Content

In general, the educational methods of the school are best described as experiential, interactive, communal and reflective.  We are concerned with the formation of the whole person. The content covered falls into the following three categories. This training in spiritual direction fits soundly within the discipline of practical theology.   

 1. Knowing God and Self: the spiritual formation of the spiritual director

The point of knowing oneself in the Christian spiritual tradition is to know oneself as a human being; to know oneself is to come close to oneself, to own oneself as a human person who is both sinner and saint.  This knowledge is far beyond theoretical knowledge but is rather intimate ownership of the scandal of our own humanity which is the gateway to both humility and wisdom. 

It is out of this wisdom and humility that a spiritual director functions best.

The spiritual formation of participants includes the use of spiritual assessment tools, reflection on individual journeys of spiritual growth, gift inventories, personal stories, extensive engagement in silent retreats, and receiving spiritual direction and supervision.

2. Knowing the Practice: development and training in specific skills 

The key skills of spiritual direction include such things as hospitable presence, wisdom, discernment, compassion, empathic listening, and reflective questions. 

The skills part of the training in spiritual direction will come in the form of 1) participating in silent retreats and reflection with a spiritual director; 2) receiving spiritual direction for the duration of the course; 3) specific training sessions in listening and responding; 4) specific training and education in theological understanding, and in presence, wisdom, discernment, and compassion.

3. Knowing the Tradition: history, theology & themes of spiritual direction 

The intention of this part of the training is to provide foundational knowledge in:

1) the historical context and practice of Christian spiritual direction and spirituality

2) the many human themes that arise in the work of spiritual direction

3) current themes in the relationship between psychology and Christian spirituality