Conference 2025 FAQs
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What is the Theme of the 2025 SDI Conference?
Spiritual Integration Beyond the Field (for directors and companions) is about grounding ourselves contemplatively beyond dichotomies, and allowing the integration of all of the elements of our psyche, including our shadows, as CG Jung described, particularly as we navigate this troubled world with those we companion.
What will it be like attending In-Person?
This gathering will bring several hundred spiritual directors and companions together at the beautiful Niagara Falls Conference Center in New York State. There will be keynote presentations, workshops, and opportunities for individual and group spiritual direction and companionship across an array of contemplative practices. Besides these, you can anticipate plenty of opportunities for all to engage with one another as you might choose. Lunch will be provided on Thursday and Friday, and a selection of coffee and teas will be available each morning. In this way, we hope to practice together as a community, connecting with old friends and making new ones.
We have received your feedback from previous conferences that while the content is rich and the proceedings offer extraordinary opportunities for growth, the intensity of the event can leave many of you fatigued and overloaded. With that in mind, we’ve made a selection of high-quality workshop presentations which will not run simultaneously, so you won’t miss a thing. With that said, listen to your intuition for what your energy and time allows. Skip a session if you’d rather take a nap, go for a walk, process in your own way, and watch the recordings later.
If I'm attending Virtually, what technology do I need to access the conference?
- We recommend a computer that is no older than 5 years, so that you can have easy and smooth electronic access. Alternatively, you can use a smartphone like an iPhone or Android
- Good, working internet connection
- Access to Zoom for our video conferencing sessions.
- We will also use Whova for convening online, accessing the schedule, and participating in chat groups
What is Whova?
Whova, our free conference app, will provide a common portal for everything related to our conference and will be the place for everyone – both virtual and in-person – to connect, find information, and more. Live and recorded access to keynote presentations, workshops, meditations, and other gatherings will all be available via the Whova Conference App.
Whova has an easy-to-use interface, access to a Calendar where each event will be listed. For each keynote and workshop, the event will utilize Zoom calls and Whova’s own chat and Q&A technology for easy interaction of people joining through the internet. And everyone, including in-person participants, will access recordings from the conference through Whova.
The Whova Conference App is free and available as a website which can be accessed on any desktop PC, laptop, or tablet, or you can download the Whova App on your mobile device via the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
What if I need technical assistance during the conference?
SDI Staff will be available online throughout the hybrid conference to help you navigate the conference offerings. As well, Whova provides multi-tier technical support to assist with any issues.
I'd like to offer 1:1 or group spiritual direction/companionship.
When you complete your registration, you’ll receive a link to a form where you can let us know if you would like to host a contemplative session, or be available to offer one on one spiritual companionship during the conference. You can also let us know by sending an email to [email protected].
What if I'm not a spiritual director/companion?
All are welcome to participate with the SDI Community! We are deeply committed to manifesting a diverse, welcoming, and inclusive space. No matter your religious and/or spiritual background, we want to see, and hear, you. If you haven’t participated in an SDI event before, or are wondering what to expect in sessions and breakout groups, we recommend you review this list of guidelines.
Conference Participants include:
- Spiritual directors, companions, and guides
- Wayfarers and seekers
- Teaching faculty and students
- Campus ministers and chaplains from all spiritual traditions
- Pastoral and spiritual care providers
- Capellanes
- Retreat center directors and retreat leaders
- Hospice and health care providers (nurses, doctors,
physician assistants, physical therapists, pharmacologists, etc.) - Holistic body-mind-spirit health care providers
- Social workers
- Lay and ordained clergy
- Art therapists
- Mental health care providers
- Life coaches and mindfulness trainers
- Mindful lawyers, social justice workers, peacemakers
- Contemplatives in the first half of life
- Contemplatives in the second half of life
- Contemplatives who work in academic settings
- Meditation facilitators
- Work-life balance human resource personnel
What if I'm not an SDI Member?
All are welcome! SDI Members save $100 on the registration cost. If you aren’t a member, become one today, and receive Member discounts on the conference and most all our other offerings.
What if I miss a session? Will everything be recorded?
We will be recording the main sessions, which include keynote presentations and public Q&R (question and response), and will prioritize posting these ASAP throughout the conference. Workshops will also be recorded. We will not be recording any sessions that include 1/1 or Group Spiritual Direction, or other Breakout Groups. Recordings are available to both Virtual and In-Person attendees for at least six months after the conference proceedings.
Will worship services such as Shabbat and Catholic Mass be part of the conference?
No. SDI is an increasingly diverse contemplative learning community. Individual participants may feel called to go offsite to local houses of worship. Arranging worship is the responsibility of individual participants. During the scheduled educational events, we share reflective time together and participate in contemplative practices specifically designed to celebrate our diverse learning community and model contemplative practices that might be helpful in spiritual direction. A peaceful onsite meditation space will be available during the conference. On the last day, we close with an inter-Mystical service.
Can I just register for one day? Or attend one keynote and just pay for that?
Sorry, no. For 35 years, SDI has been offering contemplative, educational programming. We take into consideration past evaluations, and they indicate that going gradually deeper with one topic as one body works best for building community and best reflects the needs of the contemplative, global learning community. SDI’s design intentionally creates a multi-day experience during which new friendships and collegial relationships may form and old ones may be nourished. And since this is a hybrid conference, with all the keynotes and workshops being available on-demand, we hope you will find the content helpful for weeks and months to come.
I would like to promote my practice / books / courses / artwork at the conference.
Both digital attendees and in-person attendees may use their profile in Whova to display a website, resume, and a description of your work as a spiritual companion. If you have more information you want to share or you are interested in selling artwork or books, please consider becoming an Exhibitor.
Will I be photographed or videotaped during the conference?
This Event is a widely-attended conference. SDI and third parties may photograph and/or audio/video record activities at the Event for many purposes, including but not limited to, reporting, advertising and documentation purposes. This includes recording Zoom workshops and other sessions. By attending the Event, you consent to your image and voice being captured and used.
The small print:
You grant us a license to use, edit, reproduce, record, modify, enhance, encode, translate, distribute, play, perform, make available to other users, prepare derivative works of and to display your image and/or likeness (your -Likeness-), and/or an audio recording of your voice, by any media or methods whether now known or later developed. This license may be exercised in our sole discretion throughout the world at any time. You agree that this license is perpetual, royalty-free and transferable. You agree that we can sub-license this license to third parties. You irrevocably and unconditionally waive, with respect to your Likeness and voice, all moral rights to which you may be entitled and any broadly equivalent rights in any territory of the world. This waiver is made in favor of SDI but will also extend to our sub-licensees, assignees and successors in title.
What is the Cancellation Policy?
- Refunds (less a $50 virtual, or $75 in-person non-refundable registration fee) will be provided with written notice prior to February 16, 2025,
- On or after February 16, 2025, up to and including April 25, 2025, SDI will issue 50% refunds (less a $50 virtual, or $75 in-person non-refundable registration fee),
- Refunds will not be issued after April 25, 2025.
Will CEUs be offered?
Certificates that note 24 hours of Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be made available for those who require it at the end of our Conference.
What is a "hybrid" conference?
“Hybrid” means our annual conference can be experienced in-person in Niagara Falls, as well as digitally through live apps and recordings. Our hybrid approach will allow more people to participate and offer options for convenience and affordability.
- For those who attend in person, there will be the wonderful sense of community that comes from being in the same physical space together. And our host city of Niagara Falls offers a unique atmosphere and history. We expect a special synergy for all those who can join us in Niagara Falls for SDI’s 35th Anniversary.
- For those who prefer to join digitally, there are cost advantages – the price of registration is lower and attending virtually eliminates travel, meals, and lodging expenses. That means more people can attend from all over the world. We hope this conference will truly represent our international community of spiritual companions.
- For both in-person and virtual participants, the hybrid experience will offer remarkable flexibility. All keynote speeches and workshops will be recorded so you can watch when it’s convenient. That means if you are feeling exhausted, you can skip the live version of a keynote or workshop and not miss any of the presentation. You can watch the recordings for at least six months beyond the end of the conference.
- Our conference app Whova, which we launched in 2021, will offer both in-person and virtual participants multiple opportunities for connection, including group discussion boards and chats, 1 on 1 video dialog, creating your own meeting rooms, perusing books and other offerings through the virtual Exhibition Hall, and more!
- The choice is yours. You can attend the entire SDI Conference from the comfort of your own home. Or come to Niagara Falls and experience the joy of face-to-face connection with spiritual companions and spiritual directors from around the world.