Profile: Louise offers safe and confidential spiritual direction and companioning. She is presently the Director of Sapience Spiritual Direction. Louise holds a degree in Divinity and a Psychology degree. Her 37+ years in active ministry in the Anglican Church of Canada provided opportunity to explore spiritual practices of prayer and formation, and experiences of walking with others as they explored their relationship with the Holy One. Louise is now able to devote her time fully to Directional/Companioning work, a vocation that has been where her heart finds its home. She believes and knows the importance of holy listening that provides the container to delve deeply into where the Divine is speaking and leading. Louise has a deep commitment to creating and holding sacred space for others as they reflect on their faith, prayer, spirituality and practices. Open and inclusive, Louise works comfortably with those in the Christian tradition, but is also open to those on another path or faith traditions. She is 2SLGBTQI+ affirming and welcomes any who seek explore and know themselves more fully as God's beloved.

Profile: Gayle loves companioning others as they seek to deepen their connection with the Holy, both within themselves and without. Having served the local parish as an ordained pastor over 20 years, Gayle was certified as a Spiritual Director through the 2-year Haden Institute in North Carolina.

Profile: I WAS ORDAINED IN THE UCC IN 1980 & SERVED UCC AND EPISCOPAL CHURCHES BEFORE MY RETIREMENT IN 2020. I HAVE BEEN OFFERING INTENTIONAL SPIRITUAL DIRECTION SINCE 1995, WHEN I BEGAN MY CONNECTION WITH THE SHALEM INSTITUTE OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION. I BELIEVE EVERY MOMENT OFFERS US AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE & LEARN SOMETHING NEW ABOUT OURSELVES, GOD & WHO WE ARE WITH GOD; SPIRITUAL DIRECTION INVITES US TO SEE OUR DAILY LIVES THROUGH THE LENS OF GOD'S PRESENCE. I EXPERIENCE SPIRITUAL DIRECTION AS A GIFT OF TIME & A HOLY MOMENT IN WHICH WE CAN BE OPEN AND VULNERABLE TO THE MOVEMENT OF THE SPIRIT.

Profile: I am a published writer, and spiritual director with a Masters degree in Psychotherapy from the University of Cambridge, UK where my research dissertation was on the practice of taking therapy outdoors. I was awarded an honors for my Masters dissertation—an exploration of practicing therapy with the natural world in mind; a narrative inquiry. I continue to be immersed in learning and research opportunities with particular attention to EcoSpiritual Direction. As a spiritual director, I lead EcoSpiritual Direction sessions as well as Nature Connecting Activities for retreats. Connecting in nature is a form of communion where the moments of wonder can be truly transformative—to feel the texture of the moss on a tree. Dip your hand in a nearby running creek. Listen into the soundscape. To quite simply pay attention to what you notice. Encounters with nature accompanied by a facilitator can move people towards opportunities for self-reflection and moments of heightened awareness. These embodied connections can be strengthened where they offer lessons in interconnection, diversity and impermanence. As an alum of the Pacific Jubilee Program and a current member of Spiritual Directors International I continue to be informed and learn from an array of resources through Pacific Jubilee, the Vancouver School of Theology, St Dunstan’s Center for Spiritual Renewal and Spiritual Directors International. I am a Christian contemplative whose practice as a spiritual director is fostered by the notion that when a person feels deeply listened to, it follows that they have the sensation of being understood. My practice of spiritual accompaniment is grounded in the qualities of time and attention, deep listening, and sacred conversation. When we give another our time and full attention things happen. It opens us up to possibilities for experiencing transformational change. Christianity is my spiritual holding although it is important to know that this does not limit my understanding of other faith traditions and how I continue to be enriched by them. However you may experience the Holy, I invite you to reach out and connect with me. Canadian born, I live in Bragg Creek, close to Calgary, Alberta where I integrate my love of story writing and inquiry with my love for food, psychotherapy, spiritual direction and nature connecting activities to guide others towards new levels of inner and outer awareness. Availability: in person, on zoom or by phone. Fridays and Saturdays Contact information: [email protected], Tel. 778 918 4796 Fee Structure: I offer payment on a sliding scale based on the notion of an ‘honesty box’—to pay what you can is determined by self-assessment. The payment generally slides between $55-$95 Canadian per hourly session.