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quickly). Be flexible with your appointments.
Be prepared to work evenings and Saturdays at 10. Target Marketing: Identify the type of ideal
first. client you want to work with. This focuses your
search. Develop an email list of potential clients

7. First Visits: The first two visits are the most and email them spiritually helpful ideas regu-
crucial. Hospitality is key. larly.

8. Build Slowly: Become a full-time spiritual direc- 11. Focus on Client Benefits: give clients what
tor slowly. Keep building a part-time practice they want, not what you think they need. For
until ready to go full-time. It may take 3 to 5 example, they may want to have more self-
years. It is usually necessary to have some kind esteem, but you want to teach them the Ennea-
of a part-time job to create some cash-flow gram. Remember, clients are primarily inter-
while you are building your practice. Have sev- ested in what they will get out of this, therefore
eral sources of income besides spiritual com- design all your advertising around the benefits
panionship: writing, workshops, retreats. to the client.

9. Skills and Support: Keep your skills up with 12. Leverage: If you can get sponsored by church-
workshops, books, journals. Subscribe to Pres- es, retreat centers, etc., it will give you credibil-
ence, the journal of Spiritual Directors Interna- ity, and they will advertise for you.
tional, and read a page or two a day. Set up a
spiritual directors/companions support group in 13. Network: Seminaries, theological schools,
your area. Pray together, do peer supervision, and religious orders often make lists of spiri-
swap ideas on how to run a practice. tual directors and require their participants to
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