Along with Spiritual Accompaniment for women, I also offer Spiritual Accompaniment for children of age
group 5 to 12 years. I have been trained by the Companioning center, USA to provide spiritual accompaniment to children.
What is Spiritual Accompaniment with children?
Every child is a beloved, image-bearer of God. God is actively working in their lives. Children have an innate sense of God’s presence but they may not have the language to express what they experience. As adults we may not always perceive or understand this. Jesus said: “… unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3. Spiritual Accompaniment is founded on the understanding that, if God wants us to be like little children, then surely there is a depth of relationship that comes with being childlike. My role as a Spiritual Accompanier is to be present and attentive as a child expresses the experiences of their lives. I will be listening to their stories and facilitating the conversation through questions and tools that will help them recognise and respond to God’s active presence. Children recognize God’s fingerprints in their stories thereby enabling them to be aware of God’s active and living presence every day of their lives.
For this purpose the spiritual accompaniment conversation will be:
- A time when a child will receive undivided attention as they express themselves about the experiences of his/her life.
- A time with an Accompanier who helps children recognize and respond to the presence of their sense of truth, beauty, and goodness in their lives.
- Confidential. I will never reveal what the child says to anyone, even to the parents, unless it is for his or her own protection other than to my supervisor for the purposes of evaluating my role (never to evaluate the child) without disclosing the identity of the child. This is essential to respect and honour the child’s person and give him/her freedom to share without any need to please, or any fear to displease. The child is free to share with their parents whatever they have shared with the Accompanier.
- As a Spiritual accompanier, I will be accountable to an experienced Supervisor. I will be sharing with this person, without revealing the child’s identity or giving the details of my conversations, to help me engage better with the child.
- Safe. I will observe accepted practices that ensure the child’s safety whenever he or she talks with me.
What Spiritual Accompaniment for children is not?
Spiritual accompaniment is neither a counselling, psychotherapy, or problem-solving session nor a session where I will teach Bible stories or give value-based teachings.
Frequency of meeting:
Each session will last approximately 30 to 45 minutes, sometimes even less, depending on the age of the child, the circumstances they face, and their desire on that day.
Location of meeting:
I meet children online over Zoom and offline, if in and around Thane city in Mumbai.
Parent or Guardian Availability
At least one adult guardian must be available during our online meetings nearby in case the child needs help with technology or otherwise.
If you have any more questions please feel free to contact me using the form below