Overview

Companions meet with clients one-on-one or with families (virtually or on-site) to hold space, offer compassionate
presence, and facilitate light spiritual practices aligned with each person’s values and traditions. We prioritize
access for low-income families; BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities; disabled and neurodivergent individuals; immigrants;
unhoused and justice-involved neighbors; and veterans.

Core Responsibilities

• Provide reflective listening, presence, and gentle inquiry that honors culture, identity, and consent.
• Co-create session intentions; open/close with grounding (breath, silence, poetry, prayer by request).
• Facilitate light spiritual practices when requested (meditation, blessing/rituals, values/legacy reflections).
• Support forgiveness, reconciliation, and life-review conversations within a non-clinical scope.
• Identify practical needs and make warm referrals to Antara’s resource/navigation team as appropriate.
• Maintain concise session notes and escalate safety concerns to program leads when needed.

Scope & Boundaries

• No proselytizing. Companioning centers the client’s beliefs, doubts, and choices.
• Non-clinical. We do not diagnose or provide therapy; we collaborate with clinicians when present.
• Consent-based. Any prayers, rituals, or readings are offered only at the client’s request.
• Trauma-informed. Pace, language, and practices are adapted for accessibility and safety.

Training & Ongoing Support

• Orientation to spiritual companioning, grief literacy, and inclusive ritual design.
• Trauma-informed communication, boundaries, and cultural humility.
• Templates and resources (session flow, blessings/poems, reflection prompts).
• Reflective supervision and peer circles for well-being and growth.

Time Commitment

• Typical service: 2–4 hours per week or 2–3 sessions per month (60 minutes each), plus brief notes.
• Service term: 3 months minimum preferred; scheduling is flexible.

Qualifications

• Grounded presence, deep listening, and reverence for diverse worldviews and identities.
• Comfort with silence, emotion, and uncertainty; honors autonomy and boundaries.
• Basic tech readiness for Zoom/virtual sessions (if serving remotely).
• Ideal for: spiritual directors, interfaith ministers/chaplains, compassionate listeners, peer supporters.

Accessibility, Equity & Inclusion

• Volunteers of all backgrounds/abilities welcome; accommodations provided whenever possible.
• Priority outreach to BIPOC, LGBTQ+, disabled, immigrant, veteran, and justice-involved applicants.
• Language access and ASL/interpretation arranged when feasible; plain-language materials available.

See our Community Care Standards and
Non-Discrimination Policy.

Screening & Onboarding

• Volunteer application and conversation with program lead.
• Reference and background check (for certain placements; covered by Antara).
• Completion of training modules and agreement to Antara standards and boundaries.
• Shadowing/mentored sessions before independent companioning, as appropriate.

What You’ll Gain

• Experience companioning individuals and families through tender seasons of life.
• Mentorship, resources, and reflective space to deepen your spiritual care practice.
• Meaningful service with communities who are often excluded from supportive care.
• Verification of volunteer hours upon request.