I am committed to providing a safe, respectful, and supportive environment – free of misconduct, harm, and abuse – for everyone with whom I work, and especially for those who may be vulnerable. Ethical practice, accountability, and trauma-informed care are of paramount importance to me. This commitment is also shaped by my own experience of trauma in religious environments and by accompanying people who have experienced trauma in their own lives and communities.

The information below covers the different aspects of my work (spiritual director, supervisor, teacher, and pastor) and provides specific points of contact for raising a concern. Simply click their name to access their contact information. If something doesn’t feel right and you’re not comfortable talking about it with me directly, you are encouraged to speak with the appropriate person—even if you’re unsure, don’t have all the details, or simply need to talk something through. You are not required to decide whether something is “serious enough” or to know what should happen next. Your role is simply to share what you’re comfortable sharing.

The people identified as points of contact are trained and experienced spiritual directors and leaders, and each person/organization has its own protocols and procedures for responding to concerns. Nonetheless, across these different contexts, the aim of safeguarding is that anyone who raises a concern is:

  • Safe: offered privacy and confidentiality, and met by someone trained and experienced in navigating vulnerability with care
  • Informed: clearly told what the process is and what next steps are available
  • Empowered: able to control how much they share, participate in decisions about next steps, and retain agency of their story
  • Respected: listened to with dignity and compassion, and taken seriously in their experience
  • Supported: protected from retaliation or negative consequences for raising a concern

Spiritual Direction and Supervision

Self-Employed, Private Practice

  • Brian Hohmeier, OCL: Director of Formation (Order of the Common Life): “Brian is a certified spiritual director (credentialed through Sustainable Faith and accredited by ESDA), retreat director and IFS (internal family systems) practitioner, as well as a vowed member in the Order of the Common Life (a missional monastic order). He practices spiritual direction under the authority of the Order of the Common Life and St. John the Beloved Vineyard Church.”

Teaching

School of Spiritual Direction (Sustainable Faith)

  • Clara Maranville: Director of the School of Spiritual Direction (Sustainable Faith): “Clara supports [Sustainable Faith’s] established instructors and develops structures to train the next generation of teachers. She “holds an M.A. in Spirituality from the Oblate School of Theology and a B.A. in Biblical Studies (minor in Greek) from Westmont College. She delights in her work as a spiritual director, supervisor, mentor, and board member with Sustainable Faith.”

Apprenticeship in Spiritual Direction (Order of the Common Life)

  • Brian Hohmeier, OCL: Director of Formation (Order of the Common Life): “Brian is a certified spiritual director (credentialed through Sustainable Faith and accredited by ESDA), retreat director and IFS (internal family systems) practitioner, as well as a vowed member in the Order of the Common Life (a missional monastic order). He practices spiritual direction under the authority of the Order of the Common Life and St. John the Beloved Vineyard Church.”

Pastoring

West End Abbey

  • Mary Coswin, OSB: Safeguarding Contact and Stewardship Circle (West End Abbey): Mary “has a teaching certificate (junior and senior high), a bachelor of Education in Counseling, a Masters Degree in Spirituality, and has been a spiritual director for 40 years as well as trained spiritual directors and hosted various retreats for youth and adults. She’s a Benedictine sister and is currently the pastoral administrator of her monastic community, St. Benedict’s Monastery.”