Spiritual Direction Training Program
At its heart, spiritual direction is a generous, contemplative way of being in this world and living in relationship with the Holy.
Spiritual directors listen deeply—to Spirit, to others, and to the sacred invitations that unfold within them and around them. Through attentive and sacred listening, spiritual directors companion others as they explore their relationship with God and the Holy. In this process, spiritual seekers also discover who they are invited to be in the world.
We believe that this work of deep, compassionate, non-judgmental listening is an essential and desperately needed healing gift in a world longing for wholeness and meaning.
About Our Program
Since 1996, students of Sacred Ground’s Spiritual Direction Formation and Training Program have explored and prepared for this calling to sacred listening.
Our student cohorts are supported by experienced, compassionate faculty while in the program. Students develop meaningful and lifelong friendships with their cohort members. And our graduates are welcomed into a supportive community of the many spiritual directors who have completed the program, are part of our peer supervision groups, or who join our professional development opportunities.
While open to all, Sacred Ground’s program is rooted in the Christian tradition and Ignatian Spirituality.
Ignatian Spirituality is characterized by attentiveness to God’s ongoing activity and presence in the world—in all beings, situations, and circumstances—and by responsiveness to God’s invitation for our lives.
God’s love is the foundation of life and the source of all we have and all we are. A deepened experience of God’s love leads to transformation that includes a desire to share that love with the world. We trust that God’s will always desires for us to give and receive more life and love in every moment and situation.
Through practices of listening to and following Love’s invitations, each person can discover their particular way of contributing to this world’s flourishing.
Sacred Ground’s Spiritual Director Formation and Training Program aims to produce spiritual directors who are able to help people develop as “contemplatives in action.” Such people react with the mind and heart of Christ to heal their past, grow from every present situation, and discern how they are called to deep engagement in God’s work in the world.
The Ignatian Exercises are a program of meditations, prayers, considerations, and contemplative practices developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola to help people deepen their relationship with God and their understanding of how God is calling them to engage in God’s work in the world. It does so by encouraging a deep personal relationship with the person of Jesus Christ, on whose life we seek to model our own. It is a transformative experience, now typically made as a “retreat in daily life” over a 32-week period.
Our spiritual direction formation and training program combines personal study and reflection, on-line classes, in-person retreats and workshops, and practical experience. In addition, to receive a Sacred Ground spiritual direction certificate, students complete the Ignatian Exercises either prior to or during their time as a Sacred Ground student.
Each year, our student cohorts meet from September through April for two 10- to 12-week semesters. In years one and two, each semester includes a total of three monthly weekend retreat days. (Possibly including one overnight retreat per semester.) Students will meet in real-time with their cohort one evening per week during each semester for online classes, listening practice sessions, and, in the fourth semester, for facilitated supervision.
Students participate in facilitated supervision year three. The format will again include meeting with their cohort in-person and in real-time online.
Our Three-Year Program
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The first year introduces students to listening “with the ears of the heart.” Students explore their spiritual journeys, images of God, and various ways of praying. They are introduced to Christian mystics, the Enneagram basics, and explore adult human and faith development. Students begin to gain practical experience in listening skills.
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The second year focuses on listening deeply to self, others, and to the Spirit in order to become a compassionate listening presence in everyday life. Students immerse themselves in the Ignatian tradition, from which our spiritual direction practice flows. Students also integrate the learning of previous semesters as they begin to practice and are coached in the art of spiritual direction.
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The third year focuses on the skills, calling, and practical experience of being a spiritual director. Students journey individually with at least two directees through the year and meet as a cohort for facilitated supervision.
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View our Faculty Page
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View FAQs here.
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Download our Program at a Glance here.
I decided to answer God’s nudges and apply to join the spiritual direction formation after my husband died. I selected Sacred Ground Center for Spirituality because of its openness to all spiritual seekers, diversity within the faculty, and commitment to providing lifelong learning opportunities within its community of graduates. The programming was varied and held my interest. The candidates within my cohort have become friends. Throughout the experience, I felt stretched, encouraged, and given the space and time to discern my calling to spiritual direction. I would recommend it!
— Julie C.
Tuition and Fees
Application Fee: $25
Years One & Two: $3,000/ yr
Year Three: $1,000
A $250 deposit is due upon acceptance into Sacred Ground’s program.The Ignatian Exercises are not included in our program fees, but students can expect to pay approximately $1,600 for the Exercises. Financial Assistance with tuition and the Extended Ignatian Exercises is available. 
Apply today!
Application Deadline for Fall 2025 Cohort: July 15, 2025
Application Fee - $25
Option to pay online or by check to Sacred Ground Center for Spirituality.