“Yesterday is gone, tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.

Saint Teresa of Calcutta

Spiritual Accompaniment and Direction

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit

John 15

Two Options to Consider

  • Spiritual Accompaniment

    Pope Benedict XVI famously said that “being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea.” Rather, it is the “encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and decisive direction.” (Deus Caritas Est, 1)

    Perhaps you have encountered the person of Christ and want to unpack with a guide how this “new horizon” the pope speaks of applies to all the areas of your life. Or perhaps you need a reset around some foundational habits? Spiritual Accompaniment could be a good fit for you!

    The goal of accompaniment is to help you integrate step by step the various dimensions of life around the gospel. God desires you to flourish: mind, heart, body, and soul!

    Topics we cover together include: the basics of prayer, daily routines, relationships, making prayerful decisions, making sense of suffering, healing, and more.

    Spiritual Accompaniment typically works best when you can commit to meeting every other week for a period of time. This allows for more consistency, encouragement, and accountability as you learn and grow.

  • Spiritual Direction

    “Spiritual direction is a one-on-one relationship in which the directee’s relationship with God is the fundamental reference point.” (Cf. Spiritual Direction: A Guide for Sharing the Father’s Love)

    Much like accompaniment, direction encourages a consistent rhythm of life marked by daily prayer, the sacraments, and Christian meditation.

    This option presupposes that habits and routines of your life are already solidified. This is a great fit for those who want to go deeper.

    We will cover the principles of discernment that St. Ignatius of Loyola articulates in his Spiritual Exercises.

    These meetings typically occur once a month for as long as the person finds it fruitful.

FAQs

  • We are not meant to do life alone. Accompaniment can be a powerful tool to gain clarity and take daily steps toward the “abundant life” Jesus wants for each of us (John 10:10).

    I often hear, “I pray to God the way I was taught as a young child. Now that I’m older, I say the same rote words out of duty rather than relationship. I want a deeper relationship with Christ.”

    If that thought has crossed your mind, you’re in the right place!

    As you learn the art of prayer and how God desires to speak to your heart in daily life, you will find that it changes everything: your relationships, work, habits, emotional life and, above all, your sense of personal identity and mission.

    You may be faced with a big life decision and want to make that decision in light of God’s loving plan for your life. Speaking with a guide and learning the principles of prayerful decision making can make the process much easier.

    Please note: 1:1 spiritual accompaniment or direction is not meant to replace professional counseling or therapy. However it can be a good supplement to these services.

  • Spiritual accompaniment in this context applies to someone looking for more frequent meetings, more accountability, and more support around basic habits. Meeting twice a month allows for more instruction in the core pillars of the spiritual life. You may just be starting to pray for the first time. Or perhaps you have questions about the faith and want more encouragement and formation. Or you may be in a challenging season of life and want support as you allow Christ into that suffering. Accompaniment typically means we meet only for a season. Once your goals are met, we conclude our meetings. 

    On the other hand, direction is typically for women who have an established prayer life and want ongoing guidance in their relationship with the Lord. This is also a time to learn deeper discernment. Monthly meetings can last as long as you find them useful. 

  • Our meetings will be 1 hour and will usually be every other week or once a month.

    The rates for sessions are:

    $100-once a month

    $75-twice a month

    I never want cost to be an obstacle for you and am willing to work with you.

    We can meet in person or virtually on zoom.

  • We can discuss this on our first phone call. Many people find long term benefit in monthly spiritual direction.

    Often with accompaniment a person wants to meet for a few months and then wrap up when specific goals are met.

    We can be flexible around your needs and assess your progress as we meet over time.

    Every woman is different. After a 15-minute consultation call, we can determine what is best for you.

  • I’ve been a spiritual director for over fifteen years. I spent eight years actively discerning consecrated life and living in a religious community. Four of those years were focused full time on undergraduate studies in the Christian spiritual life, formal spiritual direction training, and pastoral counseling.

    After my discernment period, I received my masters degree in theology from the Pontifical St. John Paul II Institute in Washington DC in 2018.

    I am married with two small children and live in Fort Worth, TX.

  • Let’s schedule a time to connect for 15 minutes!

    I will take the time to listen to your goals, and we can decide if this would be a good fit for you.

    Email me at ask@meganphilip.com to get started.

Contact me.

“Yesterday is Gone, tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.”

Saint Teresa of Calcutta