insurance; you need to have your application accepted after completing the American Professional Agency, Inc. questionnaire.

*SDI does not underwrite insurance nor does SDI have an opinion as to whether liability insurance is needed or appropriate for individual members. As an educational not-for-profit that supports the global ministry and service of spiritual direction, SDI provides information about liability insurance for those who request it. Each spiritual companion needs to determine with the guidance of his or her own legal and insurance advisors whether liability insurance is advisable.

Tax Deductible

SDI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization. The federal nonprofit identification number is 943156697. The tax deductible portion of your membership dues and donations is the amount in excess of the fair market value of goods or services received by you. If you have any questions regarding your tax deduction, please consult your personal tax advisor.

Join Us At SDI

You can become an SDI Member, participate in an online webinar or town hall, attend a workshop or conference, experience an SDI Journey, or check out some of our media offerings. Check out our many offerings in the Media and Events section above.

Printable Membership Form

If you would prefer to print your Membership Form, please download by clicking the button to the right.

SDI is Social

Keep up to date with SDI and be in conversation via your favorite social media platforms.

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As a free gift for signing up for SDI’s updates, we are offering you a 59-page eBook filled with contemplative wisdom!

Please use it as you wish: 

  • for inspiration on your spiritual journey
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  • for a moment of reflection 
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