Why is Non-Religious Spiritual Direction so important?
It is estimated that one-third of US adults have experienced Religious Trauma at some point in their life [source] and studies show that one in five adults report leaving church due to Religious Trauma [source]. As the number of people leaving religion continues to increase [source], there has never been a more important time for post-religion care such as Non-Religious Spiritual Direction.
What is Non-Religious Spiritual Direction?
Non-religious spiritual direction is a form of guidance that supports people in exploring their inner life, values, and sense of meaning—without relying on traditional religious frameworks or institutions. It’s especially resonant for those who are deconstructing inherited beliefs, recovering from religious trauma, or simply seeking a more personalized, nature-based, or justice-oriented spirituality.
Core Elements of Non-Religious Spiritual Direction include:
Companionship over conversion: The spiritual director acts as a witness and companion, not a teacher or authority figure.
Meaning-making beyond dogma: Focuses on personal experience, intuition, and embodied wisdom rather than prescribed doctrines.
Inclusive and pluralistic: Welcomes diverse worldviews—atheist, agnostic, spiritual-but-not-religious, animist, mystic, etc.
Trauma-informed: Often integrates somatic healing, interoception, and emotional safety, especially for those recovering from religious patriarchy or spiritual abuse.
Nature and creativity as sacred: Uses metaphors, archetypes, ritual design, and symbolic language drawn from nature, art, and everyday life.
What Non-Religious Spiritual Direction Looks Like in Practice:
Reflective conversations about purpose, identity, grief, or transformation
Co-creating rituals for healing, transition, or celebration
Mapping symbolic motifs or archetypes that resonate with your journey
Exploring practices like meditation, journaling, or nature immersion
Reconstructing a spiritual framework that aligns with your values and lived experience
Non-Religious Spiritual Direction often involves supporting people in their leaving-religion process, religious deconstruction work, healing and recovery from religious trauma, working through nihilism and existential crisis, addressing the harms of toxic religious patriarchy, and cultivating a liberating post-religion spirituality.
Find a Non-Religious Spiritual Director
The Center for Non-Religious Spirituality (CNRS) is dedicated to acknowledging the innate spiritual component of all people and its significance to the human experience. It promotes spirituality as an essential aspect of individual and collective well-being, offering resources, community support, and various programs to cultivate a meaningful non-religious spiritual life.
CNRS has a network of professionally training and certified Non-Religious Spiritual Directors who offer religious deconstruction guidance, support in cultivating a meaningful non-religious spirituality, and address feelings of existential anxiety or nihilism. Below is a directory of the Non-Religious Spiritual Directors within the CNRS network (in alphabetical order by first name).
If you need financial assistance for one-on-one sessions with a Spiritual Director within the CNRS network, click HERE.
David Linaker
Experienced Spiritual Director and Fellow Traveller.
In 2016, after 21 years as an ordained priest in the Church of England (the parent tradition to the Episcopal Church in the US), during which time, I trained clergy and acted as a Spiritual Director to many lay people, organized religion and I came to the end of our useful life together. Embracing an atheist path yet continuing to mine the rich sources of spiritual wisdom that the human journey has bequeathed to us, I found others who wanted a guide and mentor to help them navigate their way to a credible and authentic spirituality. I work with clients throughout Europe and the US and have recently published ‘Soulful Awakening: Spirituality Without Religion’ that aims to make a religion-free spiritual journey accessible to those just starting out. To work with me, drop me a message, or email david@davidlinaker.com.
Jim Palmer
Founder of the Center for Non-Religious Spirituality.
In addition to his academic background in theology, philosophy and spiritual formation, he received his spiritual direction training and certification through the Haden Institute.
Through CNRS, Jim trains Non-Religious Spiritual Directors and Existential Health Counselors. If you have an interest in discussing spiritual direction Jim, email him at: jimpalmerauthor@gmail.com.
Michael Camp
Non-Religious Spiritual Companion at Faith Transitions LLC.
If you’re stuck in your deconstruction and reconstruction of evangelicalism or other high-control religion, I’m here for you. It can be confusing, lonely, and traumatic recovering from spiritual abuse or toxic beliefs that you once thought were absolute truth.
As a spiritual companion/coach I focus on helping you tap historical facts, heal from religious trauma, and rebuild your own healthy spirituality. Whether you still resonate with Jesus or are now post-Christian, I help you find and embrace what you decide matters most.
Learn more about my coaching tools for self-care and healthy reconstruction at www.faithtransitions.com where you can book a free 30-minute consultation.
Michael Love
Deciding to leave a faith-based community, for whatever reason, may be one of the hardest decisions an individual may ever make. Leaving what is familiar and embarking on a journey into new perspectives may indeed be exciting, but it can also be overwhelming at times. Finding a companion to accompany you can make all the difference.
Visit my website at www.Michaelglove.com to learn how we can journey together.
Michael Loy
Spiritual Companion at The Wandering Nautilus
As a Wanderer, you have come to the realization that true spirituality is a vast, beautiful, and pathless landscape not confined by any religious text, dogma, or creed. Your spiritual journey has taken you on some wild adventures of deconstructing, reconstructing, questioning, and doubting. At times it has been painful. At times it has been lonely. As a fellow Wanderer, I have been down that path and I would be honored to walk with you on yours.
Rachel A. Parsons, MA
Founder of Fratres Dei Spiritual Direction
Rachel is a certified spiritual director and spiritual direction supervisor. She designed the offerings of Fratres Dei to provide a platform upon which people of all spiritual backgrounds may pursue spiritual growth. Rachel firmly holds the conviction that the joy of spiritual curiosity and exploration is the vitalization of the world, and she is delighted to create opportunities for her clients to explore in an agenda-free, compassionate space.
Contact: rachel@fratresdei.com.
Ruth Wittum
Spiritual Direction for Wanderers
Wherever you are on your deconstruction or reconstruction journey, you are loved, and your story matters. An evolving relationship to faith and belief is a healthy part being human. Leaving high-control religion can be a lonely and painful path. But it can also be a path towards growth and resilience.
Ruth is a certified Spiritual Director with the Center for Non-Religious Spirituality, has served as an Inter-spiritual Hospice Chaplain, is a trained grief companion, and a compassion fatigue-informed and trauma-informed professional.
Contact: ruth@whimsywonderandwisdom.com.
The CNRS Care Fund provides financial assistance for one-on-one sessions with Non-Religious Spiritual Directors within the CNRS network.