Product Description

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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #497182 in Books
• Published on: 1995-04-19
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 324 pages

Customer Reviews

Supervision in Spiritual Direction
Anyone in a spiritual direction or other Christian Caring relationship, such as Steven Minister, or any one-on-one listening ministry, would benefit from the principles of supervision. We need to be able to discriminate between our own issues, which are activated by listening to another person, and to reflect on our needs outside of our ministering relationship. This requires another objective party to help us access our interior space to find what has shifted in us as a result of our supporting another person's healing and growth. This happens in a completely different setting than the one in which we provide support for another. This book presents a complete description of support through supervision of the listener/healer/care giver to serve in a God-centered way, without our own issues entering into the process directly. We keep our issues aside until our supervision time, when we clear away the clutter and prepare ourselves to serve God and other in a relaxed and centered way, not needing to be filled up, or having to control the process ourselves, but remaining in touch with God's direction for us and for the care receiver.

Excellent resource for training spiritual directors
Conroy has given spiritual directors and trainers of spiritual directors a fine handbook on supervision of spiritual directors. The first half of the book is an insightful section on the dimensions of supervision which sets the parameters and foundations for this essential "continuing education process." The second half is a series of learning experiences, followed by appendices outlining various formats for developing spiritual directors. The book is well-organized and includes numerous checklists, charts, and outlines that distill the author's wisdom. There are realistic case studies and examples. Although Conroy's approach is rooted in Ignatian spirituality, the book has much to offer, no matter what the reader's tradition. We rely on this book in our training program for spiritual directors at a Catholic seminary, especially the intial chapters dealing with the rationale and process of supervision. I would recommend this book for any spiritual director or trainer of directors who wants to develop a contemplative presence.