Henri Nouwen describes the ministry of spiritual direction well and simply here in a short reflection titled  “The Spirit of Jesus Listening in us”

“Listening in the spiritual life is much more than a psychological strategy to help others discover themselves.  In the spiritual life the listener is not the ego, which would like to speak but is trained to restrain itself, but the Spirit of God within us.   When we are baptised in the Spirit – that is, when we have received the Spirit of Jesus as the breath of God breathing within us – that Spirit creates in us a sacred space where the other can be received and listened to.  The Spirit of Jesus prays in us and listens in us to all who come to us with their sufferings and pains.  When we dare to fully trust in the power of God’s Spirit listening in us, we will see true healing occur.”