Looking into the Well

by Conroy, Maureen

• ISBN13: 9780829408270
• ISBN10: 0829408274
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1995-04-01
• Publisher: Loyola Pr

Summary

Maureen Conroy, author of the best-selling The Discerning Heart (Loyola University Press, 1993), offers another pioneering effort in the arena of spiritual direction and pastoral counseling. Looking into the Well: Supervision of Spiritual Directors is the first book-length treatment of the supervision and development of spiritual directors. Looking into the Well is specifically written with spiritual directors, supervisors, and educators of spiritual directors in mind. Proper supervision, the author declares, is necessary for the development of skilled spiritual directors. By providing examples of learning experiences for spiritual directors, supervisors, and training teams, Looking into the Well offers an experiential approach to the art and science of spiritual direction that can be used for personal reflection as well as for group discussion and role-playing. In addition, the book offers prayer and reflection experiences, case studies, evaluation methods, and other experiences for group and individual use. Examples of verbatim conversations between directors and supervisors are also included.

Author Biography

Maureen Conroy, R.S.M., has trained spiritual directors for many years at the Upper Room Spirituality Center in Neptune, New Jersey; at Creighton University, Omaha; and recently at Chestnut Hill College, Pennsylvania.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. xiii
Introduction	p. xvii
Supervision of Spiritual Directors: Various Dimensions	p. 1
Self-Awareness and Interior Freedom: Assumptions and Purposes in the Supervision of Spiritual Directors	p. 3
Direction Experiences to Bring to Supervision: The Content of Supervision	p. 19
A Contemplative Presence and an Evocative Approach: The Process of Supervision	p. 39
Concretizing the Process: The Skills of Supervision	p. 51
Exemplifying the Purposes, Content, Process, and Skills: Three Case Studies	p. 69
A Shared Contemplative Experience: Peer Group Supervision of Spiritual Directors	p. 91
Overwhelmed by a Directee's Depression: A Peer Group Supervision Case Study	p. 107
Developing a Discerning Heart: Seven Phases of the Supervision Experience	p. 121
The Supervisor's Discerning Heart: Reflecting on the Supervision Experience	p. 135
Supervision As a Learning Experience	p. 149
Conclusion	p. 161
Learning Experiences	p. 165
Learning Experiences: An Overview	p. 167
Learning Experiences 1-15: For Spiritual Directors, Supervisors, and Developmental Programs	p. 169
Spiritual Direction Log	p. 171
Discernment in the Spiritual Director	p. 173
Direction Experiences to Bring to Supervision	p. 179
Praying with Difficult Direction Experiences	p. 185
Verbatim Case Study	p. 189
Two Examples of Verbatim Case Studies	p. 195
Three Reflections on Supervision	p. 205
Supervision Log	p. 211
Praying with Supervision Experiences	p. 213
Awareness Examen for Supervisors	p. 215
Periodic Evaluation of Supervision Experience	p. 219
Two Models of Peer Group Supervision	p. 221
Case Studies for Role-Play and Discussion	p. 225
Practicing the Various Aspects of Supervision	p. 229
A Four-Week Supervision Seminar	p. 233
Learning Experiences 16-21: Developmental Programs for Spiritual Directors	p. 237
Specific Recommendations for Developmental Programs	p. 239
Staff Reflection on Guiding Principles	p. 243
Supervision during a Developmental Program	p. 245
Staff Evaluation of Supervision Experience	p. 247
Directee's Evaluation of Spiritual Direction	p. 249
Evaluation Instruments for Spiritual Directors	p. 253
Appendixes
Guiding Principles for Developmental Programs	p. 263
Ongoing Associate Program for the Development of Spiritual Directors	p. 267
Retreat Associate Program for the Development of Spiritual Directors	p. 279
Suggested Reading	p. 283
Index	p. 285
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