HELPING PEOPLE DISCOVER AND GROW A RELATIONSHIP WITH
THE SPIRITUAL ASPECT OF BEING HUMAN
INTERFAITH SPIRITUAL DIRECTION
CERTIFICATE PROGRAM
This program is designed for those who feel called to a private practice in personal, one-on-one
spiritual direction, and who anticipate working with clients from a variety of faith traditions.
Applications for the 2023 Spiritual Direction Cohort due February 1st 2023.
Classes are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Limited spots are available.
2023 Spiritual Direction Cohort
What is Spiritual Direction?
Our Interfaith Spiritual Direction Certificate Program teaches a non-directive Interfaith approach. We do not believe in telling people how to think, what to believe, how they are supposed to feel, or what to do in any specific circumstances. We believe that the person who comes for direction is the expert to their own spiritual life, and given time and prayerful or meditative reflection, can discern what is best. Thus, we teach skills to help people discern their own deep inner wisdom and to live with a deeper sense of connection and alignment with Spirit.

Program Orientation & Our Approach
The techniques and concepts taught in this program rely on there being a Divine reality or a larger Self. How you may experiences and names this sacred presence will be quite diverse. You will call it “God,” or “Brahman,” “Buddha Nature,” or many other names. However it is conceived of, some acknowledgement and engagement with this Divine reality is essential. We welcome all who share a transcendent concept of Life seeking wholeness and harmony in all things.
Program Structure


Core Curriculum
- Definitions, varieties and history of SD
- Directive and non-directive SD
- SD with the ill, Dying & Bereaved
- Relationship, Generational, and Sexual Issues
- Dreamwork for Guiding Non-Religious People
- Cultivating Holy Listening
- Methods of Spiritual Discernment
- Guiding Non-Religious People
- Relationship, Generational, and Sexual Issues
- Group SD and Group Supervision
- God’s presence in daily life
- Spiritual Life Stories
- Images of the Divine & their impact upon the spiritual life
- Faith Styles & their impact on the SD process
- Dark Night of the Soul
- Varieties of prayer and devotional disciplines
- Addiction and the Longing for Transcendence
- Spiritual Life Stories
- Native Traditions
- Taoism
- Buddhism
- Hinduism
- Islam
- Judaism
- Christianity
- Discerning one’s call
- Rules & Ethics: Boundaries, confidentiality, and self-care
- Generational Issues in SD
- Sexual Issues in SD
- Establishing a business practice of SD
Core Curriculum
Testimonial

“ChI offers you an opportunity to become more fully connected with your spiritual sense and whatever you may call your higher power, and you leave the program with tools that you can use to help you on your way. And because it is interfaith, it gives you a sense of confidence and a sense of know-how and knowledge about the direction to go, and it just connects you with a platform from where to start. It gives you a sense of home, a place to belong, because you develop new relationships with people that you can call upon that you didn’t have before, and it doesn’t matter what they may call their higher power because the language is universal. I just love everybody at ChI . It is an amazing experience.”
Willie Ruth Harris
ChI Interfaith Spiritual Direction student, Tallahassee, Florida

Course Completion Requirements
Course Completion Requirements
Program Leadership

The Rev. Dr. John Mabry holds a PhD in Philosophy and Religion, with special concentrations in Hinduism and Taoism. He has served as editor for such publications as Creation Spirituality magazine and Presence: An International Journal of Spiritual Direction. For the past 18 years, John has directed the interfaith spiritual direction certificate program at the Chaplaincy Institute in Berkeley, California, and has taught world religions, comparative theology, and spiritual guidance at a variety of Bay Area universities.

How Enrollment Works

1 Application
Once you fill out the form, our admissions team will contacts you with information about the application process.


2 Admissions Interview
Once we receive your application, we schedule a live interview in a virtual format.


3 Acceptance
You receive an acceptance letter and all that is necessary to get started. Plan on 2 months time to prepare for the first course (administrative forms, student handbook, class reading and homework assignments).