About Beth Johnson
Beth Johnson is an Artist, Certified Spiritual Director & Spiritual Director Supervisor, a Reiki Master Practitioner, Ordained Interfaith Minister & HOPE dementia support group facilitator. She has a great passion for continued spiritual growth, ritual and ceremony, as well as using visual art as spiritual practice.
“I’ve not always considered myself spiritual much less on a spiritual journey. A life threatening medical crisis brought me to a new understanding of life’s purpose and meaning. I have been a spiritual seeker since, deepening and broadening my understanding of the Cosmos; the Mystery; and of a God known by many names.”
Earlier in her career, Beth worked as a Staff Chaplain for a local medical center serving in the areas of hospice, palliative care and medical/surgical, oncology and ICU in-patient hospital care. Prior to moving to Oregon Beth was a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice in the greater Sacramento California area.
“I have a deep faith in and connection with Spirit, believing we are each good at our core, with an inner wisdom to guide us and to support our ability to be joyful and at peace no matter external circumstances.”
Beth earned her B.A. at Washington State University, her M.S. in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling at California State University-Sacramento and her Doctorate of Ministry in Wisdom Spirituality through Wisdom University, which included Ordination through The Chaplaincy Institute. She has also completed a residency and a palliative care fellowship in Clinical Pastoral Education at the Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center – Portland Oregon. Beth completed her Spiritual Director training and Spiritual Director Supervisor training at the Urban Spirituality Center, pursuant to training guidelines established by Spiritual Direction International. She is also trained in Holy Fire III Reiki at the Master level through the International Center for Reiki Training.
“My heart’s longing: to serve others through spiritual direction for individuals, couples and group, to create and celebrate ceremonies and rituals and to lead workshops, sharing art as spiritual practice.”
Beth was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, growing up with Mt. Rainier seemingly in her back yard. As an adult she has lived in various states including Washington, Oregon, Alabama, California and Florida. She has also had the good fortune to live outside the U.S.A, which has fostered her love of travel near and far. She is a gardener, a lover of nature, an avid reader and a hiker, who enjoys interacting with the new and unique. Beth began collage art while writing daily in her journal. Like her writing, art has become another spiritual practice for her, bringing insight and clarity to her thoughts and feelings.
“Whether sharing this creative process while leading a workshop or in the quiet of my studio, I find clarity, peace, insight and joy as I connect with Spirit.”
Beth has volunteered for several organizations in both the greater Sacramento and the greater Portland areas including; senior peer counselor - Mental Health Association of Sacramento; group facilitator - Women with Cancer - UC Davis Cancer Center; bereavement counselor - UC Davis Hospice; group facilitator, breast cancer support group Encore-YWCA; palliative care education, end-of-life education and advanced care planning conversations facilitator training for health care professionals and community members. Currently, Beth also facilitates a weekly dementia support group via Zoom. The support group is one of several through HOPE Dementia Support, a non-profit organization based in Vancouver, Washington, providing support education and advocacy for unpaid family and friends providing support and care for persons with any type of dementia.