Soul Care / Spiritual Direction
“The human spirit has to be explored gently and with unhurried tenderness.” — Howard Thuman
A Space to Pause, Listen, and Rest
If you reading this page and feel yourself drawn to what soul tending appointments might offer you, I believe you have been led here by a deep and beautiful longing. It could be a longing for compassion, for understanding, for a witness, for deeper joy, for clarity about a decision, for healing, for a place to grieve, for answers to questions, for rest. These longings are signs of life. These are signs of a heart that is thirsting for God.
There is really no way to describe the honor I feel when I listen to someone’s longing for God as it is revealed in their story and also in the daily, seemingly mundane moments of their lives. God is closer than we could ever imagine and yet sometimes it is hard to discern His presence in our lives. My own practice of receiving spiritual direction on a regular basis has been an important rhythm of caring for my soul through the years and it remains one of the primary ways I become aware of and can then respond to the often subtle movements and invitations of God in my life.
One of my favorite poems is called “Clearing” by Martha Postelwaite and in it there is a line that says:
...create a clearing in the dense forest of your life and wait there patiently, until the song that is your life falls into your own cupped hands and you recognize it and greet it.
Spiritual direction is one way to create a clearing: a spacious time set aside to pause, to notice, to rest in our belovedness as we are accompanied by someone whose purpose in that hour is to listen prayerfully and compassionately alongside us, attending to the flickers of the Spirit in all things.
Few are the spaces in our lives when someone is listening to us deeply, not interjecting advice or opinions, but listening for what is beneath our words, helping us name, for example, the questions we may be holding, the hurt we may be carrying, the change we may be working our way through, from a posture of non-judgement and holy curiosity. Spiritual direction is one such space, and it is my great honor to listen and notice how Divine Love is reaching for you.
Please note: I typically meet with clients on Zoom, but accept a few in-person clients local to Chattanooga, TN.
Laura C. says:
I have been meeting with Kaysie for almost 3 years. Meeting with her was my first introduction to spiritual direction and I found it intensely refreshing. Kaysie has a gentle and peaceful presence. She is an excellent listener and encourager. Our beginning together came at a really difficult time for me and she walked with me through a lot of personally hard situations in my life, as well as through some detangling and questioning of my faith. I look forward to each of our meetings together. She is professional yet warm, comforting yet honest, and spiritual yet relevant. Her genuine faith and friendship with Jesus is evident in every conversation. I am so thankful for what she offers and highly recommend her to anyone needing some guidance, discernment, and a listening ear.
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It’s important to note that I have certain approaches to spiritual direction (mine being: trauma-informed, contemplative, embodied, hospitable) but these are not the same things as agendas. Your voice, story, and needs are a priority within our shared space. My approach toward our times together are fashioned gently and collaboratively with you. There will also be moments in which I invite feedback from you to make sure our time together feels safe and spacious. I am committed to you finding that place, even if it means offering you a referral that better suits your needs.
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Your story and soul are the most holy ground. As I have moved toward learning how to best honor others through listening, I hungered for training that would equip me to create safe, sacred space. This led me to complete a series of trainings and courses that help me approach your soul with the dignity it deserves.
I am currently completing my MA in Spiritual Formation and Direction through Richmont Graduate University. I have a two-year training certificate in Spiritual Direction through Richmont and have been sitting with directees (a strange word meaning “clients”) since 2021. I am also a student in the Renovaré Institute for Christian Spiritual Formation, which is a two-year immersion program incorporating training, practices, community, and praxis work around spiritual formation. I also have a certificate in Level 1 and Level 2 Narrative-Focused Trauma Care through The Allender Center which is housed within the Seattle School for Psychology and Theology. Because of this, I consider myself a trauma-informed spiritual director and which means I approach stories with an attention and sensitivity to trauma and spiritual abuse. I am also actively in supervision, which is where I meet regularly with an older, more experienced spiritual director to discuss things in my own story and formation that might prevent me from listening to you well.
Disclaimer: While a Narrative Focused approach to engaging personal stories of childhood harm and trauma may feel therapeutic at times, I am not a licensed therapist. During this process, if you find yourself in need of additional support, I will be glad to help you find a therapist or health care provider in your state.
Spiritual Direction + Soul Care Appointments
Monthly or bi-monthly appointments with Kaysie to gently listen to your life and see how God is reaching out for you in the midst of daily life.
$100 for one hour session.
Soul Tending Circle for Women
An expansive and creative three month journey into the sacred art of listening for the holy in our lives. These twice a month gatherings will help cultivate our awareness of God’s movements and invitations in our mundane or overcrowded lives. Together we will pay attention to the nearness of beauty, the availability of rest, and whispers of God’s love + wisdom. There will be a simple practice or reading offered each week to help open our eyes to the nearness of God. Our gatherings will focus on deeply listening to ourselves, one another, and God — a place to be witnessed and heard without fear of judgement.
1 half-day retreat and 5 two-hour group sessions: $450, or $150 a month
“The human soul doesn’t want to be advised or fixed or saved. It simply wants to be witnessed — to be seen, heard and companioned exactly as it is.”
— Parker Palmer
Book an Appointment
I would be honored to listen to your story.