What Is A Spiritual Director Trained In?
One of the questions people have when searching for a Spiritual Director is that they would like to know how they are trained. The reality is that almost anyone can call themselves a spiritual director. Unlike therapists or counselors, a Spiritual Director is not licensed with their state government. Spiritual Direction still functions as a ministry, often times based in a church or as a part of a para-church organization.
A person who feels called or guided to this ministry may seek out any form of training. In the Catholic tradition, Spiritual Directors are often trained in the Ignatian practices. These classic discernment practices help them become great spiritual guides. A spiritual director from this tradition has very likely spent significant time with spiritual practice themselves.
As Christian Spiritual Direction moved out of the monastery (read more about that here) seminaries recognized that spiritual formation was being guided by both pastors and lay people and so they began developing programs to bring training or some sort of certifying process for people called to this ministry.
The course of study often includes listening skills, spiritual practices, discernment, the fruits of the spirit, spiritual noticing, presence and other areas of emphasis. All of this work in the directors own life is implemented so that they are able to be present and help guide someone else’s process by having walked their own road. It is often said that you cannot walk with someone to a place that you have been unwilling to go in your own life. So much of the training of a spiritual director has to do with their own inner work.
I live in Dallas, Texas. Here I know of several local programs that are easily accessible. The University Of Dallas (Catholic), Perkins Seminary at Southern Methodist University (Methodist), Heart Paths (Non-denominational, Parachurch Org) and Truett Seminary at Baylor (Baptist) all offer some sort of training program. These programs usually consist of several years of work, practice, study and practicum time with a supervisor. I also happen to know many people who have sought out programs from The Living School which is Father Richard Rohr’s school where they teach contemplation and spiritual practice from excellent teachers and guides.
Many Spiritual Directors also continue their education and study as they earn a series of “badges” or degrees. They may have emphasis in dreams, the Enneagram, Grief, Trauma, Pastoral Counseling, Chaplaincy, and many other options. So the answer to this question of “What Is A Spiritual Director Trained In” one would have to say that they should at minimum carry a mark of several years of training specifically in a spiritual direction program or something adjacent. Typically from their they add onto their basic study.
