About
I come to spiritual direction and discernment 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.
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. That posture continues to guide how I accompany others.
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.
Ben Shoup ~ M.Div., D.Min.
I work with individuals, leaders, executives, and couples who are seeking spiritual direction, discernment coaching, or couples’ spiritual direction and want a space where complexity is welcomed rather than reduced, and where discernment can unfold with care rather than pressure.
Much of my discernment coaching with leaders and executives involves navigating decisions that carry real responsibility; decisions that affect organizations, communities, families, or long-term direction. These choices often cannot be rushed or simplified without cost. This work offers a disciplined, grounded space to clarify what is truly being asked, attend to consequences, and move forward with integrity rather than urgency.
What You Can Expect
My role is not to give packaged answers or tell you what to do. Instead, 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 the 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.
Working Together
If you are unsure which offering fits your situation, 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, and no expectation to commit to anything during or after the call.