WHAT WE DO

We help with your isolation.  We understand that many interfaith couples feel isolated and confused about matters of spiritual identity.  Many such couples have chosen not to affiliate with established faith communities, or have not found faith communities where they feel accepted.  Maybe you, like many other couples, have affiliated but feel uneasy bringing these struggles to your particular congregation or clergy.

We offer a chance to consult with very experienced professionals -- trained as individual psychotherapists, couples therapists, and life coaches -- who can help you address your interfaith concerns in an environment that is concerned, open, respectful, and neutral.

We help you explore your options.  Both Susan and Paul are sensitive to the pressures you may feel as you try to wrestle with interfaith issues.  We are open to whatever solutions make sense to you, given the uniqueness of your situation.  Our commitment is to helping you explore your concerns, feelings, needs and wishes in this area as safely and honestly as possible.  We want the path you choose to be genuinely yours. 

We can offer practical ideas.  If you wish, Paul or Susan can suggest ways to work toward specific family rituals and approaches that deepen your spiritual experiences together.  While we are not clergy, we are very attuned to the value of rituals that fit a couple's needs.  We can also recommend readings that might help in your particular situation.

We may be able to connect you to others.  In some cases, we may be able to recommend clergy that we believe will be helpful.  We may also be able to help you clarify what is most important to you in your search for a religious identity, community or clergy.  For those who are interested, we can sometimes organize groups of interfaith couples, who meet either in person or via phone teleconferences.   


HOW TO BEGIN

It all starts with a phone call (or an email).  Call us at (312) 332-6508.  Or email us at susanandpaul@InterfaithHolidays.com.  Either Susan or Paul will respond promptly.  (Be sure to let us know if you have a preference about who gets back to you.)

The process begins with a free telephone consultation.  If we can provide you with a useful idea or referral at that time, we will.  If your situation warrants more careful exploration, we will discuss further options with you.  For those in the Chicago area, a next step may be to arrange additional face-to-face meetings with either Paul or Susan, or, when appropriate, with both of us.  Once we have become acquainted, scheduled phone meetings are also possible.

For clients outside the Chicago area, most of our work would be over the phone, although we would encourage face-to-face meetings if visits to Chicago can be arranged.