About Spiritual Direction
Rooted in centuries of Christian tradition, spiritual direction is not about receiving rigid advice, but rather paying attention to God's presence in ordinary daily life. Instead of directing, a companion simply listens alongside you to help you notice the gentle movement of the Holy Spirit.
"If we could lift the veil and if we watched with vigilant attention, God would endlessly reveal him-self to us and we should see and rejoice in his active presence in all that befalls us. At every event we should exclaim: 'It is the Lord!'"
~ Jean Pierre de Caussade
A Quiet Space
Is spiritual Direction for me?
This space is for anyone longing to become more attentive to God, especially in seasons of burnout, doubt, or transition.
Sometimes people come to spiritual direction because life is falling apart. Sometimes they come because life is “fine,” but their soul feels numb, restless, or quietly hungry. Either way, spiritual direction offers a steady, prayerful place to slow down and pay attention. without pressure, fixing, or performance.
Think of it like sitting down for an hour and setting your life on the table with someone who won’t rush you. We listen for what’s true, what’s tender, and where God may be gently inviting you next.
Where You Are
Signs you are in the right place
You might be ready for spiritual direction if you find yourself saying things like:
“I feel spiritually tired, and I don’t know how to get my soul back.”
“I’m carrying questions I can’t say out loud in church.”
“My old faith practices aren’t working like they used to.”
“I’m in a transition and I want clarity without anxiety.”
“I want to know God as loving, not just as an idea.”
You don’t need to be “good at prayer.” You don’t need to have clarity. You just need a willingness to show up with your real life.
GRIEF AND LAMENT
Grief isn’t a detour from spiritual growth. It’s often the very ground where deep faith forms.
Spiritual direction can offer a place to:
Weep what’s true
Tell the story of what you lost
Honor the love underneath the pain
Notice how God meets you - sometimes quietly, sometimes through silence, sometimes through simple companionship
You don’t have to hurry grief here. God is not in a rush.
CHURCH WOUNDS
Church hurt can cut deep, especially when the place that was meant to be safe became confusing, controlling, shaming, or spiritually manipulative. Sometimes the wound isn’t one big event; it’s years of subtle pressure.
In spiritual direction, we can:
Name what happened without minimizing it
Grieve what you lost (community, trust, a sense of safety)
Separate Jesus from unhealthy systems or leaders
Rebuild your spiritual life without rushing you back into spaces you’re not ready for
This is a space where your story will be honored.
DECONSTRUCTION AND FAITH SHIFTS
For many people, deconstruction isn’t rebellion, it’s a form of integrity. It’s the moment you
can’t pretend anymore. It’s realizing some parts of your faith were built on fear, certainty culture, or performance… and your soul is asking for what’s real.
Spiritual direction is a gentle space for this because it’s not a debate. It’s not a doctrinal exam. It’s companionship.
We can explore questions like:
What are you releasing, and why?
What do you still trust about Jesus?
What kind of God have you been living with (functionally)?
What might it look like to rebuild from love instead of fear?
You are not alone. And you are not behind.
ILLNESS AND THE VULNERABLE BODY
Illness - our own or someone you love - changes everything. It can bring fear, fatigue, grief, anger, disorientation, and questions about God that feel too tender to speak.
Spiritual direction can be a safe place to:
Lament what’s been lost
Bring your anger and fear without being judged
Notice God’s presence in the fragile, ordinary, bodily realities
Receive comfort that doesn’t bypass pain
You don’t have to “stay positive” here. You get to be honest.
LIFE CHANGES & TRANSITIONS
Life transitions have a way of shaking the map: a move, a new job, marriage, divorce, parenting changes, empty nest, midlife shifts, friendships changing, vocational questions.
In spiritual direction, we listen for:
what you’re releasing (even if it’s good)
what you’re grieving (even if you didn’t expect to)
what you’re being invited into (often one small step at a time)
Discernment doesn’t usually arrive like a lightning bolt. More often it comes like a dimmer switch: slowly, steadily, as we pay attention.
FAITH FATIGUE & WEARINESS
Faith fatigue is the quiet exhaustion that comes from trying hard for a long time: serving, showing up, and doing the right things, only to feel spiritually depleted. In spiritual direction, we make room to ask:
What has your faith been powered by lately: love or pressure?
Where have you been carrying what isn’t yours to carry?
What does rest look like in the presence of God (not just time off)?
Faith fatigue isn’t failure. Often it’s your soul asking for a truer, kinder way to live with God.
DISCERNMENT
Some people come because they’re at a crossroads:
“Should I stay or go?”
“What is God inviting me into?”
“How do I know what’s mine to do?”
“I want wisdom without anxiety.”
Discernment in spiritual direction isn’t about forcing certainty. It’s about listening for the fruit of God’s leading - peace, clarity, courage, and groundedness - and learning to recognize the difference between the Spirit’s invitation and fear’s urgency.
Common seasons and struggles we explore together
What Brings People to This Space
Safe Harbor welcomes you
Come as you are, exactly where you are
WHAT YOU CAN BRING TO A SESSION
Bring whatever is real:
confusion, numbness, longing, anger, hope
a decision you can’t make
a recurring pattern you don’t understand
a Scripture passage , poem, or reading that’s been tugging at you
a season you can’t name yet
You don’t need to tidy it up. We’ll simply begin where you are.
{ GOT A QUESTION? }
Contact Terry
drmullins@shcadallas.net
Safe Harbor Spiritual Direction
Dallas, Texas
{ About me }
Hi, I'm Terry!
As a retired therapist with nearly three decades of professional practice, I spent my career helping individuals and couples navigate healing and relational connection. After retiring, I deepened my own spiritual journey through formation programs with Renovaré and Portland Seminary, along with walking the Camino de Santiago. Today, I serve as a spiritual director, offering a safe harbor for those longing to experience a deeper, wholehearted connection with God.