Sally Sharpe is a Certified Spiritual Director and Spiritual Direction Supervisor who is passionate about companioning others on the spiritual journey, helping to guide them toward greater healing and wholeness. Believing that all people long to be seen, known, and loved, she provides a safe space for others to share their stories, explore their relationship with God, and seek a deeper connection with the One who knows them best and loves them most. Areas of special interest include journaling, storytelling for healing, Ignatian spirituality/spiritual discernment, contemplative prayer practices, the Enneagram, and inner healing (Internal Family Systems and inner healing prayer). In addition to offering in-person and online private and group spiritual direction, facilitating workshops and retreats on a variety of topics, and offering supervision to other spiritual directors, Sally enjoys guiding individuals and groups through the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises. She also partners with her husband, Neil, a licensed marriage and family therapist, to lead classes, seminars, and retreats on relationships, marriage, and parenting—as well as a marriage intensive worship weekend for couples wanting a deeper dive toward healthy connection.
Formerly, Sally was Senior Editor of Abingdon Women (published by Abingdon Press), a line of in-depth Bible studies that she created and helped to grow into a thriving line. During her many years in Christian publishing, Sally also edited a line of Christian living books and devotionals, as well as books for clergy and church leadership. Combining her skills in content development/writing, interpersonal connection, and spiritual formation, she enjoys creating experiences and resources that help others draw closer to God and become the persons God created them to be. Sally and Neil have two young adult daughters and live just outside of Nashville in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee.
(For a more personal introduction, go here.)
Formerly, Sally was Senior Editor of Abingdon Women (published by Abingdon Press), a line of in-depth Bible studies that she created and helped to grow into a thriving line. During her many years in Christian publishing, Sally also edited a line of Christian living books and devotionals, as well as books for clergy and church leadership. Combining her skills in content development/writing, interpersonal connection, and spiritual formation, she enjoys creating experiences and resources that help others draw closer to God and become the persons God created them to be. Sally and Neil have two young adult daughters and live just outside of Nashville in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee.
(For a more personal introduction, go here.)
What Informs Sally's Spiritual Direction
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Sally has received certificates in both Spiritual Direction and Spiritual Direction Supervision from the Selah Center for Spiritual Formation, a program that consists of education, practicum, mentorship, and two residencies. Selah’s foundational focus is God as love through the lens of Christ and the tools of the Christian contemplative traditions.
She also has a certificate in Ignatian Spiritual Direction, which has prepared her to lead the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius with both individuals and groups (18th and 19th annotations). The individual experience is a nine-month personal retreat in daily life involving weekly prayer practices, readings, meditations, and sessions with a spiritual director. The Exercises are intended to help people deepen their relationship with God as they journey with Jesus through his life, passion, and resurrection. Sally has received training from Transformation Ministries’ Identity First Conference, which focuses on barriers to experiencing connection with God and others, and two terms of their School of Transformation (one as a student and one as an intern). The School of Transformation is a deep dive into our perception of God and inner healing, including HeartSync Ministry—a tool that facilitates healing of the broken heart and enables us to live more wholeheartedly. Sally also has completed a four-month training in Internal Family Systems (IFS, or parts work), a transformative approach to inner healing that enables us to become integrated and whole. During her many years in the Christian publishing industry, Sally has been an editor, writer, ghost writer, and writing coach. She has worked on a wide spectrum of publications from Christian living/trade books to Bible studies, small group resources, and leadership books. |
In 2011, she helped to develop and launch Abingdon Women, a line of women’s Bible studies and books that grew into a thriving line over ten years. In this role she oversaw acquisitions, author relations, content development, and production—including video development and production.
Sally is the author of Yellow Roses (Student Book): Real Girls. Real Life. Real Hope, A Moment with God for Women, and numerous study and leader guides. Through the years she has enjoyed both spiritual journaling and creative writing courses, but she is a believer in journaling and storytelling as spiritual practices and tools of inner healing because of many years of her own personal experience. One of her greatest joys is helping others to deepen their relationship with God and experience healing through journaling, creative writing, and storytelling. All of these influences have deepened Sally's passion and skills for helping people give voice to their stories, encounter God's healing presence, and discern how God is leading them in love—shaping her spiritual direction ministry into one that invites safe authenticity, healing, and a growing intimacy with the God who restores and renews. |
Training/Experience
- Certificate in Spiritual Direction, The Selah Center for Spiritual Formation, Nashville, TN (June 2019)
- Certificate in Ignatian Spiritual Direction, The Selah Center for Spiritual Formation, Nashville, TN (May 2021)
- Certificate in Spiritual Direction Supervision, The Selah Center for Spiritual Formation, Siebert Institute - Abilene University, Abilene, TX (July 2025)
- Supervisor for Training Cohorts of the Selah Center for Spiritual Formation (as well as other spiritual directors)
- Director of the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises (14 retreatants from 2020-present)
- Transformation Ministries School of Transformation, with HeartSync Ministry training, Nashville, TN (Student Fall 2017; Intern Spring 2018)
- HeartSync Ministry Six-Week Practicum, Nashville, TN (Fall 2018)
- Stepping Stones 4-month training in Internal Family Systems (IFS) (Spring 2022)
- Leader of a wide variety of workshops, retreats, and classes at Providence Church, Mt. Juliet, TN
- Spiritual Director for the Anam Cara (Nashville) Retreat in Daily Life (2023)
- Director of multiple Journaling Workshops/Courses for various churches and organizations
- Leader/Facilitator of a variety of retreats, including the Beloved Retreat for Women (8 retreats since 2022), silent retreats at various monasteries, and other thematic retreats
- Marriage Enrichment Seminars and Marriage Intensive Workshop Weekend with my husband, Neil Sharpe, LMFT
- 30+ years leading women’s groups, Bible studies, and events
Areas of Interest/Practice
- Soul Care and Spiritual Practices
- Contemplative Prayer
- Guided Prayer and Meditation, including imaginative prayer/Gospel contemplation
- Lectio Divina (Divine Reading of Scripture)
- Visio Divina (Divine Seeing — praying with art/images)
- The Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius
- Journaling and creative writing
- Solitude and Silence
- The Enneagram
- Inner Healing
- HeartSync Prayer
- Internal Family Systems (parts work)
- Immanuel Prayer
- Storytelling as a Healing Technique
