We recently connected with Missy Dabbs and have shared our conversation below.

Missy, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about how you went about setting up your own practice and if you have any advice for professionals who might be considering starting their own?

Starting a practice as a spiritual director has been a path God has had me on before I knew what a spiritual director was. My husband and I have been doing ministry for 20 years in traditional churches. I have a background in education and counseling, but felt something was missing with the vocation God was calling me to. At 4o years old I went back and got a Masters in Christian Spiritual Formation and took some classes about spiritual direction. Being curious about others lives and seeing things from a spiritual perspective come natural for me. I thought this was a field I would like to pursue so I enrolled in a program that trains spiritual directors (Sustainable Faith) and went through a couple of years training. Upon completion a friend told me about some office space I could rent at her location that I would need to sign an agreement for before our family left on a mission trip to Africa. I signed the agreement knowing I only had one client. When we returned from Africa I found out how to establish a business name, my husband helped me create a website, a friend helped me design flyers, another friend helped me decorate my office and it was time to go public. I shared a post on Facebook and the next morning two people had booked sessions. I almost thought it was a joke. Friends and churches started referring people to me and a friend I been in school with asked me to do contract spiritual direction for the organization he works with ministering to missionaries. I have seen God’s grace all over the practice of doing spiritual direction.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Missy Dabbs and I do spiritual direction. The name of my business is called Place of Peace. I believe the holy spirit is the real spiritual director. I meet with people for hour long sessions typically once a month in person or by zoom. In the session I listen and ask questions to find where people have joy and hurt in their life and help them bring those issues before God. I offer a hospitable space where people can listen to God. Before people feel safe to bring their deepest desires to God most times people need to work on how they see God. If they have an image of God as a mean tyrant judge then it is hard to be vulnerable with God. However, when our image of God is loving and gracious then we feel safe to bring everything to God. Another core issue people often have is how they see themselves or how they think God sees them. I believe God sees good in us and when God created people in Genesis God said, “They were very good.” I have personally gone to a spiritual director for the past 8 years and have gained so much from the regular rhythm of meeting with her once a month.
If you would like to explore a deeper relationship with God then I would recommend spiritual direction.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

I often wonder what it would be like to have chosen spiritual direction earlier in life before careers in education or counseling. However, I believe God uses all of our past experiences for good in our lives. The knowledge and experience I had with my other careers are helpful to make me a better spiritual director. I also think the wisdom of living more of life and parenting children are great resources as a spiritual director. I am where I need to be now and when doing spiritual direction I feel at home.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

Training to be a spiritual director is necessary, but it also has to be a calling. I do believe I was called by God to create space for others to be vulnerable and feel safe in their walk with God. Asking questions and listening well are important skills as a spiritual director. I have displayed those skills since I was a kid. My parents would comment on how many questions I asked. Through exploring the enneagram I have learned that an enneagram four is able to be and sit with people in hard situations. I feel comfortable being present with others as they are going through hard things. I can offer empathy and care in their presence.

Contact Info:

• Website: placeofpeace.us
• Facebook: Place of Peace