"Spiritual direction helps people tell their sacred stories everyday... Spiritual direction invites a deeper relationship with the spiritual aspect of being human." (Spiritual Directors International)
What is Spiritual Direction? Spiritual Direction, or spiritual guidance, is the art of companioning people on the spiritual journey. To seek to live in alignment with path and soul can be challenging, exhilarating, sometimes even heart-wrenching. A skilled Spiritual Director listens carefully, asks lots of questions, points out things he or she notices that the client may have missed, and supports the client's spiritual unfolding.
It can be invaluable to work with a Spiritual Director with broad roots in the realm of spirit. Interfaith Spiritual Direction helps clients discern what their spiritual paths are, and will encourage them to walk their paths to the best of their ability, even if their paths are quite different from the Spiritual Director’s.
Spiritual Directors do not have the answers, and the good ones don’t pretend to. In fact, the name "director" is somewhat of a misnomer, as it is not about “directing,” but rather, supporting people in their discernment and offering a deep listening presence.
Some of the primary roles of Spiritual Director are to:
• Help people explore the difficult spiritual questions and issues that are showing up in their lives
• Support people in nurturing their relationships with the Divine
• Companion people as they explore their true purpose, true path and connection to their souls
...all done in an atmosphere of sacredness, compassion and trust.
Can you describe the Spiritual Direction program's curricular focus? We are an interfaith seminary, and our Spiritual Direction program is born from our deep interfaith roots. Our students learn to companion people of every religious tradition, as well as those who have no tradition. We draw on wisdom from many of the world’s faith traditions, to familiarize students with the wide variety of spiritualities and theologies they will encounter in their clients. We draw upon the unique insights that each of the world's great religions has to offer on spiritual growth and guidance.
Partial List of Class Topics:
Varieties and Styles of Spiritual Direction • Images of the Divine • Developing the Compassionate Observer • Spiritual Assessment • Types of Faith Styles • Methods of Discernment • Rules and Ethics • Boundaries and Limits • The Wounded Healer • The Many Varieties of Prayer • Grief and Loss: • Working with the Ill and Dying • Addiction and the Longing for Transcendence • Sacralizing the Mundane • Dreamwork • Generational Issues in Spiritual Direction • Cultivating Holy Listening • Working with Boundaries • Group Spiritual Direction
Our core faculty, Rev. John R. Mabry, Ph.D., and Hana Matt, M.A., have studied deeply in many spiritual traditions, and they have extensive experience teaching and offering spiritual guidance in a variety of settings. They are leaders, scholars and innovators in the Spiritual Direction community.
What does The Chaplaincy Institute mean by “non-directive” spiritual direction? Our Spiritual Direction program teaches a non-directive interfaith approach. We do not believe in telling people how to think, what to believe, how they are supposed to feel, or what to do in any specific circumstance. We believe that the person who comes to us for direction is the expert on his or her own spiritual life, and that the person knows, deep down, what is best. Thus we teach skills to help people discern their own deep inner wisdom and to live with a deeper sense of connection and alignment with Spirit.
Interfaith Spiritual Directors do not shy away from people whose spirituality is different from theirs. Such a spiritual direction relationship can be fertile ground for growth, both for the Spiritual Director and the client.
Who is this program for? This program is designed for those who feel called to a private practice in personal, one-on-one spiritual direction, and who anticipate working with clients from a variety of faith traditions. The program is also suited to those who intend to do group spiritual direction, and for those of other helping professions who want to add a spiritual guidance perspective to their current work (such as psychotherapists, health practitioners, ministers and chaplains).
How is the program structured? The coursework is in the form of four quarterly modules that must be taken in order. The time between modules helps students to integrate the material. In addition, students do a practicum to hone their spiritual direction skills. Students can complete the program in one year.
What is the schedule of classes? Classes run from 9:00-12:00 and 1:30-4:30 each day.
The upcoming program starts July 12-16, 2010.
How much does the program cost? Each module is $1,100, so the total tuition is $4,400. (Note: This is the "early bird" fee; payment must be received two weeks prior to each module; otherwise, the module fee is $1,275). Non-tuition program costs include books plus fees for spiritual direction and spiritual direction supervision sessions. These fees vary, and are negotiated directly with one's spiritual director and supervisor.
How do I apply? Please email chioffice@chaplaincyinstitute.org to receive information and an application.
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For more information about Interfaith Spiritual Direction, click here.