spiritual directors and counsellors
Barbara Baillie
My name is Barbara Baillie. I am married with four adult children and two grandsons and I have been working as a spiritual director since 1991. I come from a Christian perspective but have worked with many people who are on a spiritual path that is not Christian. I have a passion for Ignatian spirituality and prayer using the Christian scriptures. I also work extensively with the Enneagram personality typology in order to facilitate people to become the person they have been created to be. Midlife issues are also one of my areas of interest and expertise.
My first degree was in education. Then I completed a Masters of Theological Studies and the course work for a Masters of Sacred Theology. During my time at theological college I majored in pastoral studies and pastoral counseling. At present I have completed all course work for a Masters of Arts in Pastoral Psychology and Counseling with an art therapy specialization at St Stephen’s College, Edmonton. I am in the process of writing my thesis to complete this degree.
My training in spiritual direction was done at Queens House of Retreats in Saskatoon. I completed the training in 1991 and was hired on at that same retreat house as a member of program staff. I also participated in Advanced Spiritual Direction Training at Loyola House in Guelph in 1996. In 2002, I attended a course in Expressive Arts and Spiritual Mentoring and one in Embodied Spirit at Loyola University in Chicago and in 2003, I trained as a Midlife Directions facilitator with Anne Brennan and Janice Brewi in Mahwah, New Jersey.
Fees: Sliding scale for Spiritual Direction: To be discussed with the client.
Suggested: $50-$70
Counseling: $65-$80
Wayne Codling
I hold an undergraduate arts degree in Buddhism and I have worked extensively with people afflicted with mental illnesses, but my relevant counselling credential is that I am a lineage holder in Soto Zen as established by the monk Shunryu Suzuki-roshi. Zen is about meditation, so my mature Zen practice is as a teacher of meditation and a purveyor of an exegetical narrative around the concept of the Middle Way. Very often, bringing one's effort to crafting a Middle Way viewpoint is sufficient to suggest to distressed individuals how to proceed with their lives. But no matter how well or compelling I am able to speak about it, a Middle Way viewpoint emerges primarily through meditation. This is what my experience and my practice have prepared me to offer to groups or individuals.
I have been quietly teaching Zen meditation in the Victoria area for the past eight years, but I have been studying Buddhism as a path for more than 30 years. I can usually be a trusted ally in crafting a middle way response to any stressful situation. I have been doing this practice for so long now, with no gaining idea, that those who think a meditation practice would enhance their spiritual well being usually find my reflections very accessible and useful. It is easy for prospective clients to check me in advance: attend one of my Sunday Zen meditation groups at Queenswood or listen to my podcasts at http://www.queenswoodvictoria.ca/sites/default/files/zenmeditation-wayne....
Traditionally, Buddhist monks survived on donations from their lay communities. I, too, offer my counsel without fee and rely on the person to donate some amount of money that reflects the value of my intervention and their individual affluence. For information only, the average donation per session is in the $50 - $100 range.
Sarah Comeau, ssa
My formation to become a spiritual director started in Montreal 1977 with a group of lay and religious people, under the direction of two Jesuit priests. These two men not only shared their experiences and instructions but supervised our practice.
Over the years from 1977 and 1984, Guelph Retreat Centre offered several workshops in spiritual direction that were most interesting as well as instructive and practical in the field.
In 1984-85, I took part in a year’s intensive and practical training at the Centre for Religious Development in Cambridge, Mass.
I was also involved in giving spiritual direction workshops in Montreal, QP, Winnipeg, MN. Burlingame CA, and at Queenswood in 1990.
Spiritual Direction or spiritual accompaniment has been the joy of my life!
Sarah Donnelly
I was born and raised in southern Ontario, receiving my undergraduate degree from the University of Waterloo and my Masters of Divinity from St. Peter's Seminary (University of Western Ontario). I was the Director of the Family Resource Centre, Catholic Diocese of Calgary from 1994-2001, working in the areas of marriage preparation, support and enrichment, separated/divorced support, other healing and educational ministries, and offering workshops and retreats. I also started my own business during that time which allowed me to work within broader ecumenical circles.
A serious car accident in 2001 involved the death of my fiancé and the ending of both my parent's marriage and my employment with the Diocese of Calgary. It was an extremely difficult and sad time in my life. But my road to recovery led me to meet and happily marry Scott Pittendrigh, Rector of St. John's Anglican Church in Cobble Hill. After moving to Vancouver Island I continued to work in areas that I love: offering retreats, workshops, grief support groups, spiritual direction, and funerals to the ecumenical Christian community on Vancouver Island, throughout western Canada and beyond. I was baptized in the Anglican tradition, raised in the Roman Catholic tradition, and rejoined the Anglican Church of Canada in 2008. Scott, our golden retriever Dudley and I live in Cowichan Bay, BC.
I began to receive spiritual direction in 1990 when I started my Master's of Divinity and have enjoyed journeying with a spiritual director - usually meeting on a monthly basis - ever since. I have found the constant support, both in terms of prayerful encouragement and advise to be invaluable - it is one of the greatest gifts I continue to give myself. A spiritual director is someone who can offer a more objective perspective, and can remind us of truths that we often forget in the midst of busyness or a bout of discouragement. Because this relationship is not "therapy" it can be ongoing, often lasting several years.
I first began to offer spiritual direction in 2002 following my car accident. Since then I have had the privilege of accompanying more than 21 people on their own journey. While I did receive some training in this ministry during my studies at St. Peter's Seminary, the listening skills I offer have emerged through the lived experience of participating in this ministry both as "directee" and "director," personal reading and study, and belonging to a support group for spiritual directors that meets monthly to provide peer supervision. I plan to enroll in further studies in spiritual direction in the fall of 2010.
While I am available to anyone who would like to explore whether I would be a suitable spiritual director for them I am particularly interested in working with people who have a desire to reflect upon the loss they have experienced in their life, whether that be a physical death, loss of good health, a loss of faith, hope or direction. As my experience is grounded in Christian spirituality from a "progressive" point of view I am most comfortable working with people coming from a Roman Catholic, Anglican or mainline Protestant background, whether they are currently attending a church or are on a "sabbatical" from organized religion.
My current rate is $50-60 per session at Queenswood, and $30-60 per session in my home office in Cowichan Bay. For more information on the ministry I offer please go to my website: www.sarahdonnelly.ca
Flo Follero-Pugh
I provide job and career counselling through my private practice, called WorkFlo Career Counselling. No matter who you are, I believe in providing the same supportive and encouraging environment, where you can reach your personal, educational, and career goals.
In 2001, I graduated from the University of Victoria with my Masters of Education in Counselling Psychology. Wanting to help others with goal setting and life planning, I decided to specialize in career counselling. Since then, I’ve journeyed with clients ranging from the street kid to the professional executive, and everyone in between.
I’m a member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association; and my rate for in-person sessions is $75 per hour, on a sliding scale. Visit me at www.workflo.ca to read more about my on-line services and fees.
And get to work, with WorkFlo.
Debra Freeman, ssa
Debra Freeman, ssa believes in the beauty, goodness and resiliency of the human spirit and its thrust toward greater wholeness, harmony and “at-oneness” with the God of one’s understanding. She feels blessed by and grateful to those whom she’s been privileged to accompany over many years of pastoral ministry: as palliative care chaplain to those living with cancer and AIDS, spiritual director, retreat facilitator and as former Coordinator of Queenswood. Debra holds a Master’s of Arts in Ministry and Spirituality from Regis College in Toronto.
Bernadette MacIsaac, BA, D.Ed, MA, DSD
Presently, I am working as a spiritual director/companion, retreat facilitator, program coordinator for St. Joseph Parish and educational consultant for SelfDesign. I live in Victoria with my husband, hedgehog and three older teens.
I bring over 20 years of experience in the fields of spirituality and education. My formal formation and training as a spiritual director is from Regis (Jesuit) College at the University of Toronto. Familiar with many spiritual practices, such as Ignatian spirituality, contemplative spirituality and centering prayer, I am engaged in discernment and gratitude practices.
In addition to individual spiritual direction, I have led group spiritual direction sessions and silent retreats. I have also facilitated workshops on discernment, and sacred journey workshops for families.
From Catholic roots, I work with seekers from all walks of life –in my own tradition, in ecumenical and interfaith settings and with people with no spiritual affiliation. Often I journey with people through loss and grief periods, and through the many transition periods in life. I am honored to accompany and support seekers on their unique journey, and invite each person to discern the presence of the sacred in the corners of their lives.
Fee: By donation
Suggested sliding scale starts at $25.
Cheryl Macpherson
I began my working life as a teacher in New Zealand and continue to find teaching skills valuable in providing spiritual companioning and retreat facilitation. I am passionate about deep listening; being fully prayerfully present and listening from the heart for what connects us while appreciating the differences. For me spiritual direction is very much about creating the spaciousness for listening with and reflecting on the sacredness of life. It is also about being open to a presence beyond words while listening together for guidance in the conversation and the quiet.
I bring a variety of life experiences and training to my role as spiritual guide. In 1992 I received a Certificate of Counselling Support from Camosun College. In 1997 I did clinical pastoral counselling training at Island Pastoral Services in Victoria and later studies in Bowen theory. During that time I trained with the Burquitlum Grief Recovery Society and began facilitating Grief Recovery groups. In 1999 while pursuing an interest in holistic healing and the mind, body spirit connection I completed Master level training in the Usui system of natural healing (Reiki).During this time I completed the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises. In 2003 I completed a year of advanced Enneagram studies and in 2006 I was certified as a teacher of the Enneagram in the Helen Palmer narrative tradition. I enjoy introducing the Enneagram as a tool for increasing self awareness, compassion and living in right relationship with self, others and God. I have received teaching from Rev Cynthia Bourgeault PhD of the Contemplative Society on leadership in contemplative practice. My training in Spiritual Direction was done at Vancouver School of Theology through the Pacific Jubilee Program in Spiritual Direction which I completed in 2004. I have been offering spiritual direction since 2001.
I have great respect for the spirituality of 12 step programs and I am familiar with the process of hearing a 5th step and working with women exploring the 11th step. I am a member of the United church of Canada and companion people from many differing spiritual paths. My own spiritual practice includes centering prayer, lectio divina, meditation, journaling and creating mandalas. I have had a spiritual companion for the past 13 years and continue to benefit from this ongoing relationship. I am a member of a peer support and supervision group of spiritual directors which meets monthly.
My current rate at Queenswood is $50 per hour. At my home office $40-$50 Sliding scale available.
Venerable Eshu Martin
Venerable Eshu Martin is the Abbot of the Victoria Zen Centre. Eshu began his training in Zen in 1994, and was ordained in the Rinzai Zen tradition in 1999.
At the Victoria Zen Centre, Eshu guides a full-spectrum program of Zen practice from introductory courses to residential monastic training, which offers people of all levels of interest the opportunity to experience Zen Buddhism through practice in a format that is accessible, authentic, and relevant to the time and culture.
Before accepting the position of Abbot at the Victoria Zen Centre in 2005, Eshu worked in the health and social services sectors, both with youth in the care of the Ministry of Children and Family Development, and with Mental Health and Addiction Services, for the Vancouver Island Health Authority.
Eshu is committed to increasing awareness of, and creating more opportunities for, Buddhist practice in the Greater Victoria area. To this end he is the Buddhist Chaplain at the University of Victoria's Interfaith Chaplaincy, is a past chair of the World Interfaith Education Association (BC) and has been a committee member on the Vancouver Island Health Authority's Spirituality in Mental Health and Addictions Initiative.
Eshu regularly gives talks, and leads workshops all over Vancouver Island. If you are interested in having Eshu participate at a function, please contact the Victoria Zen Centre.
One-on-one spiritual direction is available by appointment.
The rate is $75/hr.
Lucy Reid
I am a spiritual director, an Anglican priest, a writer, and a wife and mother.
I studied theology in England, and after working for 3 years as a deaconess in the Church of England I came to Canada to be ordained priest. I served in parishes in Montreal and Kapuskasing, and then worked in Guelph, Ontario, for 17 years as an ecumenical university chaplain.
During my time in Guelph I also facilitated grief support groups, spirituality in the workplace groups and women’s retreats, and I had two books published: Working with Spirit: Engaging Spirituality to Meet the Challenges of the Workplace, co-authored with Dr. Fred Evers, and published in 2004 by Path Books, Toronto; and She Changes Everything: Seeking the Divine on a Feminist Path, published in 2005 by T. and T. Clark International, New York.
In 2008 I moved to Victoria, BC, to return to parish ministry in a job-share situation with my husband, and to develop my work as a spiritual director, retreat leader and writer.
I care passionately about people who are looking for support and accompaniment in their spiritual journey, whether they are facing a life crisis such bereavement or a career change, or are wanting to go more deeply into their faith and spirituality. My own path has been enriched by dream work, journaling, Ignatian meditation, and mindfulness practice, and I bring those components into my work with others.
My rate for spiritual direction is a sliding scale from $25 - 50 per hour
Dawn Schell
I have a Master of Arts degree in Counselling and have been working as counsellor in the Victoria area for twenty-three years. In those years I worked for a number of not-for-profit agencies that specialized in trauma recovery and career development. I have counselled individuals, families, couples and groups and have worked with people from all ages and stages of life.
My volunteer experience is quite varied and includes: children’s and youth ministry, board development, community theatre, community initiatives on mental health, and advocacy.
I am a member in good standing of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. Currently, I work in private practice both in-person and online (through www.therapyonline.ca). I specialize in career development (from early stages on through retirement) and delight in helping people to find their meaning, purpose and vision.
I also co-facilitate retreats, workshops and seminars for Queenswood and other organizations.
My other profession is Puppeteer and over the years I have incorporated puppetry and storytelling in therapeutic settings.
Current rate per hour is $90.00/session with a sliding scale. Contact me for details.
Jeannette Sloan
For the past 10 years I have been instrumental in helping individuals take a closer look at their present reality and making some necessary changes. In my experience, most problems in life stem from our relationship with the most important people in our lives and rather than spending an inordinate amount of time trying to understand and change the past which we can no longer control, I present a program to help address the present which we can control when we know how. Rather than trying to change others, which rarely works, I help raise peoples’ awareness to the fact that the only real change we can affect is in ourselves.
I have worked with individuals from all religious and cultural backgrounds as I believe the Divine is within each and every person no matter what the label. Although I have many years of training in the field of personal and professional development, I tend to use my training as a Reality Therapist (William Glasser) and training with Marshall Rosenberg’s Compassionate Communication for counselling purposes.
My rate is $50 per hour.
Judy Vestrup
Judy Vestrup Judy Vestrup is a physician and educator, with a Master's Degree is Spirituality and Spiritual Direction from the Vancouver School of Theology. She has experience leading silent retreats and offering small groups in spirituality, including a number of Advent and Lenten series in United Church faith communities. Judy's other interests are the spirituality of midlife and aging. With Bishop Jim Cruickshank, she recently offered a one week program at the Sorrento Center, "The Wideness of Godís Mercy" on the spirituality, psychology and theology of the Book of Jonah. Judy completed the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola in 2002, and maintains an ongoing spiritual direction practice.
