Leadership & Spiritual Life
The Center’s Leadership and Spiritual Life programs offer individuals, faith communities, clergy, professionals and teams opportunities for growth.
Spiritual Support
Individuals receive guidance in becoming their authentic selves in relation to the Divine and the significant relationships in their lives.
Clergy & Congregational Care
Congregations and their clergy receive assessment, training and coaching.
If you need support or training of any kind, simply email Chris Waddle, Director of Leadership and Spiritual Life or call him at 515-868-7172. All calls are confidential and there is no fee. If we do not offer the type of support you are seeking, we will work to find someone who does.
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Spiritual Support
Most of what makes life meaningful, beautiful, and joyful is beyond testing and measuring. However, the quality of our lives is largely related to these relationships and experiences. We may or may not use the word “spiritual” to talk about this mystery of being. We may or may not believe in God or participate in organized communities of faith. Still, every day we all participate in the same mystery of being and becoming. We all live in dynamic and changing relationships with ourselves, others, the cosmos, and the Ground and Source of All Being. Our spiritual directors and our spiritual support services help people recognize and nurture this immeasurable dynamic of life that has a profound impact on the quality of our lives together.
Services & Programs
Spiritual Direction
Trained spiritual directors, spiritual guides or spiritual companions, are skilled confidential partners who journey with people through the process of becoming and growing in relationship with their authentic selves, others, creation, and the Divine.
LGBTQ+ Support
Finding a spiritual home and supportive spiritual companions can be challenging for anyone. LGBTQ+ individuals, most of whom have experienced insensitivity, censure, rejection and trauma in their families and/or religious communities, are particularly in need of sensitive spiritual companionship. The Center’s spiritual direction staff offers affordable LGBTQ+ sensitive spiritual direction for seekers (and their families or support persons) from all religious traditions as well as those who do not identify with any particular religious tradition or belief system.
Premarital Counseling
Premarital counseling is for couples who wish to grow in their relationship and prepare themselves for the transitions of married life. It is designed for couples who are not in crisis.
Meet our Spiritual Directors who will walk with you on your journey.
Request an appointment with one of our Spiritual Directors.
What is the difference between Spiritual Direction and Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy?
Mind & Spirit Counseling Center utilizes a holistic approach of mind, body and spirit in all of our services. We are a fully accredited counseling center in the Solihten Institute network of centers who specialize in evidence-based, integrated healing. All of our therapists are fully licensed in the state of Iowa, have graduate level academic training and are skilled in integrating client’s spiritual and religious lives into their healing process through spiritual enrichment, also known as Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy. For a deeper focus on your relationship with the Divine, you may find it beneficial to meet with our Spiritual Directors, whether or not you are also seeking services from our licensed counselors and therapists.
Leadership & Team Building
Mind & Spirit Counseling Center provides leadership support for leaders and teams in many different types of organizations. We are happy to tailor our training to meet your needs.
Services & Programs
Finding Your Why Retreats
Finding Your Why retreats help organizations discover their core identity and purpose by telling and listening to their own organization’s inspiring stories.
Team Building
Build empathy, understanding, and trust between leadership teams through a conversational process involving intentional listening that engages both introverts and extroverts in meaningful communication.
Spiritually Integrated Leadership Coaching
For leaders who want less division between their “true selves” and their “work selves” and more integration of their core values in their work. (virtual and in-person options).
Ethical Boundary Training
For organizations and leaders. (virtual and in-person options)
Suicide Awareness, Prevention and Intervention training
Workshops for teachers, police, health care providers, parents and other organizations. Ongoing suicide support group. (virtual and in-person options)
Conflict Mediation/Transformation Services
Just as families can develop conflict among their members, persons working closely together can experience tension and/or conflict. Conflict transformation is a dynamic process of helping people come to a better understanding and resolution of unhealthy policies, practices, and behaviors.
Meet our Leadership counselors who can help you connect with your center.
Request an appointment with one of our Leadership counselors.
Clergy & Congregational Care
In addition to providing individual counseling for clergy, Mind & Spirit Counseling Center provides denominationally independent assessment, training, and coaching for clergy and congregations
“Denominationally independent” means that we do not share any notes or reports with any denominational leaders or committees without your consent.
In most cases we can tailor our services to meet your particular needs.
Services & Programs
Finding Your Why Retreats
Finding Your Why retreats help congregations and organizations discover the core of their identity and purpose by telling and listening to their own inspiring stories.
Congregational Coaching
Individually designed workshops that help clergy and church leaders learn the essential outward-focused, relationship-focused mindset for healthy ministry as well as the essential structures and teams needed to support and sustain outwardly focused ministry.
Clergy Coaching
For individual clergy members. Mind & Spirit Counseling Center is a resource for clergy who desire confidential consultation regarding leadership, pastoral care and/or other aspects of their ministry, vocational discernment, or professional growth.
Congregation Personnel Committee Training
Training for those who support clergy and other church workers. Learn the importance of a clear vision and mission and how to support clergy and staff in staying focused on that vision and mission. Topics include dealing with anxiety in a church system, avoiding triangulation, setting priorities, and supporting healthy boundaries for clergy, staff, and volunteer leaders.
Pastoral Care Specialist Program
A two-year professional development series on topics related to pastoral care-giving for clergy and congregational leaders.
Congregational Assessment Tool (CAT)
CAT is a method of organizational listening that helps leaders move forward with decisions in a way that includes everyone, not just the voices that are the loudest. It improves decision making by giving leaders a more accurate understanding of unknown dynamics of their congregation.
Suicide Awareness, Prevention, and Intervention training
Workshops for clergy, youth leaders, teachers, police, health care providers, parents and others. Ongoing suicide support group.
Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Assessment and Training
This consultation service helps congregations assess how safe their buildings and policies are for children and vulnerable adults. It teaches leaders how to create a safe environment for those most vulnerable.
Ethical Boundary Training
For clergy and faith leaders
Conflict Mediation/Transformation Services
A service for congregations, non-profit organizations, and businesses. Just as families can develop conflict among their members, persons working closely together can experience tension and/or conflict. Conflict transformation is a dynamic process of helping congregations, non-profit organizations, and businesses come to a better understanding and resolution of problems.
Team Building
Build empathy, understanding, and trust between leadership teams through a conversational process involving intentional listening that engages both introverts and extroverts in meaningful communication.
Pastoral Care and Chaplain Services
Individual Pastoral Care: Spiritual support for individuals seeking guidance in matters of faith, belief, meaning, loss, decision making, and changing beliefs about God and life’s ultimate meaning.
Organizational Chaplain Services: Short term, non-sectarian chaplain support for organizations after a crisis.
Meet our Clergy & Congregational Care counselors who can help you connect with your center.
Request an appointment with one of our Clergy & Congregational Care counselors.
If you need support or training of any kind, simply email Chris Waddle, Director of Leadership and Spiritual Life or call him at 515-868-7172. All calls are confidential and there is no fee. If we do not offer the type of support you are seeking, we will work to find someone who does.
We work hard to keep cost from being a barrier for all of our services, including Leadership & Spiritual Life.
Through generous community support, we provide free or reduced-cost counseling to clients who who otherwise couldn’t afford the help they need. Last year, 25% of our clients received subsidies.