Is Spiritual Direction Confidential? What You Should Know About Trust, Boundaries, and Supervision

When you enter into spiritual direction, you’re choosing to show up vulnerably—with your questions, your story, and your heart. Understandably, you may be wondering: Is what I share confidential? Will my story be protected?

The short answer is yes—confidentiality is a cornerstone of the spiritual direction relationship. And while spiritual direction is different from counseling, it holds deep ethical commitments and practices to ensure that you are spiritually and emotionally safe.

Let’s unpack what that means.

A Unique and Sacred Conversation

Each session of spiritual direction is guided by you—the seeker. You bring what’s stirring in your heart, and together we listen for the movement of God. I hold that space with compassion, curiosity, and a deep reverence for your story.

Spiritual direction is not about offering advice or solutions. It’s about paying attention to your life, your questions, your sense of the sacred. What’s said in that space is completely confidential. As your spiritual director, I will never share what you say in a session.

Is Spiritual Direction Like Counseling?

While both spiritual direction and counseling are sacred forms of accompaniment, they are different in structure and purpose.

  • Counseling is a clinical practice that requires licensing and the keeping of client records for legal and ethical review.

  • Spiritual direction is a ministry. It’s not regulated by a governmental body and does not involve the keeping of case notes for legal purposes.

Most spiritual directors—including myself—may take light, temporary notes for personal reflection or to remember something for future sessions, but these are never used outside of the direction relationship and are typically destroyed shortly after use.

What About Supervision?

You might also wonder: Does my spiritual director talk to anyone about our sessions?

Most trained spiritual directors make a covenant to be in ongoing supervision—not to review you, but to hold themselves accountable and stay grounded in the practice.

Here’s what that looks like:

  • A spiritual director may reflect on a theme, moment, or dynamic from a session without revealing personal details or identities.

  • Supervision is usually done with a seasoned director or in a trusted peer group, where confidentiality is deeply respected.

  • Names, locations, or specific identifying details are never shared.

Supervision exists to ensure that the director is showing up with clarity and humility. It allows us to ask, “Where might I be bringing my own story into this? Where do I need to grow to be a better listener for someone else’s journey?”

What Might I Take to Supervision?

As a director, I sometimes notice when something from a directee’s experience echoes something from my own life. That’s not something I share in your session—it’s something I take to my own work, whether through supervision or with my own spiritual director.

For example, I might say to my supervisor:
"A directee expressed grief around leaving their faith tradition, and I felt something stir in me. I want to be sure I’m holding space for them—not overlaying my story onto theirs."

This process keeps the direction space centered on you—your voice, your experience, your unfolding path with God.

You Deserve to Feel Safe in Your Spiritual Journey

Confidentiality, supervision, and ongoing formation are part of what make spiritual direction a trustworthy space.

Your story is yours. You deserve to be held with tenderness, attention, and the assurance that your spiritual director is doing their own work, too.

If you’re exploring spiritual direction for the first time, it’s okay to ask these questions in your first meeting. I welcome them.

You’re not just seeking answers—you’re seeking accompaniment. And that sacred work begins with trust.