SUPERVISION FOR SPIRITUAL DIRECTORS
Walking alongside you in your listening work
Supervision is an essential and transformative practice for spiritual directors. I offer individual supervision, and facilitation of peer supervision groups, with the focus on a contemplative, compassionate and supportive approach.
WHAT IS SUPERVISION FOR SPIRITUAL DIRECTORS?
Supervision is a relationship with another experienced spiritual director, that supports your care and growth as a spiritual director, so that you may continue to offer your service to those you accompany.
As Mary Rose Bumpus says, it is "a conversation between peers that ultimately fosters the wellbeing of the absent other".
The focus of supervision is you - the spiritual director - with the purpose of seeking your own inner freedom in order that you might be fully present to those you companion.
WHY IS SUPERVISION ESSENTIAL FOR SPIRITUAL DIRECTORS?
Most codes of conduct and ethical standards for spiritual direction now require a spiritual director to receive regular supervision.
As a spiritual director, you are also a unique individual, bringing your own strengths and challenges, assumptions and privileges, and ways of seeing the world and the Divine. Self-awareness and exploration of how all of these affect your ability to be present to the directee enables and empowers you to better serve them.
Together, we look at the particular inner movements, responses, and emotions that arose in a session, and consider what appropriate care or learning might be needed. We also celebrate together the joys of accompaniment and the signs of your own growth!
WHAT HAPPENS IN A SUPERVISION SESSION?
Generally, you will bring one directee who you want to explore together. In advance, you'll have set aside time to sit with your own movements and responses, to pray or meditate with what arises, and be ready to focus on a particular question that asks for attention. (I will provide you with a written guide to help this preparation).
In the session itself, we will unpack that question from multiple angles, considering what it happening within you in the session, and what needs our support.
My approach is contemplative, compassionate and hopeful, deeply trusting that the Spirit is with you both in your work as a companion and in our supervision time together. I seek to draw out that divine wisdom that already dwells within you and your experience.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP SUPERVISION?
Individual supervision is a one-to-one relationship between you and me. It is particularly appropriate for going deeper with a particular directee or theme, and for spiritual directors who have a larger number of directees they meet with regularly. The benefits of this model are longer focused attention on you and your inner processing. Sessions can be either 60 or 90 minutes long, as agreed in advance.
Group supervision is a common and hugely beneficial model, that allows an individual to bring their directee or issue to the attention of their peers, receiving the diverse wisdom of the group in response. The benefit of this model, is that every member can benefit from what is shared, even when they are not bringing their own material. We learn from the collective gathered experience, skills and prayer life of the group.
I offer facilitation for groups, meaning I will hold the space and timings, and keep the focus on the core tasks of supervision, allowing participants to fully engage with the material. This can be particularly helpful in new groups or groups with less-experienced directors, but is valuable in other contexts too.
“Supervision is a conversation between peers that ultimately fosters the wellbeing of the absent other.”
Mary Rose Bumpus
SET UP AN EXPLORATORY CALL
If you would like to talk to me about the possibility of supervision together, I invite you to use my calendly account to schedule a free half an hour zoom call.
My availability is generally 9:00-15:00 CEST (Copenhagen) Monday to Wednesday for individuals, although I have some flexibility for groups on Thursdays and Fridays. Most of my work takes place on zoom, but I am available locally in Copenhagen too.