About Spiritual Guidance
Training Institute
Our Mission
To train spiritual guides/companions and spiritually/religiously curious people by engaging in education, experiences, and relationships for practical, integrative, unitive living. We offer a professional certificate, pilgrimages, and workshops that encompass skills in both interfaith and interspiritual guidance.
Our Vision & Values
To be a visionary organization that promotes the healing and transformation of people through spiritual guidance/companioning and friendship for a more just, peaceful, and loving world.
Our Story
Founded in 2017, Spiritual Guidance Training Institute is the heart-child of two seasoned teachers & spiritual director-supervisors who are dedicated to increasing interfaith education and compassionate presence across traditions. Drs. Jeanette Banashak and Janice Lundy believe that the gateway to personal and planetary peace and well-being occurs when a supportive learning environment can be created for any and all who are interested in exploring, questioning, and deepening their understanding of the many and mysterious ways that the Sacred (Holy Mystery, God, Divine, Universe, Truth, Love, Presence, Spirit) manifests in our lives. Our story continues to develop through our faculty, students, alumni, and the changing spiritual landscape.
Why Interfaith & Interspiritual?
Who are our neighbors? What do they value and how do they make meaning of their lives? How might we extend authentic spiritual friendship, or kindship to proximate and distant neighbors? In the global landscape of individuals from varied religious, spiritual and ethical traditions or none, our programs teach non-judgmental and compassionate presence.
Training in spiritual guidance across traditions--interfaith--and being able to step into the mystery of the depths of individual spiritual experience--interspiritual--allows an individual to offer the deepest empathy and care to anyone with whom they interact--intercontemplative--allows an individual to offer deep empathy and care to anyone with whom they interact. This interfaith, interspiritual and intercontemplative approach to formal presence training is a comprehensive way to both deepen and advance spiritual understanding and care in our homes, neighborhoods, workplaces and religious communities.
Our Training Programs
Our purpose is the training of spiritual guides (companions/directors) in the art and science of spiritual guidance across traditions. We provide a 16-month distance learning program with a residential institute in Racine, WI., resulting in a Certificate in Interfaith/Interspiritual Guidance. We also provide a 5-month distance learning program which results in a certificate in Interfaith/Interspiritual Wisdom Training.
Contemplative day, weekend, and weeklong retreats, as well as spiritual travel opportunities (pilgrimages) round out our offerings.
Who Are Our Participants & Graduates?
People just like you!
We train individuals from many walks of life and vocations to be able to establish a private practice as a spiritual guide. We are welcoming and affirming of all ages, races, classes, genders, sexualities, cultures, abilities, & religious/spiritual/ethical traditions (or none).
We train ministry and care-giving professionals to expand and deepen their life call, to be present to people of a variety of traditions. This includes chaplains, rabbis, pastors, and parish workers; teachers, nurses, health-care providers, hospice workers, social workers, therapists, volunteers, and more.
"The faculty are seasoned, knowledgeable, compassionate, and committed personally to their own spiritual growth and helping others learn the art of spiritual guidance, no matter their background. I look forward each week to the assigned readings, suggested activities and projects, and interactions with the faculty and my fellow spiritual pilgrims. There's no program like it!"
-J. P. ,Pastor, Chicago, IL.
We hope you will consider joining us!
Now accepting applications for the Fall 2023 cohort.
Priorities, Practices and the SGTI Ethic of Care
As a priority and practice, we are committed to being an anti-racist and anti-oppressive institution that continually strives to identify and dismantle inequity and unjust systems. We are committed to the process of interrogating and decolonizing our curriculum, policies, practices, and procedures and to the ongoing professional and personal development that supports and amplifies compassionate-sacred activism, respect, equity, and hospitality. (Check back soon for our blog post, “What Is Our to Do Right Now.” May 28, 2021.)
The Spiritual Guidance Training Institute is a member of Spiritual Directors International and abides by its "Guidelines for Ethical Conduct" and "The 5 Principles of Spiritual Direction Training Programs."