At Rites of Passage, we provide one-on-one confidential spiritual companionship and crisis spiritual care. Kristabeth has practiced companionship for over 20 years and is sensitive to approach your situation without judgment and with a willingness to be fully present to you and your life circumstances.

What is Spiritual Companionship?

Spiritual companionship is a practice of presence with the intention of holding space for those facing life’s challenges or exploring life’s big questions. Spiritual companionship can include prayer, meditation, silence, and conversation. Different models of spiritual companionship can be found in all cultures and traditions throughout history. The commonalities among these different traditions include:

• being in the moment with whatever questions or emotions arise
• not being focused on change, cure, or fixing
• being open to a connection with something greater than ourselves (whatever that may mean to you)

Spiritual companionship is not professional counseling and does not address mental health or behavioral change issues. (Click here to see Christine Luna Munger’s description of the differences between various helping professions.) Spiritual companionship, as practiced at Rites of Passage, also is not psychic, intuitive, tarot, or medium readings.

Spiritual Companionship Sessions

Whether you are very spiritual (or even religious), have been hurt by religion, or are more comfortable with a secular worldview, Kristabeth will walk with you as you explore life’s big questions and find your way along life’s journey.

“Spirituality is that aspect of humanity that refers to the way individuals seek and express meaning and purpose, and experience their connectedness to the moment, to self, to others, to nature, to the significant or Sacred.” ~ Christina Puchalski

Kristabeth’s focus is on companioning people who are facing life transitions including (but not limited to) the loss of a loved one, illness, divorce, job change, identity issues, leaving a faith tradition, relocation, and retirement. (She also offers sessions focused specifically on grief support.) People of all spiritual and secular worldviews and gender and sexual identities are welcome.

Sessions are usually held on Zoom or FaceTime. If sitting in front of a computer is not your thing, and you are local to Burlington, Vermont, we can talk about possible in-person options, including walking sessions on the Burlington Bike Path.

Sessions can be scheduled monthly or weekly. Sessions begin with a brief time of silence and meditation followed by open conversation utilizing the evocative approach. (Learn more about the evocative approach here.)

Our fees are based on a self-selecting sliding scale of $35-$55 per session.

In her practice as a spiritual companion, Kristabeth follows the Spiritual Directors International Guidelines for Ethical Conduct, meets regularly with her own spiritual companion, and attends a supervision group of spiritual directors/companions. Read Portrait of a Spiritual Director to learn more about what a spiritual director or companion can offer.

E-mail us today to find out more or schedule a free 30-minute introductory call.

Crisis Spiritual Companionship

Life is unpredictable. In one moment, everything is rolling along smoothly. In the next moment, we can find our world turned upside-down.

Kristabeth offers crisis (or emergency) spiritual companionship for those who find themselves in unexpected or overwhelming circumstances. She is available as a comforting presence in situations including death bed visits, hospitalization, sudden loss, and other life-changing moments. Crisis spiritual companionship is a practice of presence and can include prayer, meditation, silence, and conversation.

Crisis spiritual companionship is offered in person (depending on location and availability), through Zoom or FaceTime, or over the phone. Fees are $60 per hour (plus travel expenses, if applicable.) If you are in need of crisis spiritual companionship, please call Kristabeth directly at 802-825-8141.

“As a Spiritual Companion, I help people find their own answers to life’s big questions. It is natural for questions of purpose and meaning to arise during times of transition. If asked, I may offer examples or illustrations from the world’s spiritual traditions or my own life, but it’s not my mission to tell people what to believe. I help people explore the questions and gain a greater understanding of how they find their place in the world.”

~Kristabeth Atwood, Founder, Rites of Passage, LLC

E-mail us today to find out more or schedule a free 30-minute exploratory call.

“When I rise up/let me rise up joyful/like a bird. When I fall/let me fall without regret/like a leaf.”

~ Wendell Berry