Dates

August 26

September 2, 9, 30

October 7, 14, 21

November 4, 11, 18

December 2, 9

Day & Time

Tuesdays
7:00am - 9:00am PST

Format

12 Weekly
Virtual Sessions

Now accepting Applications!
If you haven't already created a log in, you will be asked to do so. 
Spiritual Accompaniment with Children is for spiritual directors and those who feel called to a listening ministry with children. Students who are interested in this course will have noticed a lifelong interest in the spiritual lives of children and in the ministry of spiritual accompaniment. This class will consist of learning through reading and discussion and learning through practicum sessions with children. Those interested are required to complete an essay and an interview with the instructor before admittance. Please note there is a $25 application fee.  

Cost: $550. Course fee includes supervision sessions. Scholarships are available.  

Course Description: Spiritual Accompaniment with Children is designed to form adults into listening companions for children. Through readings and experiences, adults will learn about the unique aspects of a child’s life with God and how to come alongside and support. Adults will gain information and insights around children’s spiritual formation and how meeting the child where they are with acceptance and encouragement opens the child to resiliency and a lifelong relationship with the Divine. This is a practicum course therefore participants will be meeting with children and bringing those sessions to supervision conversations.  
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Through this course, you will...

Learn the four elements of children's spiritual formation. 
Explore and understand the various dimensions of the person and how that impacts the spiritual lives of children.
Grow in skills and posture to be a listening presence for children.
Explore and reflect upon your own childhood experiences of God in the presence of a trained spiritual director.
Engage in intentional child-like spiritual practices that are natural to children.
Describe, practice and implement the distinctive elements in the practice of listening with children.
Develop and practice spiritual direction skills that meet children where they are.
Notice moments of transcendence and the Spirit's invitation in the life of a child.

Requirements for Spiritual Direction
with Children Certificate

Class attendance and participation is required at all sessions. One excused absence is allowed.
Eight hours of spiritual direction sessions with children.
Participate in 4 Group Supervision Sessions.

Your Guide

Terra McDaniel

Terra is a spiritual director, teacher, and supervisor who loves making space for people of all ages to tune into the holy and their own souls. She is the author of Hopeful Lament: Tending Our Grief Through Spiritual Practices. She received an MDiv with a concentration in spiritual formation from Portland Seminary. Terra is thankful her daughter, son-in-law, and twin grandchildren are only a short drive away.
You can find her online at terramcdaniel.com.
Note from Terra: As young people are living through the same complicated moment in history that we are, accompanying children in spiritual conversations becomes all the more important. Our passion is to help kids delight in how fully they are seen, known, and loved by God. Spiritual Accompaniment with Children training exists to help adults empower children to find antidotes to isolation, discord, and pain as they listen and respond to themselves and to the Holy One.

  Since participating as a student at the first offering of Spiritual Accompaniment with Children in 2018, I’ve had the joy of being part of every iteration of the course, accompanying cohorts of listening adults as a mentor and co-teacher, and listening with countless children myself. I’ve borne witness to stories of children finding their voices and telling their hard and beautiful stories. Of learning to trust themselves and their sense of God. I am beyond grateful to be part of this and look forward to learning with you this fall!

Your Guide

Ellie Beatty

After a career educating young children and directing a Christian preschool, Ellie became a Spiritual Accompanist with Children in 2020. She delights in helping children recognize and respond to God’s loving care for them, encouraging them to form a lifelong friendship with Jesus. It is Ellie’s pleasure to teach and mentor adults to welcome children, to listen well and to encourage children to recognize and respond to God’s presence in their lives. Ellie holds an M.S. Ed. in Early Childhood from Boston University’s Wheelock College, and is a spiritual director, and parent educator. In her free time she also plays euphonium, quilts, and watches birds. Ellie and her husband are the parents of two adult sons and live in southern New Hampshire.

Your Guide

Julia Barger

Julia began accompanying children when she was a teenage swimming instructor. Since then, being with children has been her most natural posture. After 10 years of directing a Godly Play program for her church, Julia discovered Spiritual Direction with Children through Dr. Lacy Finn Borgo’s book, “Spiritual Conversations with Children”. Sensing a strong calling to this work, she enrolled in the 2021 class. She has since found Holy Listening with children a thin place and personally transformational. Helping others discover the practice of resting in the work of the Spirit in the presence of children is a privilege and a joy.

After years of working with children and pursuing a teaching degree, Julia got married and raised four wonderful children with her husband of 35 years (so far!). Homeschooling, teaching and encouraging parents have been a significant part of her life. She currently works as a Children and Family Pastor. She also loves morning coffee with her hubby, hiking in her backyard of the beautiful Pacific Northwest, spending holidays at the beach and being with her adult children who live all over the world.

Your Guide

Kaisa Stenberg-Lee

Kaisa has listened to the sacred stories of both children and adults first as an educator, then as a family pastor, and since 2015 as a spiritual director through the practice of spiritual direction. After 20 years of living in Italy, Wales, The Netherlands and Colorado, USA, she recently returned to her country of origin, Finland, with her husband and a 5 year-old son. She is thrilled to get to come alongside others in this life affirming and life changing journey that she knows the Spiritual Accompaniment with Children course to be! You can read more about Kaisa at www.kutsucompanions.com