Guiding You Toward a Deeper Connection with God
DO YOU HAVE TROUBLE GETTING YOUR TEEN OR PRETEEN TO TALK TO YOU?
So many parents of kids in 6th-12th grade have trouble getting their child to open up to them and talk about REAL things. Parents are often worried about their pre-teen or teenager’s spiritual life and walk with Jesus. If that’s you, I want you to know that you aren’t alone!
Coaching Teens
Over the past 25 years, I have loved coaching and investing in middle school and high school students; first as a youth pastor for over 10 years, then as a baseball and soccer coach, and most recently as a substitute teacher for 6th-12th grade.
I love getting to have spiritual conversations with teens and pre-teens and talking with them about their hopes and fears. I believe that every middle school, high school, and college student should have a caring adult in their life, other than their parents, who they can talk to and share what is going on in their heads and hearts.
BEYOND YOUTH GROUP
Attending a great youth group is a wonderful resource for middle school and high school kids! But sometimes kids can benefit from having a coach or mentor in their life that they can talk to and feel free to ask any questions they might be too embarrassed to ask a parent or pastor at their church. Your student could benefit from having a few sessions with a Spiritual Director who can help them as they process the tough questions of life and discern where the Holy Spirit is guiding them as they finish high school or college and enter into the next phase of life.
Spiritual Direction VS. therapy
So you might be asking, what’s the difference between Spiritual Direction and Counseling and Therapy? Great question!
Spiritual Direction, as the name implies, is primarily about the spiritual life…our relationship with God and the movement of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Counseling helps us to work through and resolve problems in our lives and relationships. Psychotherapy goes deeper and is primarily focused on the emotional life and helps us to heal past hurts and to look at and resolve unhealthy patterns in our lives.
If your student is struggling with emotional pain and negative patterns of behavior in their life, dealing with depression or mood disorders, anxiety, addictions or other diagnosable conditions, psychotherapy is the best option. If your student needs advice sorting out their life and relationships, then counseling would be the way to go. But if your student wants to grow in their relationship with God and discern the movement of the Holy Spirit in their life? Then talking to a Spiritual Director would be a great thing for them to do!
So what are my qualifications? I am not a licensed counselor or psychologist, but I am an ordained pastor with 8 years of undergrad and masters level education and 24 years serving in churches ranging in size from 50 people to 5,000 people. I have studied Spiritual Direction, focusing on how to help people discern the movement of the Holy Spirit and listen for the still, small voice of the Father. And I have a heart and passion for helping people walk with Jesus and discover how the Holy Spirit is leading them to take their next step.
If you have a middle school, high school student, or college student who could benefit from Spiritual Direction sessions, I would love to connect with you to see if meeting with me would help your student grow in their relationship with God!
(And, of course, if you’re an adult who thinks this sounds beneficial, please reach out! I’d be happy to meet with you, even if you were a teenager a long time ago)
What is Spiritual Direction?
Are you longing for a deeper relationship with God? Do you need a safe space to process your faith journey? Spiritual direction is a sacred practice where we listen together for God’s presence in your life. It’s not about giving advice or fixing problems—it’s about noticing where God is moving and helping you grow in awareness, peace, and purpose.
Who is Spiritual Direction For?
Spiritual direction is for anyone who wants to:
✅ Deepen their relationship with God
✅ Navigate life’s transitions with spiritual clarity
✅ Find renewed purpose in their faith journey
✅ Explore doubts and questions in a safe, nonjudgmental space
Whether you’re a teenager, leader, pastor, or someone seeking spiritual renewal, this space is for you.
My Approach
As a spiritual director, I provide a listening ear and a discerning heart. Our time together will be unhurried, reflective, and centered on where God is moving in your life. Sessions are conversational, prayerful, and completely confidential.
About Me
I graduated from North Central University with a B.A. in Pastoral Studies in 2003 and from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master of Arts in Theological Studies in 2012. I was ordained in Denver, Colorado in 2008. As someone who has walked in both the charismatic and contemplative traditions, I enjoy helping people listen for where the Holy Spirit is leading and helping people discover spiritual disciplines that can help them on their journey.
Schedule a Conversation
Curious to learn more? I’d love to connect with you. Let’s set up a time to talk about what spiritual direction could look like for you.
ERIK LINDEEN 