ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses ethical and boundary issues such as contracting, confidentiality, dual relationships, self-disclosure, supervision, keeping notes and records, recognising limits of competence, continuing professional development, payment, and insurance. Some spiritual directors express a fear of what they call "over-professionalization", which often seems to be prevalent when considering ethical issues. The chapter helps to dispel some of these fears in the interests of offering all directees a safe experience that meets their individual needs. A particular concern expressed by some spiritual directors and other religious leaders is that spiritual direction may lose something of its essential nature through the introduction of conventions that are widely accepted as contributing to ethical practice in the field of psychotherapy. In the case of therapy, information regarding confidentiality will depend on the setting in which it takes place. Dual relationships may occur when director and directee find that their paths cross in contexts other than that of spiritual direction.
