Spiritual Director Cost

CaptCrunch73 · #1 Feb 7, '12, 5:14 pm

What are the usual costs for a spiritual director?

I found a retreat house that has spiritual directors and contacted them they requested a donation, which seems ok, but I am wondering what the usual cost for a spiritual director is?

Any thoughts?

Thanks

Joannm · #2 Feb 7, '12, 5:26 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptCrunch73

What are the usual costs for a spiritual director?

I found a retreat house that has spiritual directors and contacted them they requested a donation, which seems ok, but I am wondering what the usual cost for a spiritual director is?

Any thoughts?

Thanks

Mine won't take a dime from me. But I know some who ask for a donation of between $25-50 a session but if you can't afford it they may do it for free. I sort of feel that I need to give my SD something but he won't have it so I do things for him for free, like teach a class at his parish or he calls on me for liturgical advice at times.

SuscipeMeDomine · #3 Feb 7, '12, 5:39 pm

I've heard different amounts from different directors ranging from free to about $75 a session.

In part it depends on whether this is something the person needs for income and whether they have expenses related to direction. (For example, if they have to pay for the space they use it seems only fair for the directee to cover the cost.) Some directors also have the philosophy that people value what they pay for.

I've never heard of someone being turned away because they couldn't pay. Fees can always be adjusted.

mashie · #4 Feb 7, '12, 7:02 pm

I gave mine a gift card and dinner out.

Patavium · #5 Feb 7, '12, 8:22 pm

Mine is free, but he is also one of the priests at my church. We usually talk somedays after Mass.

Anathama Sit · #6 Feb 7, '12, 11:50 pm

Mine, God bless his soul, has never charged me a dime, and when I have tried to pay him or donate to him he refuses it. He says that if I follow his counsel and strive to do my best to attain a deeper Union with God, then that's payment enough. However I help him out whenever I can and this helps too.

I also have Mass said for him as much as possible and have my friends pray for him as well.

Joannm · #7 Feb 8, '12, 5:25 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anathama Sit

Mine, God bless his soul, has never charged me a dime, and when I have tried to pay him or donate to him he refuses it. He says that if I follow his counsel and strive to do my best to attain a deeper Union with God, then that's payment enough. However I help him out whenever I can and this helps too.

I also have Mass said for him as much as possible and have my friends pray for him as well.

I think there is a big difference between having a parish priests vs a religious priest or sister or a lay person as a director. A parish priest gets a salary from his parish. If he has the time and inclination to do spiritual direction (I am not speaking of the occasional pastoral counseling session but ongoing serious spiritual direction) and can fit it into his schedule of parish duties, then there is really no need to pay him, even if the person being directed is not one of his parishioners (as is my case). But a religious or lay person may be doing this as a means of additional income or support for their congregation. Paying a religious would be considered a donation to their congregation. If the director is a lay person, however, that is compensation for their time. I do know a number of qualified lay people who are directors and they ask for $25 or whatever a person can give. But I would be wary of someone who hangs out a shingle as a spiritual director and asks for big bucks a session. Get recommendations, recommendations, and more recommendations. A good director should also allow for a few "trial" sessions to see if you are a good match for each other.

Anathama Sit · #8 Feb 8, '12, 9:12 am

Just a note in passing, my spiritual director is also my Confessor. He is a religious priest.

CaptCrunch73 · #9 Feb 8, '12, 12:47 pm

Thank you all for your responses, they were helpful.

I had inquired for spiritual direction from an order that offers spiritual direction through a retreat house. They had a suggested donation but would not turn me away. I think in this case it makes sense to ask for a donation, I was just wondering about the costs. I'm not versed in spiritual direction.

**Bookcat** · #10 Feb 9, '12, 11:22 am

$0.00

m134e5 · #11 Feb 10, '12, 12:50 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptCrunch73

Thank you all for your responses, they were helpful.

I had inquired for spiritual direction from an order that offers spiritual direction through a retreat house. They had a suggested donation but would not turn me away. I think in this case it makes sense to ask for a donation, I was just wondering about the costs. I'm not versed in spiritual direction.

In this case, this is one of the ways they support themselves. They have to make a living somehow, and if spiritual direction is how they do it, I would compensate them for it- but only in a situation such as this. In other cases, I might buy them dinner from time to time, but that would be because I know them well enough at that point that they are also a friend (and I'd do that for any friend).

MtnDwellar · #12 Feb 10, '12, 3:03 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anathama Sit

Just a note in passing, my spiritual director is also my Confessor. He is a religious priest.

You are fortunate.

Anathama Sit · #13 Feb 10, '12, 5:54 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by MtnDwellar

You are fortunate.

I count myself as blessed. He's contemplative too.

Politica · #14 Feb 12, '12, 9:37 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptCrunch73

Thank you all for your responses, they were helpful.

I had inquired for spiritual direction from an order that offers spiritual direction through a retreat house. They had a suggested donation but would not turn me away. I think in this case it makes sense to ask for a donation, I was just wondering about the costs. I'm not versed in spiritual direction.

What was the suggested donation, if I can ask? I'm going to a Passionist retreat house for assessment for a spiritual director. I have not had my appointment. Passionists are entirely self-supporting and this is a part of their work, so I expect that a donation is expected. If it's $75 it is going to be way out of my means since I'm out of work, not collecting any unemployment since I've been out of work for 2 years.

Thanks.