TONGUA WILLIAMS
Hi, I’m Tongua, founder of Soul Care Sanctuary. I serve as a trauma-informed spiritual director and Ignatian retreat facilitator in Little Rock, Arkansas. Soul Care Sanctuary was born out of my personal experience as a church ministry leader searching for rest and deepening intimacy with God. My prayer is that ALL would experience this space as a safe place to rest, be, and experience the Holy. I am committed to reverence for dignity, equality, rights, and gifts of all people. You are welcome here.
“Life is this simple: we are living in a world that is absolutely
transparent and the divine is shining through it all the time.”
Thomas Merton
My practice of spiritual direction is rooted in Ignatian and Benedictine spirituality. I seek to live and be present to others in a trauma-sensitive way. I meet monthly with my spiritual director and am in monthly supervision. Supervision is about becoming aware of and addressing areas of my potential unfreedom, personal blocks which might prevent effective ministry. I practice regular rhythms of daily prayer, quarterly silent retreat, and an annual extended silent retreat with daily spiritual direction.
I have experience as a church ministry leader (10 years), therapeutic parent, mentor to young moms, public school educator, preschool special needs educator, homeschool educator, International host family, therapy dog handler, and hospice volunteer. I am happily married to Grey, my high school sweetheart, and we are the parents of four adult children, two of whom were adopted from foster care with complex developmental trauma. I love spending time outside with our rescue dogs, hiking, birding, and fly fishing.
ABOUT
In 2022 I received a certificate in Ignatian spiritual direction through a five year formation program offered by St. Scholastica Benedictine monastery in Ft. Smith, Arkansas. I’m also a trained facilitator of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. I have a BA in education and am a life-long learner with special interests in trauma recovery, contemplative practices, Christian spirituality, expressive arts, attachment, embodiment, nature, and animals.
I participate in ongoing continuing education for spiritual directors, including training in attachment and trauma, and am a member of Spiritual Directors International https://www.sdiworld.org/. I am adoption-sensitive. I adhere to this code of ethics for spiritual directors https://www.sdicompanions.org/docs/guidelines/Flip/guidelines_ethical_conduct.html
EDUCATION