About

A companion who has walked
the same ground.

I come to this work with a deep, personal commitment to the practice, supported by formal training and a steady dedication to walking with people without rushing them toward premature conclusions.

The practitioner

Ben Shoup M.Div., D.Min.

My own life has been shaped by seasons of uncertainty, inner conflict, and longing for clarity that could not be forced. Over time, I learned that discernment is less about finding the right answer quickly and more about learning how to listen well, to one's life, one's desires, one's responsibilities, and the Divine movement within it all.

Much of my work is with thoughtful, capable people who are used to carrying a great deal on their own. Clients often arrive feeling unsettled, not because something is obviously wrong, but because something important is shifting. Sometimes the question is spiritual. Sometimes relational. Sometimes vocational or organizational. Often, it is all of these at once.

I work with individuals, leaders, executives, and couples who want a space where complexity is welcomed rather than reduced, and where discernment can unfold with care rather than pressure.

Ben Shoup, Spiritual Director at Essence House

Formation

Master of Divinity | Doctor of Ministry in Spiritual Direction

Western Theological Seminary | Fuller Theological Seminary

Experience

Experienced in Jungian frameworks, dream work, and active imagination  ·  Trauma-informed frameworks  ·  Classical spiritual direction tradition  ·  Ongoing consultation with licensed clinicians through Ash Tree Center

Background

Leadership career guiding 21 organizations. Former minister inside the systems many clients are quietly questioning. Not an outsider theorizing; a practitioner who has walked the same ground.

Stack of worn hardcover books beside an open journal

What you can expect

My role is not to give packaged answers
or tell you what to do.

I serve as a steady guide, helping you slow down, notice what is happening beneath the surface, and listen more deeply to what matters most in you.

People often tell me that over time they become less reactive, more curious, and more confident in how they discern next steps, even when uncertainty remains. Rather than needing everything to resolve immediately, they find greater steadiness and trust in themselves and in their discernment process.

This work can feel therapeutic at times, but it is not therapy. Spiritual direction and discernment coaching are formational practices rooted in attentiveness, reflection, and honest conversation. There is no pressure to arrive at clarity quickly, and no expectation that discernment will follow a straight line.

Open hands resting palm-up on a wooden table

Working together

If you are unsure which offering fits, that is completely okay.

The first conversation is simply a place to begin. An exploratory call is a free, 30-minute conversation where we talk about what's bringing you here and notice whether spiritual direction, discernment coaching, or couples' spiritual direction feels like a good fit.

There is nothing to prepare ahead of time. No expectation to commit to anything during or after the call. Some people choose to work together for a specific season; others for longer-term accompaniment. Both are welcome.

Begin with a free conversation

Format

Phone or Zoom

Duration

30 minutes

Cost

Free. No obligation.

Available

Throughout the US