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A New EverAfter

Your Story Unfolding

Service Agreement

SERVICE AGREEMENT

Bethany S. Ward

This Agreement contains important information about my professional services and business policies.

SERVICES

I view my services as a collaborative process between you, me and anyone else you determine to be appropriate. Our initial sessions will focus on exploring the reasons you are seeking services and gathering some pertinent background information. We will discuss what you hope to accomplish and options in reaching those goals.

I assume you know what is best for you and through our collaboration we can clarify how best to achieve it. My philosophy is to view you as a person whose heart, mind, body and energy are interconnected. My goal is to help facilitate balanced and integrated ways of being that nourish your heart, mind, body and spirit energy.

I see emotional, cognitive, physical and spiritual health challenges as normal human experiences, which are impacted by one’s life experiences, genetics, life-styles, and coping strategies. These challenges can be an opportunity to enhance your health as well as an opportunity for growth.

To meet the unique needs of each client, my services integrate current scientific findings with a creative/intuitive process. There are a variety of services in the community that may be helpful to integrate into your work. You are encouraged to explore what combination, if any, might work best for you.

I also respect that it is most important for you to feel comfortable with me. Should you ever have questions or concerns about our process, please feel free to talk about them. I want to encourage you to express that to me and if you request it, I can help facilitate you finding the right professional that best fits your needs and style. My services can have many benefits and some risks. Since such methods may involve discussing unpleasant aspects of your life, you may experience uncomfortable feelings like sadness, guilt, anger, frustration, and physical discomforts. On the other hand, my services have also been shown to have many benefits such as better relationships, solutions to specific problems, significant reductions in feelings of distress, improved coping skills, and a better sense of well-being. There are no guarantees what you will experience, but I have found you can maximize your success when you put energy into your goals in between the sessions.

SERVICES IN SPIRITUAL DIRECTION

The services to be provided by the Spiritual Director to the client are face-to-face or electronically-directed, as agreed jointly with the client. Spiritual Direction may address specific personal projects, successes, or general conditions in the client’s life or profession. The goal is to deepen the client’s spiritual life. Spiritual Direction includes value clarification, brainstorming, identifying plans of action, examining modes of operating in life, asking clarifying questions, and making empowering requests or suggestions for action.

Throughout the working relationship, the Director will engage in direct and personal conversations. The client understands that successful Direction requires a co-active collaborative approach between client and Director.

In the direction relationship, the Director plays the role of a facilitator of change, but it is the client’s responsibility to enact or bring about the change.

If the client believes the Direction is not working as desired, the client will communicate and take action to return the power to the coaching relationship.

FEES

The fee for a 50 minute session is $73. Sessions will be scheduled to begin a quarter past the hour.

If you become involved in legal proceedings that require my participation, you will be expected to pay for all of my professional time, including preparation and transportation costs, even if I am called to testify by another party. Because of the significant time and energy associated with legal involvement, I charge $325 per hour for preparation and attendance at any legal proceeding.

I request that you pay the whole fee before each session, unless we have a written agreement otherwise.  If you have a balance and do not have an appointment scheduled, you will receive a statement around the 15th of each month for services. Unless there is a financial hardship we have discussed and have developed an alternative arrangement, payment is requested upon receipt of the statement.

SESSIONS

Sessions will normally be 50 minutes in duration. If they are shorter or longer for some reason, the fee will be adjusted according to the quarter hour. Many people meet weekly for the first few sessions then decide on what is the best frequency for them. The frequency can vary depending upon need, schedules and finances.

Sessions are not a substitute for seeking professional medical care or assistance. Therefore, please do not replace the impressions given to you during your session for any advice that has been given to you by a medical professional. If you are in need of medical, health, psychological or psychiatric care, assistance or consultation, seek out a licensed medical professional for a consultation. The information provided during our session is not medical advice and should not be used as a prescription for your medical needs; it is to be used as assistance on your journey of spiritual and personal growth. Astrology and Tarot readings and other metaphysical tools and references on this website, and any reading given within a session, are for entertainment purposes only. This information should not be used by you to replace any professional advice.

TELEPHONE CALLS

Your calls are answered by my 24 hour voice mail system. Please leave a message in my  voice mailbox along with the best time to reach you, and I will call back as soon as possible. Brief phone calls (5-10 minutes) to change appointments or clarify information are welcome and will not be charged. However, if phone calls are greater than 10 minutes, they will be charged according to the quarter hour. I do not accept text messages from clients.

If you have an emergency please call 911 or one of the following 24-hour hotline numbers or go to your nearest emergency room.

National Suicide Prevention 800-273-8255

Psychiatric ER/Suicide Hotline 216-623-6888

Rape Crisis Center 216-619-6192

Child Abuse 216-696-KIDS

CLIENTS UNDER THE INFLUENCE

I reserve the right to refuse or terminate a session if you or anyone in the session is suspected to be under the influence of a mood-altering substance. You will be responsible and charged for full payment of the normal fee.

PRIOR HISTORY

You, the client, agree to disclose details of the past or present relevant details and treatment. Spiritual Direction and counseling are not the same and as such, there needs to be a clear distinction between the two. In entering into a DIrection relationship, and accepting this service agreement, you are agreeing that if any mental health difficulties arise during the course of our professional relationship, you will notify me immediately so that I can discuss with you an appropriate referral.

CANCELING APPOINTMENTS

Although it is best to keep regular appointments, there may be times when you cannot come in. It is requested that you contact me with preferably 48 hours ahead, and at least 24 hours in advance to cancel the appointment. If you do not cancel 24 hours in advance, you will be charged the full normal fee for that session with no refund option.

In the spirit of being flexible to unforeseen circumstances, if I have an opening and can reschedule you during that week, or if I can find someone to take your time slot there will not be a charge. Please know that I cannot guarantee confidentiality when using electronic media.

Unfortunately, I’m not able to make any other exceptions to the policy. If I am asked to make an exception it puts me in the role of judging what is reasonable and what is not, which is a role I’m not comfortable being in. I approach our work from a place of acceptance of where you are in your life without judgment and I want to maintain that.

You may pay the missed appointments by check/cash or I will charge your credit card on file accordingly.

STOPPING SERVICES

You have the right to stop your services at any time. I suggest we discuss when you are ready to stop and plan for it accordingly. It is helpful to discuss any feelings you may have as well as talk about strategies to maintain your progress. Some people take periodic breaks, others use the practitioner as one resource in their life and may come in a couple of times a year as a way to maintain their gains. Feel free to discuss all of these options with me when you are ready.

PROFESSIONAL RECORDS

You should be aware that I contain information about you from notes I make about our session. These notes are for my own use and are designed to assist me in providing you with the best care. While the contents of notes vary from client to client, they can include the contents of our conversations, my analysis of those conversations, and how they impact your services.

BLOG AND WEBSITE DISCLAIMER

Photographs on this site are credited to Debra-Lynn Hook where noted, and otherwise the property of Bethany S. Ward or received through Public Domain sources under Creative Commons CCO.

By using this website and/or products/services/advice on this website, you agree to not hold me or any of my affiliates liable for damages including lost profits, lost savings or other incidental, consequential or special damages that may occur from following the advice or ideas shared in my posts, newsletter, Facebook group, or website content, or with the use of any free or paid work that I share.

Revised 4/11/17

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a.new.everafter

Bethany Ward | A New EverAfter
So what do *you* believe? Oh gosh, that is such a So what do *you* believe?

Oh gosh, that is such an interesting question for me. 

And I get it all the time.

I tend to refer to myself as a mystic. I believe that we all have the opportunity for direct access to, and union with, the Divine – and that those opportunities appear before us again and again, day after ordinary day. 

For me, the Divine is too expansive for any one expression, though I do have a personal relationship with the Mystery, of which I call God. 

I simply wish to live my life with that God revealing itself to me in new ways day after day. Sometimes that revelation is through Christian prayer, sometimes that is a reverence for nature, sometimes that is Zen Meditation, or attendance at Quaker meeting. Sometimes that revelation is a call toward social activism, and yes, sometimes it is a stir of a pot and a twinkle of my nose. 

When pressed, I might respond that I am a Jungian-influenced modern-day contemplative. 

All these varied practices represent, to me, a naturally resonant and responsible response to the glory of All That Is.

Though I dedicated the first part of my adult life, my academic career, and my profession to Unitarian Universalism, I am compelled to say that I currently do not have a religious affiliation. 
I simply choose to contemplatively and organically live out my spirituality, allowing the Being in All to make itself known in its multidimensional and multifaceted expression.

“ANY GOD I EVER FOUND IN CHURCH, I BROUGHT IN MYSELF.”― ALICE WALKER

Since my background is in Religion and Spiritual Development, I am able to translate diverse religious expressions into a deeply personal mystical experience that fuels my own understanding of the Divine and allows me to live a uniquely principled life tailored to my experience of a knowable yet unknowable God. 

This experience helps you too. I have an intimate understanding of many spiritual cultures and have a vast knowledge of where those traditions diverge and intersect. 

This approach helps you connect to your own beliefs and values as you consciously create your next chapter.

So...what do *you* believe?

#spiritualcompanionship #thisibelieve #faithstatement
It is difficult to describe what I do — in part It is difficult to describe what I do — in part because it is difficult to describe the breadth and scope of spirituality itself.

I often cheekily say, “I am a spiritual person...but not like that. Whatever the word “spiritual” has just conjured up for you...I’m not that.” ☺️

I jest this way because of how we individually and collectively [mis]understand the nature of spirituality itself. As it is largely [mis]understood, “spirituality” is everything from a moniker of the ego, to magical powers, to a flight of fancy.

I’m not that. 

Nor is true, authentic spiritual expression.

So what is authentic spirituality?

Academically speaking, the definition for “spirituality” is an “individual’s personal experience with wonder, awe, mystery, and/or connection to the whole.“. 

Simple as that. 

These are universal human experiences.

And...these universal experiences are in no way separate from the material. 

We are hardwired to connect. It is in our connection to ourselves, others, and All That Is that we find our deepest meaning and our truest fulfillment.

Spirituality encompasses all of what it means to be human. And to access and live from our spiritual sense is to be more fully—and happily—human.

Our innate spirituality asks of us:

“How shall I live my life?”

And...

“What values do I hold that will allow me to consciously create this life?”

In our modern world, we need someplace to go-and someone with whom we feel safe-to explore these big questions for ourselves.

This is the purpose of A New EverAfter —and the work that I do. I offer opportunities for your own deep learning and formative experiences that connect you to the most important aspects of who you truly are.

How do you personally define “spirituality”?

#authenticspirituality #spirituality #spiritualawakening #spiritualdirection #soulcare #spiritualcompanionship #liveconnectedlivewell
You asked: From where did 'A New EverAfter' derive You asked: From where did 'A New EverAfter' derive its name?

Each of us holds hope for our own lives’ unfolding. Yet we often encounter trials that instead leave us feeling disappointed and disillusioned. So many of us have encountered trauma, tragedy, and utter bewilderment and found ourselves saying, “it wasn’t supposed to be like this”.

A New EverAfter believes that we might restore our sense of hope by engaging in discovery and wonder, all the while remaining willing to follow the path toward true wisdom.

A New EverAfter does not promise a future that is nothing but bright nor made entirely of “happily”. However, it does know that trust in the process offers a true and lasting peace that can only come with engaging your spiritual nature.

Your spiritual nature may come to be understood through the intentional exploration of your own sacred story.

My desire is to help you enrich, reframe, and celebrate that narrative. No matter how you choose to explore your story within the varied services of A New EverAfter, together we will examine a new type of EverAfter, one that exalts the process and not the destination.

This EverAfter is not about a perception of a happy ending but about redefining your present and rediscovering who you truly are; mindfully, holistically, and practically. 

#spiritualdirection #spirituality #beginagain #hope #renewal #spiritualgrowth #spiritualjourney #authenticspirituality
I grew up in a fundamentally religious household - I grew up in a fundamentally religious household - as in Evangelical Christian Fundamentalist.

My parents were good, kind, loving, and gentle. ...But the religion I was steeped in was uncompromising, short-sided, and bigoted. 

As a child - with the limited perspective of childhood itself - I simply thought that this was how the world was constructed. 

That is, until I reached the curious age of 12 ....and heard the first chords of my first Indigo Girls’ song.

Instantly, my world expanded.

Where once condemnation, there was love. Where once judgement, now acceptance. Where once self-rejection, now self-understanding.

Those who expand our perspectives are the ones that have the most impact on us. The Indigo Girls invited me into a wider, more connected, and more loving world.

And....

this is exactly what Spiritual Growth does for us. It pushes out the walls of our existing containers and compels us to stretch further into love and compassion. 

Changes of heart facilitate spiritual growth.

Who has changed your heart?

Who has shown you how to push against the walls of your own narrow container? 

Who in your life has demonstrated their intent on making this place better for all people?

#spiritualawakening #spiritualdirection #spiritualgrowth #spiritualcompanionship #indigogirls #amyray #emilysaliers #getahammerandnail #letitbeme #shinemylifelikealight #letitring
The most important thing to me is spiritual growth The most important thing to me is spiritual growth because it gave me the true and lasting serenity I craved.

Learning how to engage intentional spiritual development has brought me out of my turbulent storms of overwhelm, disillusionment, and distrust.

In my darkest hours, bitterness and resentment had overpowered me. Yet, in choosing to get curious about my spiritual self, I found the tools that I needed for emotional repair. 

In time, I would recognize that my life’s circumstances could shape me into someone disconnected and cynical or I could be intentionally formed - through love - into the highest version of myself. 

Intentional spiritual growth has allowed me to reconstruct a solid foundation to finally come ashore to who I truly am.

#spiritualawakening #spiritualdirection #spiritualgrowth
In my years of serving Spiritual Seekers, I have u In my years of serving Spiritual Seekers, I have uncovered 5 foundations of spiritual living that foster deeper presence, lovingkindness, & continued growth. 

In the past weeks, I have been sharing each one individually and today we compile them into one comprehensive framework. 

While your spiritual life is unique to you, these foundations will be found in every person’s journey in some way.

1. Recognize the Promise: When we are in a state of disillusionment, we are disconnected from hope. Recognize that Presence is available to you and simply awaits your engagement.
2. Become the Calm Seer: In order to walk toward fulfillment, you must be willing to see things differently. Learn how to observe life in order to expand your perspective.
3. Know Your Spiritual Fuel: The Divine Spark ignites our souls in unique ways. Notice what aligns your heart and fuels your spiritual passion. Discover how to use your energies in expansive, not depleting, ways.
4. Understand True Worth: Not everything is meant for us. Learn the art of discernment by wisely evaluating the movement of your God-Source in your life. Come to know what is for you and what shall be offered up.
5. Move within the Knowable and Unknowable: Remain fluid in your spiritual growth. Rest in the ways that your God-Source has objectively demonstrated its love, protection, and guidance while remaining open to the wonder of discovery.

#spiritualseekers #spiritualdirection #foundationsofspiritualliving #spiritualformation #aneweverafter
The 5th Foundation of Spiritual Living is learning The 5th Foundation of Spiritual Living is learning how to move within the Knowable and the Unknowable.

Spiritual Direction helps us to remain fluid in our spiritual growth. It encourages us to rest in the ways that our God-Source has objectively demonstrated its love, protection, and guidance while remaining open to the wonder of discovery.

Spiritual maturity rests in faith’s assurance as it simultaneously distances itself from blind acceptance. 

A Spiritual Seeker is comforted by the guarantee of Divine Presence just as they acknowledge that their knowing is without certainty.

We have been implored to “Live the Question now!” by Henri Nouwen. “Do not now seek answers which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything.”

#spiritualdirection #inspirationalmedisumship #aneweverafter
Spiritual Direction helps you to understand the tr Spiritual Direction helps you to understand the true worth of things in order for you to live a meaningful and principled life of greater ease. To expand...

I am returning to a conversation around the Five Foundations of Spiritual Living after of a bit of a self-imposed detour. ☺️

We left off the conversation with the third foundation of Spiritual Living: Know Your Spiritual Fuel. 

Today, we return to it by examining the 4th Foundation of Spiritual Living: Understand True Worth.

Not everything is meant for us. Intentional spiritual growth helps us to learn the art of discernment by wisely evaluating the movement of our God-Source in our lives. 

Through therapeutic listening, you may come to know what is truly for you and what should be offered up. 

How many times have you been caught in a loop of your own thoughts, trying to determine a “right” course of action? A lack of skilled discernment can leave you frustrated and exhausted.

Through the art and practice of Spiritual Direction, A New EverAfter helps you learn how to discern with wisdom and to seek mercy and grace in the process. 

Consider where you might now be in unease in your life. 

Ask:

🍄 What personal value do I hold that I can live into more fully right now?
🍄 Which action brings me into further intimacy with myself? my God? Others?
🍄 Does this decision promote reconciliation rather than division?
🍄 Am I moving with trust?

Contemplating these questions on your own will guide you further on the path to wisdom. Yet, as Henri Nouwen wrote, “the companionship of trusted friends allows us to see how God is at work”. 

Working with a Spiritual Director ensures that you have someone companioning you through your discernment process so that you might move with greater confidence and gentler ease. 

#spiritualdirection #theartofdiscernment #aneweverafter #spiritualcompanionship
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