Jen Eckles, Spiritual Director

They/Them — LG(B)TQ+
Hi, my name is Jen Eckles and I am a Spiritual Director who works with LGBTQ+ young adults and teens. I received my Certificate in Spiritual Direction from The Phoenix Center for Spiritual Direction and am a member of Spiritual Directors International (SDI). I also have a Doctorate in Audiology from A.T. Stills University. After leaving my career of nearly 20 years in Audiology, I felt God calling me to the work of spiritual direction.

As a Spiritual Director, I love sitting with and holding space for people as they journey to deepen their relationship with the Divine. As part of the LGBTQ+ community myself, my passion is for young adult LGBTQ+ persons of faith who have been outcast from their churches and have become spiritual refugees, yet long to maintain and nurture their relationship with the Divine.
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Having been in church my entire life, I recognize the good that church can do, but also recognize and acknowledge the damage it can do. Having experienced spiritual abuse myself by some in a church family after coming out, I have wrestled with the idea of the need for safe, sacred spaces outside of the church. A gentle space where those who have been hurt by the Church may feel invited and be seen, heard, and valued exactly as they are. A place for individual growth, as well as the chance to interact in a spiritual community through classes and retreats. Most importantly, a space where people can come, knowing the Divine is inside them, and listen as They whisper the truth into their lives that they are a beloved child of the Creator of the cosmos. They are welcome and have a place of belonging at the table.

My practice is centered in prayer and contemplative listening. I welcome all persons, including clergy, from diverse faith backgrounds, settings, and spiritual practices. I also sit with those who are Spiritual But Not Religious (SBNR). I utilize the evocative method, which means I engage in deep listening. You can expect a 90/10 approach from me, where I listen 90% and speak 10% of the time. I look forward to meeting you, hearing your story, and walking with you through this journey we call life.

Specialities

  • Coming Out
  • ​Crisis of Faith
  • Decision Making
  • Doubt
  • Deconstruction
  • Existential Crisis
  • ​Forgiveness
  • ​Grief and Loss
  • Parents of LGBTQ Children
  • Religious and Spiritual Abuse
  • Reclaiming Spirituality
  • ​Self-Image and Self-Esteem
  • ​Spirituality and Faith
  • ​​​Spiritual Direction