spiritual direction - Beach Theology

ONLINE SPIRITUAL DIRECTION

BEACH THEOLOGY

“All human beings have a spirit, and that spirit longs to be in relationship with the Holy—by whatever name.”

Attention! Individual spiritual direction is 100% free through summer 2023!

Intake Form

Rachael Keefe 2023 headshot © Erika Sanborne Media

Rachael Keefe

Spiritual Director

Rev. Dr. Rachael Keefe is a spiritual director who would welcome you. She has decades of experience as an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. She has served as a pastor, a youth chaplain, a pastoral psychotherapist, and a psychiatric chaplain before becoming a spiritual director.

While she is grounded in a progressive Christian tradition, Rachael is open to accompanying anyone on their spiritual journey. Her life experiences have created an awareness of the depths of spiritual needs of those who are seeking wellness and recovery. It is her belief that all human beings have a spirit, and that spirit longs to be in relationship with the Holy – by whatever name. This includes human beings who identify as Agnostic, Christian, Atheist, or something else. Online spiritual direction is affordable, personalized, inclusive, and invaluable. Sign up for a free session today.

What Clients Say

Testimonials

Rachael’s compassionate presence and active listening have guided me in negotiating difficult life transitions and painful losses. Through caring discernment, she has been instrumental in helping me to “un-box God”, allowing me to be more attentive to the voice of Spirit. This has allowed me to recognize and accept certain gifts that I was afraid to own. In embracing these spiritual gifts, I’ve learned to accept myself and bond deeper with Spirit.

C. Elaine Watkins

Mental Health and Pastoral Counselor

Rachael helped me understand my unconventional call to ministry. One of the biggest challenges for me was that, though called to the ministry, I was not quitting my secular job and did not want to pastor a church. Rachael was a wonderful guide for me in my discernment process. She accepted me unconditionally both emotionally and spiritually, something I was not used to at all.

Christopher Macdonald-Dennis

Chief Diversity Officer, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

Pastor Rachael is smart, compassionate, non-judgmental, and honest. Her grasp of the Gospel, and her knowledge of both the historical context and how the lessons apply to life today has helped me grow in my faith journey. When I have needed sound, spirit-based advice, Pastor Rachael has been a wonderful “partner in prayer”.

Sherlonda Clarke

Administrator, Speaker, Comic

I trust Rachael. Over the past seven years, I have called on Rachael for spiritual direction, to assist and to guide me both personally and professionally through discernment. Rachael has a calm pastoral presence and listens deeply. Her guidance is thoughtful and intentional. She speaks a truth from love which both uplifts and challenges one to think deeply.

Steve Boorsma

UCC Pastor

While contemplating where God was calling me, and at the same time, unpacking my past, Rachael’s gifts of nonjudgmental listening and open questions allowed me to do deep spiritual work with authenticity and faithfulness. Her ability to meet me in my spiritual journey, and to sit with me in the long night of the soul with great compassion continue to support my spiritual walk. I am forever grateful for Rachael’s accompaniment.

Carlos Jauhola-Straight

Pastor, First Congregational Church of Pelham, NH

I am grateful to have spent many hours with Rachael discussing my spiritual battles. Having a daughter die at the early age of 32 from leukemia, I spent many years being angry at the world and at whoever is running the universe. Rachael helped me sort out the grieving and unanswerable questions with compassion and a gentle guidance that was both supportive and therapeutic. She was instrumental to my spiritual and personal growth.

Carolyn Egan

Retired Nursing Education Coordinator

What is spiritual direction?

Spiritual direction is a response to the movement of the Sacred. It is a relationship of accompaniment in which the spiritual director actively bears witness to the one who comes seeking through listening and watching for the Spirit.

What is Beach Theology?

For Rev. Dr. Rachael Keefe, Beach Theology is a place of sacred ground—a place to be barefoot and relax into one’s true self. Spiritual direction at Beach Theology is open to anyone who wants to explore their relationship with the Divine, with a particular invitation to those who have been marginalized or excluded by traditional church.

What is spiritual direction like?

Spiritual direction is essentially a conversation involving you, a spiritual director, and the Sacred as you understand it. When a person comes to spiritual direction it is usually because they want to change something about their spiritual life. A spiritual director listens and watches for the places in which the Spirit might be moving, and then shares these observations, helping to facilitate a deeper relationship with the Divine or a richer spiritual life.

Who goes to spiritual direction?

Anyone wanting to deepen their spiritual life, or anyone in a time of discernment can come. Truly, anyone can benefit from a relationship that is built on listening for and responding to the Spirit.

Do I have to be religious to come to spiritual direction?

No. One need only be interested in deepening their spiritual life or opening themselves to the Sacred as they understand it.

How often should I meet with a spiritual director?

Meetings are usually monthly. If there is a reason to meet more frequently that may be arranged.

How does someone choose a spiritual director?

If you are religious, then a director who shares your religious tradition might be best suited to accompany you. If you are not religious, then a director who understands and is comfortable with spirituality being unrelated to a religious tradition would be most beneficial. If you want to engage in spiritual direction as a component in seeking wellness and recovery, then you will want to find a spiritual director who understands mental health conditions and/or addictions.

For those who have been harmed by traditional religious institutions, you are not excluded from spiritual direction. Choose a director who welcomes you no matter where you are with your body-mind, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, education, socio-economic status, etc. Everyone has spiritual needs and should be included in the benefits of spiritual direction.

Do I need a spiritual director or a therapist?

If you are struggling with a particular aspect of your mental health – anxiety, depression, symptoms of PTSD, addictions, suicidality, or other symptoms – then you will want the help of a therapist. On the other hand, if you are seeking balance, wholeness, or depth in your spiritual life, or at a point of transition, then a spiritual director would be helpful. It is also possible to have both since there is much overlap in psychological and spiritual wellness, particularly when we are working toward wholeness.

Can I do spiritual direction virtually, such as via Zoom?

Yes. Spiritual direction can happen in person or via video conferencing, and most of our meetings are online spiritual direction, and we use Zoom for these meetings. Contact us to inquire about openings.

How much does online spiritual direction cost?

Right now, all spiritual direction at Beach Theology is 100% free – not just the first meeting, but all meetings. Starting in the Fall on 2023, Rachael’s regular fees will resume. For one person the fee is $75 per session. Rachael is also open to bartering or trading skills, and is currently offering a student rate of $40 per session, available to all full-time students in any field. There are a limited number of scholarships available for people who cannot afford her fees as well. Her goal is to not turn away anyone at all. If you have the financial means to pay more than her regular fee, please consider doing so, particularly if you have received substantial personal benefits from her spiritual direction, in order to support her outreach and goal of turning no one away, while still being able to keep the lights on.

What about the first session, how much does that cost?

The first session is always free. That is when you both figure out if you are a good fit, and set up a schedule that feels good to go forward with after that initial meeting.

Once working together, how does billing work?

You can read our billing policies online. In short, we will email you an invoice at the end of a session, and we normally go send that invoice through paypal. Payment is due at the end of each session.

How do I get started with spiritual direction?

Complete the online intake form, which includes your availability for that first conversation, and Rachael will be in touch with you soon. We’re so glad you are here.

Spiritual Direction Intake Form is Closed for Now

The form is hidden for now, as I am way over capacity through summer 2023. Contact me with a brief introduction if you want me to add you to the wait list for fall 2023. Please note that the normal fee structure for services resumes in the fall of 2023. If you have any questions about this, please ask.