Initial Phone Contact and First Session
I am happy to talk with you by phone to learn about your needs and answer any questions you might have about spiritual direction before you decide to meet in person. Then I usually suggest that we meet for a first session for you to discern whether I am the right fit for you. I ask people to give themselves time to prayerfully reflect before making a decision to continue.
Fees
My typical fee for spiritual direction is $75 per session. However, I am always willing to offer a sliding scale based on a person’s circumstances and ability to pay. I do not want the cost to deter anyone who is interested in spiritual direction. We can always work something out.
Meetings
The frequency of our spiritual direction sessions is something we decide upon together based on your needs. Typically, we begin by meeting monthly for one hour. We will meet in my spiritual direction office, which is a sacred space for calm and reflection. I consider it my job to be in care of the time, and I will bring us to a gentle close at the end of our session.
Confidentiality
Spiritual directors are ethically bound to honor confidentiality. Moreover, as a licensed therapist, I am legally bound to protect your privacy and uphold confidentiality. Confidentiality is the key to making our time together a safe place for you to reveal yourself and build a trusting relationship with me. All personal information is private and may not be shared without your permission.
Exceptions ∙ There are some important exceptions to confidentiality. As a licensed therapist in California, I must report any reasonable suspicion of child abuse, neglect or domestic violence and elder abuse or abuse of a vulnerable adult. I am obligated to protect you from harm if you are likely to harm yourself or if you are gravely disabled and unable to care for yourself. I must notify the police and assist in warning the intended victim if you threaten to seriously hurt someone.
Following my Code of Ethics as a spiritual director, I seek supervision on a regular basis. During this self-reflection time with my supervisor, I may share themes and content from a session – without names or identifying characteristics – in order to learn more about myself and grow as a spiritual director. This prayerful learning time is considered vital for all directors on the spiritual path. Confidentiality is upheld by both supervisor and director.
Digital Privacy
Since privacy and confidentiality are foundation of the spiritual direction relationship, it is important to be aware of the risks of using electronic communication. I do not interface with directees on social media sites to assure confidentiality and maintain ethical boundaries.
If you have questions, please feel free to call me at 408.259.3163 or email me at anne_kangas@hotmail.com.
