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Church Architecture

Spiritual Direction Supervision

“The overall goal of supervision is to help spiritual directors to grow in self-awareness and interior freedom in order to stay with the directees’ experience and to be attentive to God during direction sessions.”
- Maureen Conroy, RSM,

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 companion 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, 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 o making 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 to meeting with a supervisor one on one?
 

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

  • There is no waiting for an opportunity to present.

  • More individual attention with a trained professional.

  • More privacy.
     

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