Spiritual Direction at Iona House
History
Spiritual Direction comes from a long tradition within the Christian faith. In the early centuries of the Christian faith, people seeking a monastic-style life would go into the wilderness to pray. People would periodically go into the wilderness to visit these dessert fathers and mothers as a way to bring clarity to the voice of God in their own lives.
Our Context
The spiritual direction offered at Iona House falls within this same tradition. Iona House is purposefully structured as a sort of “wilderness” from ordinary life. It is a place that is intended for sacred space and time.
When you come for spiritual direction at Iona House, our spiritual directors will listen with you for the work of the Holy Spirit in your life. It is not a time for advice. It is also not a time for “teachings” as you would expect from a sermon or Bible study. It is a structured space that is seeking to be sensitive to the voice of God.
Holistic
Sometimes spiritual direction can interconnect with psychological work. The same strengths and weaknesses present in our relationship with others can oftentimes present in our relationship with God as well. Even though there is delineation between the work of a therapist and the work of a spiritual director, it is common for things such as family of origin, marital issues, grief, and anxiety to be a part of spiritual direction.
Iona House Spiritual Direction Offerings:
Individual Spiritual Direction
This is time for you to sit one-on-one with a spiritual director. Given the desire or need, spiritual direction can happen as frequently as weekly or as infrequently as monthly. Sessions are 50 minutes in length and can be held at Iona House or remotely. If sessions are remote, it would be ideal if the person receiving direction visited Iona House seasonally.
Group Spiritual Direction
This is particularly powerful in the context of a group who is seeking unity with each other and who are seeking God together (church staff, church small group, etc.)
Iona House Spiritual Directors
Elizabeth Jones
Director of Soul Care
Elizabeth is from the San Francisco Bay Area and has a master’s degree in counseling psychology (Santa Clara University) alongside receiving additional training to become a spiritual director (Nuos Formation, San Francisco). Elizabeth has also spent time as a hospice grief counselor, spiritual disciplines instructor, equine-assisted psychotherapy horse expert, and project manager in Stanford’s Psychophysiology lab exploring the connection between our minds, bodies and emotions. At Iona House, Elizabeth utilizes her education in counseling psychology, spiritual direction, and theology to oversee many of the spiritual formation aspects of Iona House. She teaches workshops, leads groups, and offers individual and group spiritual direction.