Integrative PilgrIMAGE

The Gap We're Addressing

Countless people are seeking support that honors the fullness of who they are—body, mind, and spirit. They're looking for guides who integrate spiritual direction with an understanding of trauma, nervous system regulation, and developmental growth. When asked for referrals to others doing this integrative work, the list is limited and most are at capacity. The hunger is real; the helpers are few.

The Longing That Drives Us

We long to see more wholeness and health in the body of Christ. We dream of communities marked by fullness of joy and depths of peace. We ache for humble, transformed leaders who move from a place of genuine partnership with the Holy Spirit rather than striving, performance or the pressure to be helpful. This training is born from the belief that the world desperately needs more helpers equipped to facilitate this kind of transformation.

The Gift We're Offering

This training is about giving away what has been given—wisdom gathered from years of practice, insights from diverse training modalities, and intuition shaped by the Holy Spirit's guidance. It's about multiplying this work so that more people can experience the integration and freedom that comes from whole-person transformation rooted in Christ's unconditional love.

This training equips you to work with the whole person—body, mind, and heart—while staying grounded in relationship with Jesus. You'll learn what centuries of Christian tradition have known about transformation alongside what neuroscience has recently discovered about how change actually happens in human beings. The result is a practice that honors both the depth of spiritual wisdom and the reality of how we're wired as embodied creatures.

Jesus-Centered

Everything flows from and returns to relationship with Jesus. We're not just using spiritual language alongside secular technique. We're developing an interactive connection with Immanuel, God With Us, as the foundation of all transformational work.

Resilience-Focused/Trauma-Informed

We honor the reality that nearly everyone we serve has experienced some level of trauma or adversity. This training equips you to work with the nervous system, understand survival strategies, and create conditions for healing, not just cognitive growth.

Partnership with the Holy Spirit

We recognize that we are not the transformers—the Holy Spirit is. Our role is to humbly companion others in their journey, creating space for God to do what only God can do. This training will help you discern how to follow the Spirit's lead in each unique relationship.

Throughout this training, three essential threads will be woven together, ensuring that participants develop a truly holistic practice: body, mind, and will/heart. These are integrated throughout every module, discussion, and practice session.

These three threads aren't taught sequentially but are braided throughout the entire program, structured according to the profound movements of the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises which are reflected in the IMAGE© model. You'll learn both the skills and competencies you need as a helper AND the tools and exercises you can offer to those you serve—all while maintaining an Immanuel Approach that keeps you connected to Jesus throughout your own learning journey.

What to Expect

Program Structure

This 9-month training (September - May) combines personal study, group learning, peer practice, and individual mentorship. You'll engage in multiple modes of learning that support both your own formation and your development as a helper.

Core Components:

Opening Retreat
We begin together, grounding ourselves in embodied community and setting the foundation for the journey ahead.

Large Group Zooms
2 per month
Interactive discussions, teaching, and communal processing of course material.

Small Group Practice Zooms
1 per month
Practice sessions in smaller cohorts with observation and feedback from the trainers.

Peer Coaching Practice
1 per month
Unobserved practice with a rotating partner (different pairs each month) to build confidence and integrate skills.

Written Reflections
1 per month
Reflective writing to deepen your learning, submitted before your individual session with Cyd.

Individual Sessions with Cyd
1 per month
One-on-one mentorship scheduled individually

Self-Study
Ongoing
Pre-reading, asynchronous learning materials, and personal reflection throughout the program.

Closing Retreat
We conclude together, celebrating the journey and discerning next steps in your calling as a helper.

Time Commitment

Expect to invest 10-15 hours per month in scheduled gatherings (retreat, zooms, peer practice, individual sessions) plus additional time for reading, reflection, and self-study.

Cost

TBD

This training is for helpers in the body of Christ: people who are already walking alongside others in some capacity or feel called to do so. You might be a pastor, counselor, coach, spiritual director, ministry leader, or simply someone who finds that people naturally come to you for support. You're drawn to this work because you long to see deeper transformation in yourself and others, and you sense that integration of body, mind, and heart is essential. This training is for those who want to grow in their capacity to facilitate healing and wholeness while staying rooted in partnership with Jesus.

No formal training or certification is required. What matters most is that you're already engaged in helping relationships in some way and are hungry to learn. Some participants may come with professional certifications in coaching, therapy, or spiritual direction, while others may be newer to formal helping roles. The training is designed to meet you where you are and equip you with both foundational skills and advanced integration practices. Your willingness to learn, your openness to your own transformation, and your heart for serving others matter more than your credentials.

Coaching typically focuses on goals, action, and forward movement: helping someone clarify what they want and supporting them in getting there. Spiritual direction traditionally focuses on noticing and responding to God's movement in one's life, helping someone pay attention to their relationship with the Divine. This training integrates both. You'll learn coaching skills that facilitate clarity and action alongside contemplative practices that attune you to the Holy Spirit's leading. The result is a practice that honors both doing and being, both transformation and formation, both human agency and divine grace.

This training is rooted in Christian tradition and centers on relationship with Jesus, but it's not limited to any particular denomination. Participants may come from Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, or non-denominational backgrounds. The Ignatian Spiritual Exercises, while developed within the Catholic tradition, have been widely adapted and embraced across Christian traditions. What unites us is not denominational affiliation but a shared commitment to following Jesus and facilitating transformation in partnership with the Holy Spirit. We welcome the richness that different traditions bring and believe there is much to learn from one another.

We'll be using Zoom for all virtual gatherings (large group sessions, small group practice sessions, and individual meetings with Cyd). Zoom links and meeting details will be provided to enrolled participants. You'll need a reliable internet connection, a computer or tablet with camera and microphone, and a quiet space for video calls. The program is hosted through Kajabi.

Upon completion of the program and evaluation by the director, participants will receive a Certificate of Integrative Coaching and Soul Care from The Center for Embodied Faith. This certificate reflects the total number of training hours (131), supervised hours (18), and mentor coaching hours (6). 

What about spiritual direction certification?
There are several spiritual direction training programs available and the options can be overwhelming. 

It can be confusing because there isn’t an official certifying body that governs what constitutes a qualified spiritual director. Instead, the pathway is generally to join an association or larger network of spiritual directors. While there are a few different networks to associate with, including some denominational networks, the most common one for Christians is Christ-Centered Spiritual Directors Association. You can review what they consider to be a qualified training here: https://www.graftedlife.org/csda/join/membership-standards/training-minimums/

We consider spiritual direction to be a vocational calling that goes beyond skills training and is ideally a ministry of the local church. For those reasons, we are not specifically setting out to train spiritual directors.

People have asked if this program would qualify as a spiritual direction training program. According to the requirements to join CSDA, all of these requirements, all can be satisfied through the Integrative pilgrIMAGE training except the 2 year requirement. Participants who have previous training that includes the theory and history of spiritual direction and spiritual formation would satisfy the minimum requirements of CSDA training.