Only through deeply knowing what it means to be a student, mentor, teacher, son, daughter, mother, father, employee, lover, friend, etc. can we understand and have empathy for people as they struggle through the joys and sorrows of being alive. The reason we speak of the Unseen Minister/Reverend is because much of the work a spiritual counselor does goes unnoticed and unseen. By this we are speaking of the inner soul work that a spiritual counselor does.

As one goes deeper into the experience of what it means to be alive a great sense of respect, admiration, and humility begins to grow. The clearer and deeper we see and experience the human condition, our own human condition and by virtue of the interconnectivity of all life, the human condition of all sentient beings, the more we begin to see the necessity of bringing as much peace and wisdom as possible into the world through our intent, thoughts, and actions.

The work or practice of a reverend/minister acting as a spiritual counselor is an intensely serious, yet joyful, spiritual commitment. One expresses their commitment to helping others in every day tasks. No one has to know you are a spiritual counselor for you to open the door for an elderly person, to help someone who has dropped the contents of a purse and pick them up, to have compassion and say a silent prayer for a person in need who you encounter on the street, or to pick up a piece of garbage that has been dropped on the ground. The main task of the spiritual counselor is to spread the beauty and compassion found through looking deeply into one’s own life in the smallest, seemingly most insignificant everyday situations. Not until a spiritual counselor has learned this lesson thoroughly can he or she begin to really think about working with individuals, possibly clients, on a one-to-one or group basis.

Now that we have discussed the necessary “inner” prerequisites for embarking upon the task of being a spiritual counselor, let’s talk a bit more about the duties, roles, and responsibilities of a spiritual counselor working with and in a community of individuals. By advertising oneself as a spiritual counselor one is agreeing to embark on a path of service to humanity. This service can take many different forms. One could act as a life coach for individuals as they attempt to re-envision and reorganize their lives in a way that is more rewarding and fulfilling personally, both spiritually and materially, and communally with their family and friends. One may meet individually or in groups with clients and discuss various existential and spiritual dilemmas. One could even lead workshops on any number of spiritual practices or topics.

One very important thing to remember and always remind the people you work with is that you are a spiritual counselor and not a psychological counselor. As a spiritual counselor you are not in a position to diagnose mental disorders, depression, or anything similar and you are certainly not permitted to advise a person/client as to certain medications or herbs to take unless you are also an authorized physician, psychiatrist, or herbalist working in an official capacity. This should be taken very seriously because if one oversteps their area of expertise, i.e. a spiritual counselor, one could harm their client and get into serious legal trouble.

On a related topic, it is also very important for one to know when a client is presenting information that is beyond one’s scope of practice as a spiritual counselor and what to do about it. Specifically we are talking about issues such as physical abuse he or she is experiencing or that he or she is inflicting on someone else, thoughts of suicide, severe depression, or something else that seems as if the person may be in danger or is a potential threat to themselves or someone else. As a spiritual counselor you are not a mandated reporter. You are not required by law to report signs, information, or behavior such as the above-mentioned examples. Despite this, it is important to know when it is appropriate to refer a client to a particular agency to deal with a serious or potentially dangerous issue. It is not necessary to refer someone to a specific psychologist or mental health facility, but rather make a suggestion such as: “This particular issue is outside of my scope of practice, but you may want to seek a psychologist to help you work through this difficult time.” Or, in the case of a client who is being abused one may want to suggest that the person seek legal council and/or police guidance and protection.

The most important thing in working with others is to remember that they have the answers to their own dilemmas, and the wisdom to find the answers within themselves. As a spiritual counselor one acts as a guide, sometimes as a support, for people in search of deeper meaning in their lives. Each person has a personal destiny, which like a seed when it is properly nurtured will unlock the full potential of the person. In a certain sense the spiritual counselor does not do anything at all for the client except reflect back to him or her the radiance and wisdom that one already possesses inside. The role of spiritual counselor is much more about “being” then “doing.”

One very useful technique for a spiritual counselor to know is the art of Active Listening. According to Reverend Scott W. Alexander quoted at rruc.org:

“Active listening,” the University of Colorado website tells us, “is a way of listening and responding to another person that improves mutual understanding. Often when people talk to each other, they don’t listen attentively. They are often distracted, half listening, half thinking about something else, [or busy formulating their next response in their own heads]. Active listening [which is especially helpful in conflict situations when we are inclined to be focused on what we are going to say next, not on what is being said to us] is a structured form of listening and responding that FOCUSES THE ATTENTION ON THE SPEAKER. The listener must take care to attend to the speaker fully, and then repeats, [often] in the listener’s own words, what he or she thinks the speaker said. The listener doesn’t have to agree with the speaker, he or she must simply state what they think the speaker said. If the listener did not understand, the speaker can explain some more. Active listening has several benefits. First, it forces people to listen attentively to others. Second, it avoids misunderstandings, as people have to confirm that they really do understand what another person has said. Third, it tends to open people up, to get them to say more.”

Course Continued…