Other Services
Spiritual Direction / Counselling
In our practice, we have found our roles as spiritual directors and counsellors inseparable. Because of this lack of differentiation, we have found our work to be particularly creative and enriching, for ourselves and, we trust, for others.
Spiritual direction is a formal relationship where an individual undertakes to discuss what spirituality means to them in a confidential and safe setting. This exploration includes pondering questions like: “What is the meaning of my life? What is the meaning of suffering? How can I cultivate goodness and love? What is my relationship to God/Amida/ the Ultimate/ Divine Mystery?”
Often spiritual direction is used to discern the direction of one’s life; a sense that one is called by something/One greater than ourselves to live a certain way or to be of particular use. This work is not about problem solving; rather, it is about further human development and ‘soul searching’.
We all, of course, come to spiritual direction with a host of past conditioning. This conditioning influences spiritual inquiry. Behind every desire to understand the meaning of death, suffering, purpose or the longing for connection to God/Amida/the Ultimate/Divine Mystery, there is a plethora of conscious and unconscious assumptions that may support or hinder our unfolding. Often our desire to undertake spiritual direction and/or counselling begins with an experience of discouragement, failure, loss, pain and doubt, etc. The way we relate to these experiences are embedded in the web of our personal, social, religious/spiritual and environmental histories. The more inclusive our exploration is of these realities, the more we honour the depth of who we are.
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Specializations
Buddhist Spiritual Direction/Counselling
with Teresa Bryant
Buddhist Counsellors are knowledgeable in the Abhidharma and trained in Buddhist Psychotherapy. They are particularly skilled in the areas if mindfulness, body awareness, meditation and spiritual inquiry. Buddhist Spiritual Directors/Counsellors often encourage the use of awareness practices as a way of understanding the self and moving beyond the self.
Teresa Bryant holds a B.A. in Psychology, an M.A. in Religious Anthropology, certification in Spiritual Direction and Adult Education and has extensive training in Buddhist spirituality, psychotherapy and meditation instruction. She has worked in the areas of counselling, meditation instruction and pastoral ministry in university, hospital and community settings for over 20 years. She currently works part-time as a psychological counsellor at King’s University College and is training to be a Buddhist Minister with the Amida Buddha Order, England.
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Dream Work, Spiritual Direction/Counselling
with James Schmeiser
In many ways the true spiritual director/guide is the dream itself. Throughout history there has been an awareness that dreams are given to us every night to help us in our ongoing journey of life. As the circumstances of our lives change from day to day, our dreams will accompany us, drawing us to a greater awareness and realization of the mystery of our being, and our relationship with all of creation and the source of all.
Dreams are not magic. They are wonderful gifts of support and wonder, reminding us from day to day, that we are not limited to our conscious awareness but are capable of being open to the mystery that surrounds our lives and that we, with an attitude of wonder and openness, are able to grow into that mystery.
The specific role of a spiritual director, working in the area of dreams, is to help the dreamer focus more clearly on the dream, ask questions, help to make associations, and work with the further meaning of the symbols and archetypal story lines. It is never the role of the director to interpret another person's dream. It is only the dreamer who is able to discern, with clarity and energy, what the deeper part of their being is presenting to them.
James Schmeiser holds a Ph.D. in Religious Studies and a D.Th. in Theology. As a professor at King’s University College, UWO, he introduced and taught courses on “Visions, Dreams and Religions", and different branches of spirituality. In addition to his university teaching and counseling he has led retreats and offered workshops in both of these areas. Now, as Professor Emeritus, he is dedicating himself to retreat work and spiritual direction/counselling.
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Pastoral Care
We provide pastoral care for those who request it. We are available for: weddings (licensed in the province of Ontario) funerals and life ceremonies, ie., house blessings, infant naming ceremonies, etc.
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