My Work |
EcoDirection Alison is trained in Ecotherapy, a method that uses God's Divine creation as an ally for healing, discernment and hope. Most often our EcoDirection sessions will take place outside, allowing nature to partner and be present, offering support, resource and insight. They serve to reconnect us deeply to the world around us, which can reconnect us to ourselves, God, and the community around us. Seeing ourselves as part of the web of life and part of Creation itself has benefits beyond the spiritual realm, affecting both physical and mental health positively. You can find my post about EcoDirection here: http://www.alisonhendleyhealing.com/blog/what-in-the-world-is-eco-direction I also offer Mindfulness in Nature, exploring the beauty in and around St. Joseph, MN. Slow down, reduce stress, breathe and explore in a prayerful/mindful way. Join me for a hike! For more information on the research and benefits of ecotherapy see https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/3fdf/90202183b73c63cc6feee337faada0b9eef0.pdf Hands on Healing
The healing Alison engages in is based on ancient Christian and Native American spirituality. It incorporates grounding, helping to shift energy to a higher vibration and hands-on healing. She trained with the Foundation for Spiritual Development in San Rafael for three years and believes that healing is different from cure, and brings us to a greater awareness of God, helping us feel more whole, more our true selves who we are created to be. Healing helps us experience our inter-connected nature with all that is, and can open us to such a deep level of love that we can see with fresh eyes. People have experienced the healing Alison offers as full of love, highly intuitive, and healing on many plains of life. Hands on healing occurs when the client is open to receive a flow of energy directly. Healing can occur sitting or lying down fully clothed. Alison will listen for where her hands need to touch, using intuition. |
Spiritual Direction "If there is a single factor that makes spiritual direction effective as a change agency for the soul, it is this: spiritual direction holds our shame at bay long enough for us to see ourselves as God sees us in Christ." — Gary W. Moon Spiritual direction is a process of listening deeply to the longing of the directee, for what is spoken, what is unspoken and how God (the Divine, Wisdom, Higher Power), may be speaking into the conversation. Alison pays attention to all of this and somatic movements as she sits with someone, and offers what she has heard, questions to help someone deepen what they are feeling/hearing/experiencing/knowing, and a slowing down to allow these things to emerge. Alison is a trauma informed spiritual director and has worked with many people through past trauma, including childhood abuse. The body awareness she brings can help clients move where they have previously been stuck, and step into a place where healing can truly happen. Alison has been working with directees for over 16 years, and has experience working with pastors, spiritual but not religious people, seminarians, older adults, young adults, people with cancer, survivors of abuse, youth, the LGBTQ community, those going through times of discernment or feeling the absence of God, first generation immigrants (Asian and Latinix), men and women, fellow healers, and many others. While she is a practicing Christian, Alison is comfortable working with directees who come from a different faith background, or those who do not identify with a specific religion at this time. Supervision
Supervision is essential for all spiritual directors, and others working in healing and caring professions. It allows the practitioner to live into their gifts and strengths while exploring their growing edges in a safe environment. The model I work with is a dialogue model where the practitioner is asked to bring a specific meeting with a client, often using a part of their conversation, to highlight any issues raised during the session. Together we will explore where the practitioner may have been 'hooked' by something the client discussed, any places where the practitioner may have felt stuck, any consultation questions they may have, and celebrate the growth in the practitioner and client. Small Groups, Retreats, Preaching and Nature Retreats Alison is a skilled small group and retreat leader and offers classes in Lectio Divina, Praying with Nature, Centering Prayer and other prayer forms to people in local congregations and other groups interested in an intimate and powerful group experience. She is a creative and deep preacher. Alison leads nature retreats where participants have the chance to sink into how God is meeting them in the natural world. Each person has time alone to be in prayer with an intention they set, and then we gather for our experiences to be heard and affirmed. |