Spiritual companionship (sometimes called spiritual direction) is the sacred act of holding a relational, contemplative space where a trained guide (the Companion) companions someone (the Seeker) to help them notice, discern, and respond to the Divine (in whatever way they define it).

Spiritual direction is about nonjudgmentally supporting a Seeker as they tune into the presence and action of the Divine in their daily life, fostering a deeper, more intimate relationship with the Divine and promoting spiritual growth and transformation. It’s a “holy listening” process, distinct from counseling or mentoring, focusing on the Seeker’s unique journey.

OFFERINGS

• Individual spiritual companionship: One-on-one spiritual companionship offers a dedicated space for deep listening, reflection, and discernment. Together, we attend to your inner life—your questions, longings, transitions, and sense of the sacred. This work is centered entirely on your experience, moving at your pace, and supporting your unique spiritual path with curiosity, compassion, and care.
• Couples spiritual companionship: Spiritual companionship for couples focuses on the shared and individual spiritual lives within a relationship. It creates space to explore meaning, values, connection, and difference—especially during times of transition, conflict, or growth. The process supports deeper listening between partners, fosters mutual understanding, and invites a more intentional, spiritually grounded relationship.
• Group spiritual companionship: In group spiritual companionship, participants gather in a facilitated space of collective reflection and shared presence. Through intentional practices—such as deep listening, silence, arts-based exploration, and guided dialogue—the group becomes a container for insight, connection, and communal wisdom. Each person’s experience is honored while the group dynamic enriches and expands individual and collective spiritual awareness.

RATES

In order to make this practice accessible to all who might benefit from it, while also meeting my needs in the market I occupy, I set my fee structure at three tiers. Please read the descriptions below to discern which tier makes the most sense to you based upon a realistic appraisal of your life circumstances.

• Tier 1 (Sustainer): $85
  • Tier 1 may be for you if… you are employed in a good job, comfortably able to meet your basic needs, own or rent your own home, own or lease a car, can regularly access healthcare, and/or have access to financial stability.
• Tier 2 (Standard): $70
  • Tier 2 may be for you if… you can meet your basic needs most of the time, may experience occasional financial stress, have stable part- to full-time employment, rent on your own or with others, have access to healthcare, and/or may have some savings.
• Tier 3 (Supported): $60
  • Tier 3 may be for you if… you experience stress in meeting your basic needs, have unstable or inconsistent housing, have some difficulty with food security, qualify for government benefits (e.g., disability, social security, SNAP), and/or have very limited financial stability.
  • Please note that I have limited availability at Tier 3. If you have questions or wish to explore other financial accessibility options, please contact me at mattricke@pm.me.

How i engage this practice

Deep Listening… I hold space for what emerges for you, listening deeply to the movement of your spirit. This is a profound and supportive space for exploring what matters most to you.

Contemplative Grounding… In our explorations, we use a meditative and immersive approach that acknowledges and respects the limitations of our rational minds. We tap into the wellspring of all that is and return regularly to a space of contemplation in order to access higher wisdom.

Good Discernment… Spiritual companions are intuitive and quiet guides. I keep the focus on you and what matters most to you, and if you ask, I can provide feedback or gentle guidance.

Accountability… I am accountable to my spiritual companionship supervisor, the broader community of spiritual companions, the ethical guidelines set forth by Spiritual Directors International, and most importantly, to you. I strive to always engage in this practice with authenticity, honesty, and integrity.

Lifelong Learning… I am committed to my own learning, growth, and change. I am constantly engaged in professional and personal development, and I meet with my own spiritual companion as a way to explore and deepen my own spirituality.

Respect for Autonomy and Agency… I honour the uniqueness of who you are, what you bring, and how you engage. I do not impose my own beliefs, inclinations, or predilections on a Seeker; rather, I allow you to find your own way through your spiritual journey.

how we work together

Each session is unique – and I follow your lead to explore what matters most to you.

In a spiritual direction session, expect a confidential, quiet, and reflective conversation (usually an hour, at a frequency that makes sense to you) where you share your spiritual journey, experiences with the Divine, and life challenges. The Companion – who is a trained listener – asks open-ended questions, offers gentle guidance, and helps you notice how the Divine shows up in your life.

We often start each of our one-hour sessions in a contemplative practice to help us to ground and center. Throughout our time together, I follow your lead as we use reflection, prayer or meditation, music, art-making, journaling, and other practices to explore life’s threshold experiences.

We explore spiritual practices without imposing dogma, focusing on your unique path to spiritual growth and wholeness.

practices we can explore

During session, we can use multiple practices to help you to deepen your spiritual exploration. Here are some handouts to introduce you to possibilities.

F.A.Q.

What exactly is spiritual companionship?

In spiritual companionship, a trained or experienced companion uses deep listening to encourage the spiritual story of the other to unfurl. Through this relationship, the person seeking companionship is empowered to explore a deeper experience of God, Allah, Tao, The Universe, nature, or however you may refer to the ground of all being and, at the same time, enjoy a deeper experience of their own lives.

Why do I need a spiritual companion?

We all need companionship in the journey of our life. Meeting with a spiritual companion can be a meaningful step to help you find wholeness and balance in life, not to mention a sense of connection with however you might refer to God/dess, Allah, Yahweh, The Universe, All-That-Is, or the Ground of All Being – that which connects us all.

Do I need to believe in God?

Nope. I work with people who are traditional theists (who believe in a personal god), pantheists (god and universe are synonymous), atheists (no belief in a personal god), agnostics (who knows?!), those who identify as spiritual but not religious, and all those in between. Spirituality is much broader than a religious container can hold.

Is this practice rooted in a specific faith tradition?

Again, nope. While we each have our own worldviews and approaches to matters of the spirit, I hold a nonjudgmental space for you to explore meaning in your own way, with or without attachment to a particular faith tradition. I will not try to indoctrinate or proselytize you.

What do people talk about with a spiritual companion?

It totally depends on what is moving through you. A few popular topics might be: deepening spiritual practices, one’s relationship with their religion of origin, exploring a change of religion, embodiment, suffering, grief, discernment, what spirituality means at this point in your life, and major life transitions, like divorce, retirement, career change, empty nesting, or death and dying.

Is this just therapy, but with spiritual window-dressing?

Spiritual companionship is not psychotherapy, nor is it a replacement for a qualified mental health professional. Our work isn’t clinical – it’s a deep dive into who you are, how you make meaning, and what you need to deepen your spiritual life.

Some people call themselves “spiritual directors”. Why not you? Is it the same thing?

Spiritual directors and spiritual companions often do very similar things. The difference often arises because of training, spiritual tradition or simply an intuitive sense of the practitioner, who chooses the name that he/she/they feel best fits their calling. I prefer the term “companion” because it is inclusive and signals that my role is not to direct you toward or away from something, but rather to walk the journey with you. In Irish, this approach might be translated to anam cara or “soul friend” (from anam “soul” and cara “friend”) – a deep, non-judgmental spiritual relationship.

AFFILIATIONS