Spiritual Formation and Direction Ministries

By learning the lifestyle rhythms of Jesus first through our Journey process, our spiritual direction training process is unique and deeply transformative. Our formal spiritual direction training is enhanced by the student bringing into the training a lifestyle already deeply rooted in the rhythms of Jesus. 

In addition to training spiritual directors in a cognitive learning style, our prayerful goal is to also provide opportunities for lifestyle transformation that result in an abiding life with Jesus that flows into and empowers the ministry of the spiritual director.

Visit The Leadership Institute's School of Spiritual Direction

Located in San Francisco, Nuos Formation provides a 2 year training program in Spiritual Direction.

This course seeks to harness both the richness of the tradition of spiritual direction as well as the contributions of object relations psychology and even more recently, interpersonal neurobiology. For this reason, the content spans the spectrum of graduate level and popular level reading, personal prayer and reflection assignments, as well as rigorous clinical practicum (second year). Nuos training meets all requirements meant for membership for ESDA.

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The vision of PAX is to inspire people & churches to experience the transforming love of God, becoming agents of healing & change in their communities & the world. At the heart of our vision is to nurture & train individuals & worshipping communities in sacred listening & soul care, fostering vulnerability, curiosity, & belonging in their relationship with God & one another. We seek to nurture a vibrant & healthy spirituality rooted in the love of God; and with love as our foundation to be "contemplatives in action" as co-laborers with Christ.

Certificate Training in Spiritual Direction: A 2-year training program grounded in contemplative listening designed to help you experience & grow in the art of spiritual direction.

Certificate Training in Spiritual Formation: A 9-month program where you will be equipped to lead others in spiritual formation ministries & dive deeper into the unique dynamics of Christian Spirituality. You can read more and register for this online cohort community here.

Certificate Training in the Enneagram: A unique program designed specifically for spiritual directors, counselors, & life coaches in the use of the Enneagram as part of your ministries of 1-on-1 soul care. This program is facilitated by spiritual directors & authors, Revs. Doug & Adele Calhoun. You can read more and register here.

For more information, visit our website or reach out to contactpaxcenter@gmail.com. You can also find us on Facebook & Instagram at @paxcenter.

Visit the Pax Center Online

Peacock Soul Care (PSC) is a contemplative Trinitarian institute that is committed to nurturing souls, educating minds, and cultivating spirituality. PSC offers a two-year certificate program in spiritual direction and spiritual formation. In addition we also offer soul care leadership classes.

We are committed to serving people and empowering disciples as they seek to experience an ever-increasing presence of the Holy Spirit. The ultimate desire is for them to encounter ongoing formation that transforms them more into the image of Christ (imago dei).  

You are invited to watch short video introducing Peacock Soul Care

(use the following passcode -  4^XDa!4i)

Visit the Peacock Soul Care Online

This seminary offers master's degrees, doctorates, and certificates in spiritual direction and spiritual formation, delivered either locally in Oregon or online.

Visit Portland Seminary Online

Located in Atlanta, GA, Richmont offers a Graduate Certificate in Spiritual Direction through a series of five 3-credit hour courses. They also offer a fully accredited Masters of Arts in Spiritual Formation and Direction that incorporates the Graduate Certificate courses.  

The programs are based around intensive residencies and synchronous on-line learning.  They are rich in hands-on spiritual direction practice, while they focus on the historical roots of spiritual direction and the role of spiritual direction within the Kingdom of God.  

Topics are explored and experienced in a growing community of learning, prayer, and intentionality.  Please contact Dr. Joshua Rice, the Dean of the School of Ministry at Richmont (jrice@richmont.edu) with questions.

Visit Richmont Online

Selah is a 2-year certificate program in spiritual direction which is intentionally Trinitarian in theology, contemplative in style, and biblical in grounding. This program’s participants and graduates represent over 20 states and 3 foreign countries from a variety of evangelical Protestant backgrounds. 

Both Selah-East (New England) and Selah-West (AZ) are offered within the context of a residential model. Selah nurtures spiritual direction’s foundational understanding of the theology of spiritual formation through faculty teaching during retreat Residencies (5 retreats over 2 years), as well as reading and reflection assignments in between Residencies. 

Selah also develops spiritual direction’s central practice, through small group experience during retreat Residencies, as well as individual experience of offering spiritual direction and reflecting on it with a Selah faculty Supervisor (in person or by phone) in between Residencies. 

Download a brochure or contact Selah Director Susan Currie for more information: Susan@ltinc.org.

Visit Selah Online

With a Pentecostal-Charismatic orientation, Sherpa as an organization is a kind of “outfitter,” “kitting out” spiritual trekkers to go deeper as well as higher in the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Phil 3:14).

Our centerpiece is the two-year Sherpa Certificate in Spiritual Direction Training Program. Its curriculum features: 

• a biblical theology of transformation into Christlikeness, 
• a historical survey of the activity of the Holy Spirit in Christian transformation,
• an exploration of Christian spirituality in the various branches of the Church (Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant),
• with the central focus being on the skills of soul care.

Structured around four intensive residencies offered at retreat centers near US airports, each is followed by six-month terms involving reading, reflection, SD practice, and supervision. 

The program culminates with an immersive experience: an international spiritual pilgrimage including a quiet, guided prayer retreat. 

Sherpa also offers a one-year Certificate in Spiritual Formation (which can be applied toward the two-year SD certificate).

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Founded in 2006 and located in the Pacific Northwest, SoulFormation exists for the wholeness of Christian leaders. SoulFormation has a growing community of spiritual directors and runs both an Academy of Spiritual Formation and School of Spiritual Direction. The Academy of Spiritual Formation (consisting of 4 retreats over 18 months) invites leaders to journey deeper into intimacy with the Trinity through devoting time and intention toward their own spiritual formation, learning to practice spiritual direction in a triad of their peers and learning to lead others in intentional and holistic spiritual formation. 

SoulFormation’s School of Spiritual Direction provides advanced training for those who have completed our Academy of Spiritual Formation and sense a calling to the ministry of spiritual guidance. The School of Spiritual Direction (consisting of 3 retreats over 9 months) offers advanced teaching, direct engagement in spiritual direction, regular peer interaction in triads, and individual supervision. Altogether, these combine to give participants solid academic teaching as well as practical experience. This program is only available to those who have completed our Academy of Spiritual Formation.

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Soul Shepherding helps you to thrive with Jesus in life and leadership through resources, spiritual mentoring, and training. Founders Bill and Kristi Gaultiere are Doctors of Psychology and Spiritual Directors who were personally mentored by Dallas Willard. They have developed a unique model for training pastors and leaders to thrive in their apprenticeship to Jesus Christ, personal wholeness, and ministry to others. 

Their two-year Institute in Orange County, CA features twenty days of experiential learning and soul care for cohorts of 20 people in residential retreats. Also you have the option to earn a certificate in Spiritual Direction through monthly online group supervision. Soul Shepherding was started in 2009 and reaches thousands of people every week. Their Institute has trained men and women in ministry from ten different countries. 

Visit Soul Shepherding online