What am I looking for at this stage of my formation as a Spiritual Director?

FAQ: On the Spectrum of Supervision of Spiritual Directors: Moving from Accompaniment to Mentoring to Consulting to Peer Supervision. A brief introduction by Karen Shields Wright

What are some reasons a spiritual director may seek supervision?

• To reflect with my supervisor on how I am noticing the movement of the Holy Spirit with my directee

• To help eliminate areas of “interior un-freedom” that block me from noticing and/or responding to the Holy Spirit

• To seek consultation about practice-related challenges, including ethical issues I face

• To continue building skills, especially if I am in training or in the first years of practice 

 

How often should I meet with a supervisor?

Spiritual directors experience a variety of interior movements when they accompany others. The more frequently a director meets with directees, the more frequently they might require supervision. Supervision is recommended to any spiritual director for exploring movements such as:

• Dissonant experiences such as agitation, frustration, distraction, or boredom

• Consonant experiences such as joy, peace, gratitude, or love

• Bringing areas of darkness to light, such as resistance, trauma, and emotional blocks

• Growing in interior freedom by uncovering unresolved issues

What are some advantages of group supervision facilitated by a spiritual direction supervisor?

• Group members can relax and participate without distractions, knowing that the paid supervisor will hold the process.

• Group members receive a model of competent supervision

• Receiving wisdom from several people

• Participation with a group of peers and professionals

• Lower cost

• A paid supervisor has the explicit tasks of

  • containing and facilitating the group to make sure ethical issues are addressed

  • telling the hard truth that peers may not feel free to express

  • addressing challenges that may arise between group members

  • holding contemplative space

 

What are some advantages of meeting with a supervisor one-on-one?

• There is less of a chance of a breach of confidentiality

• There is no waiting for an opportunity to present

• More individual attention with a trained professional

• More private

Next articles will be in the Resources Section detailing more on the levels related to accompanying our fellow directors in various roles.

• Self-Supervision

• Mentoring

• Supervision

• Consulting

• Peer supervision

• Beyond Supervision