A spiritual director is a trained and usually certified person, lay or ordained, with whom an individual communicates on a regular basis concerning his/her/their spiritual life. A spiritual director listens and, when appropriate, responds by giving “direction” which may include spiritual advice, help with discernment, suggested reading or action, or a question to ponder.
Local trained and certified Episcopal spiritual directors
Ms. Carol Ackley is a spiritual director located in the North Country. She received her certification from the Kairos School of Spiritual Formation in Lancaster, PA. Carol is interested in creating space for contemplative prayer practices. She believes that attending to the inner life we cultivate deeper love to grow in freedom to live into our truest self with God. She welcomes individuals and small groups. Reach Carol at [email protected] or (315) 771-5663.
The Rev. John Crosswaite is a spiritual director and retreat leader grounded in Ignatian and Benedictine spiritualities and experienced in facilitating centering prayer practice retreats. John completed a Masters in Applied Spirituality from USF in 1984 and Spiritual Directors Supervisory training from Mercy Center in Burlingame, California in 1988. Reach John at [email protected] or (315) 767-1728.
The Rev. Rebecca Drebert is a certified spiritual director through the 2-year Wings program. She is located in the Binghamton, New York area. She is also an oblate of the Order of Julian of Norwich, following a Benedictine rule of life, which influences how she approaches spiritual direction. Discernment-of-life decisions are a focus, but she also engages with those looking for a deeper relationship with God. Rebecca can be reached at: [email protected] or (262) 349-6162.
The Rev. Tim Hannon is a spiritual leader and clergyperson in the Syracuse area. He offers spiritual direction to any in need of a listening ear and an open heart. He was trained at the School of Theology in Sewanee and more locally in the Horizons program at the Spiritual Renewal Center. He’s had experience directing folks in Oregon, Wyoming, and here in New York. He is grounded in the Anglican tradition of spiritual care while also attentive to how the Spirit is working in the world today. You can reach him by email at [email protected] or by text/call at 315-264-0146.
The Rev. Richard Schaal is a spiritual director who received his certificate from the Wings program led by Rev. Canon Barbara Price and Fr. John Colacino. His emphasis is on grief counseling and LGBTQ issues as well as our spiritual welfare. Richard serves the folks of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Speedsville and can be reached at [email protected] or at (607) 427-4698.
Ms. Betsy Sentigar is a spiritual director in the Elmira/Corning/Ithaca area. She received her certificate of spiritual direction from the Wings program in Rochester, NY (2009) under the direction of the Rev. Canon Barbara Price, Fr. John Colacino, and Fr. Han vandenBlink, Ph.D. She also has a certificate in group spiritual direction from Shalem Institute (2011-2012) under the direction of Anne Grizzle. Betsy completed the 19th Annotation Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius thru the Mercy Spirituality Center in Rochester, NY (2016). She enjoys both individual and small group work. Her work focuses on the spiritual needs with a complement of spiritual practices per request and includes clergy as well as laity. Betsy can be reached at [email protected] and by phone at (607) 426-8676.
Other Local Resources for Spiritual Direction
The Spiritual Renewal Center in Syracuse offers the choice of 24 highly-trained spiritual directors from various Christian denominations: spiritualrenewalcenter.com.
Sister Mary Donald and the Rev. Robert Dwyer offer spiritual direction at Transfiguration Monastery in Windsor, New York and may be reached at (607) 655-2366.
Ms. Andrea Schaffer, Associate Director of the Office of Faith Formation for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse, offers spiritual direction and may be reached at (607) 348-0746 or [email protected].
Spiritual Retreat Centers
Many spiritual directors will offer spiritual direction through monthly phone calls and/or video-conference sessions. The following retreat centers outside of Central New York may have directors offering this option.
Holy Cross Monastery (Episcopal), West Park, NY
New Skete Monastery (American Russian Orthodox), Cambridge, NY
Spring Water Retreat Center, Springwater, NY
Society of St. John the Evangelist (Episcopal), Cambridge, MA
Other Resources
Spiritual Directors International maintains a directory of spiritual directors from various denominations and wisdom traditions, and offers helpful questions to ask when beginning with a new director.