What is Spiritual Direction?

Spiritual direction is an ancient spiritual practice that provides a sacred, safe space for holy listening. Together, the spiritual director and the client, listen and discern the presence of the Spirit or Divine working in the client’s life. The spiritual director serves as a spiritual companion or friend who listens and walks alongside the client as they share their story and discover and live into their life’s questions.

Courtney e. hicks

Certified Spiritual Director, M.Ed.

Hello and welcome! My name is Courtney E. Hicks, and I offer spiritual direction and group experiences that incorporate creative and contemplative spiritual practices, Jungian psychology, dreamwork, and the Enneagram into my work to lead clients on a journey towards self discovery and discernment. I describe myself as an engaged contemplative Christian inspired by nature, poetry, and the mystics. I am certified in spiritual direction by The Haden Institute, a training program in the Jungian Mystical Christian Tradition in North Carolina. I am a current student of The Living School at the Center for Action & Contemplation and am a member of Spiritual Directors International and a practitioner and member of the Center for Courage & Renewal.

I earned my Masters of Education in Nonprofit Leadership and Bachelors of Science in Journalism and Religion from Belmont University. Prior to becoming a spiritual director, I spent 15 years in the nonprofit sector doing community development work, specializing in marketing, development, and social enterprise. I co-founded and led two nonprofits in South Nashville - Harvest Hands CDC / Humphreys Street Coffee & Soap and Cosecha CDC.

I love to write and my favorite writing project to date is my self-published children’s picture book, Brooklyn & Bailey, Tails of a Girl and Her Dog, a story about the friendship and daily routine of my daughter and our dog. “Ceh” are my initials and the signature I have always used to sign anything I have written (I’m a big fan of writing by hand, and I still use a paper calendar). I reside on a homestead in Nashville, TN, with my family, two doodle dogs, one wild tuxedo cat, and a flock of well-loved and named chickens.