Vicki Cousins
Degree in religious studies at York University
M.Div and Master of Religious Education at Emmanuel College
Ontario Jubilee Program in Spiritual Direction at TST in 2000
CPE residency at University Health Network in Toronto
Specialist certification with Canadian Association of Spiritual Care
Member of College of Psychotherapy
training through the Soul Midwifery school in the United Kingdom
I trained as a labyrinth facilitator with Rev. Dr. Lauren Artress at Veriditas, Grace Cathedral, San Francisco in 1999. To me the labyrinth is a powerful spiritual and meditation tool. With my portable canvas labyrinth, I offer workshops to groups in the community including recreation therapy students, faith and spirituality groups and wellness programs.
I served eight years in parish ministry. I am a volunteer chaplain with York Regional Police and am a member of the Critical Incident Team of York Region.
From 2009 until May 2020, I was Coordinator of Spiritual Care & Spiritual Practitioner at Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket, Ontario, a 425-bed acute care hospital. I offered spiritual care and emotional support to patients, families, staff and volunteers, including grief support, memorial services and the coordination of spiritual care volunteers. I presided at many funerals and weddings of staff and family members.
A deep faith has sustained me through many challenging times and enabled me to take tremendous leaps of faith. Since I semi-retired, I have been teaching and facilitating programs and courses through local hospices. I especially enjoy spending time with my son and daughter, their partners, and five little grandchildren. I have a wonderful network of family and friends.
It is my intention to inspire, encourage, companion and mentor others with warmth, compassion and wisdom gained from my life experiences. I spend time in meditation, reflection, reading, prayer, gardening and writing in my journal. I offer deep gratitude for my work that is both emotional and deeply spiritual, continually calling me into places of mystery and the unknown. It is a privilege and an honour to journey with others.
In the telling of our story, we become more in touch with our emotions and gain insight into our spiritual, emotional, mental and physical wellbeing. In spiritual direction we explore our beliefs, values, stresses and concerns. We enter into the mystery by meeting soul to soul, exploring spiritual themes such as loss of purpose and meaning, independence or identity, chaos, confusion, and fear of the unknown. I companion people as they face life threatening illness, dying and death. We explore images of the Divine and explore how the Divine is moving, calling and stirring us in life.
When I studied to become a spiritual director, I read Holy Listening by Margaret Guenther who writes of the powerful metaphor of midwifery in spiritual direction. Holy listening is at its core. We stand on holy ground.
“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” ~ Frederick Buechner
Contact Information
Aurora, Ontario
(905) 727-7211
www.spiritualknapsack.com
