ABOUT SGTI

Our Mission

To train spiritual guides and nature companions towards joyful, transformational, and integrative living. We offer three different professional certificates that encompass skills in interfaith and interspiritual guidance as well as reciprocity-building in the natural world.

Our Vision

To promote healing, justice, and compassion thorugh spiritual guidance and nature companionship.

Our Core Values

  • Deep Listening

  • Curiosity

  • Hospitality

  • Respect

  • Compassionate Action

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 kinship 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.

We offer empathy and care to all beings as we step into the mystery of the depths of multi-tiered experiences. 
This interfaith, interspiritual and intercontemplative approach to deep, skillful listening is a comprehensive way to both deepen and advance our understanding of and care for our homes, neighborhoods, workplaces, religious communities, and the natural world.

Our Training Programs

View our current offerings here. ​

Who attends SGTI?

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.

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. See also our blog post, “What Is Our to Do Right Now” from May of 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."