Spiritual Direction
with Sherri Retif
Discovering the Spiritual
in the Everyday
We dwell on the edge of mystery and ignore it.
- Abraham Joshua Heschel
Hello, I'm Sherri.
Welcome!
Is your spirit searching for a quiet space?
Would you like to pause and cultivate spiritual self-care?
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I'm here to listen and witness. My approach is holistic, and I welcome discussion about meaning making experiences.
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Spirituality does not take us out of the world, but leads us deeper into it. - Henri Nouwen
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What is Spiritual Direction?
Spiritual Direction is an ancient practice of conversation originating in many faith traditions. It is the discovery of the "direction or path' towards alignment with God/Spirit/Divine/Universe, whichever 'higher guidance or inner wisdom' best invites a journey of wholeness and healing.
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What is Group Spiritual Direction?
Group Spiritual Director is composed of 3-5 people and lasts for approximately 90 minutes. It begins with group centering/quiet time after which each person is given an opportunity to share pieces of their journey. Group members are invited to witness, without judgment, and offer support without teaching.
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What are the fees?
To accommodate all seekers, the fees are based on a sliding scale.
"Sherri has been my spiritual director for approximately 14 + years. I have gone through many significant life changes and experiences during that time. In seeking SD with Sherri, she has helped to guide me to grow in my understanding of myself and to learn to find God even in the most personal difficult circumstances. In situations where my faith could have easily been lost, it has grown. My faith has always been of great importance to me and Sherri has been a trusted guide on my journey. " Steve S
“Sherri has been a colleague in Direction for more than 15 years. Sherri listens with the ears of her heart and gently responds, supporting the work of the Spirit from within each individual seeker.” Pat M.
Spirit and Emotional Wellness in Sport
Shifting Perspectives
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"Each year our students attend school with their spirits alive and hungry for spiritual connection that can be found in their everyday lives, even in the domain of athletics."
- Rachel Kessler, The Soul of Education
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Sherri believes that competition elicits a wide range of emotions and an expansive display of behavior. These emotions and expressions are connected to feelings of meaning, purpose and passion. In conversation, she invites athletes to deep dive into the 'why' of their participation and learn to navigate the complexities of competition with selfcare and tolerance for uncertainty. While high school sports are about mastering a technique and training for success, the depth of the athlete's experience invites connection, reflection and validation.
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Dr. Sherri Retif retired from coaching after three decades as a Varsity Head Coach. Early this year she was interviewed with KYW's Matt Leon, The Value of Care. In addition, Sherri was invited to provide a virtual presentation on Sport and Spirituality at the Mind & Body Institute Conference at Teacher's College, NYC.
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Athletes
Struggling with
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Burnout – wanting to quit
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Stress and time management
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Game-time anxiety
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Social pressures within the team and on social media
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feeling validation
Coach Retif invites athletes to
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Define spiritual values
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Build courage in adversity
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Create mindfulness strategies
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Strengthen one’s Inner Coach
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Discover one's voice for change
Coaches
Whether you are a seasoned coach or new to the sidelines, establishing and maintaining a team culture requires prep and cultivation.
As a varsity head coach for over 3 decades, Coach Retif offers scaffolding to build a team culture grounded in values and excellence.
Coach Retif believes it is first essential to know your own spiritual values (not religious)
as you begin to establish the non-negotiables towards excellence. Hit the contact button below if you would like to learn more.
Sherri's Bio
Spiritual Director/Coach/Educator/Author
Sherri became a certified Spiritual Director while receiving her MA in Holistic Spirituality from Chestnut Hill College. Later she earned her Doctor of Ministry from Fordham University. She began her Spiritual Direction practice in 2008 and meets with Directees in person and on Zoom. Recently, Sherri expanded her practice to include Spiritual Care in Sport. She works with coaches, parents and athletes.
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Sherri practices meditation and yoga and started a centering prayer group in her former parish. In the spring of 2024, she will teach a class on Forgiveness and Reconciliation in the Religious Studies Department at Chestnut Hill College. Currently she serves on the Board of the Center for Contemporary Mysticism at St. Paul's in Chestnut Hill, PA, and is a member of the Friends Conference on Religion and Psychology planning committee. In 1999, she was a founding Board Member of the Institute for Sport and Spirituality at Neumann University and has presented on Spirituality to groups at Villanova University, Neumann University, Philadelphia C.Y.O, as well as at the WBCA National Convention.
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She is a contributing author to the book, Youth Sport and Spirituality, Notre Dame Press and co-authored, More Than a Game, St. Mary's Press. In the spring of '21, America Magazine published her article, The Soul of Sports.
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For two decades Sherri has taught and coached at Germantown Academy in Ft. Washington, PA. Her resume includes Head Coach of the 2008 McDonald's All-America East Team, Assistant Coach of the 2007 USA Basketball High School Development Team and is a Tulane University Hall-of-Fame Athlete. After retiring from coaching in 2023, Sherri obtained her Registered Yoga Teacher 200-hour certification.
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Sherri is a member of Spiritual Directors International and follows the Guidelines for Ethical Conduct provided by SDI.