630-880-6136
an ORDINARY CHRISTIAN WOMAN aka Cecilia T. Whitacre
(Acts 4:13, 19:11)
Supervision for Spiritual Directors
"I firmly believe that our task as spiritual directors requires us to continue to grow in skill and sensitivity in this ministry so that God's own Spirit might guide us and make us pliable and steady enough to serve all the ways God chooses to disclose and relate to us."
-Janet K. Ruffing; Beyond the Beginnings
The term "supervision" can sound a little clinical- but receiving good soul care, oversight, guidance and help is vital to our ministry as spiritual directors. Supervision of spiritual directors is different than what one normally thinks or sees in the secular workplace or therapeutic settings. Supervision of spiritual directors is spiritual...it is contemplative, prayerful, and it is guided by the Holy Spirit.
I hope to offer some generous space for you to come with any questions you have, to bring whatever might be hindering you, and also bring things to celebrate that God is doing in your ministry and soul. ALL so that you can find more internal freedom and joy in being the unique director God designed you to be.
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"...supervision for spiritual directors provides a flexible and hospitable space for the director to discern, through education, consultation and inner reflection, together with their supervisor, areas for growth and areas for celebration in themselves and in their practice of spiritual direction."
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-Ineda P. Adesanya
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My journey with supervision....
Over the past several years God has grown my desire to help support and care for those offering the ministry of Spiritual Direction. As I've walked alongside our learners at Christos' Tending the Holy program as the Chicago Area Coordinator, I see the great need for continued care, ongoing education and skill development after we graduate from our programs.
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I found as my own practice grew that the rotation in my monthly peer supervision group wasn't always sufficient to meet the needs I was experiencing with a larger amount of directees. I needed some one-on-one assistance. So now I do both. I meet monthly with my peer supervision group and also meet 1-1 with a supervisor as needed. It has helped me so much!
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I have completed my Supervision training program through Sustainable Faith and am available to offer 1-1 sessions of supervision and/or come and enhance your existing peer supervision group or help you get one started.
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Supervision is different from spiritual direction in some ways and similar in other ways. One of those differences is that it does benefit from some prep work ahead of the session. It is also different in that practical questions and advice is sometimes given and even light teaching or resources, if it's supportive. In other ways it is similar to direction in that we hold a gentle, contemplative posture -looking always to our real Director, our trinitarian God-Jesus-Holy Spirit.
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Reach out today- and schedule an informal conversation to see if this might be of support for you.
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Supervision is “probably the single most important element in the process of internalizing the values of a program and appropriating the identity of spiritual director.
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The purpose of supervision, as described by Barry and Connolly, is the development of spiritual directors as ‘persons whose hearts are open and discerning, whose faith, hope, and love are almost tangible.’"
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Sacred is the Call; Formation and transformation in Spiritual Direction Programs / Suzanne M. Buckely / Editor
I look forward to connecting with you to see how I might serve you. Blessings!
630-880-6136