Beginning and Advanced Spiritual Directors: the Developmental Influences That Shape Their Practice

Since the 1970s, there has been resurgence in the practice of spiritual direction. A significant number of people worldwide are discerning their call to this work. Now, a few decades later, there are effectively two groups of spiritual directors: those beginning their practice, and those who are advanced well beyond their initial formation and early practice. This book explores the similar and different developmental influences that shape the practice of beginning and advanced spiritual directors. It finds that the similarities and differences in the influences that shape their practice revolve around two key developmental influences namely, the capacity of directors to adopt a contemplative stance to their directees, and their ability to be aware contextually of the factors that fashion the dynamic of accompaniment. While both influences shape beginning and advanced directors, the former impacts more on the practice of beginning directors and the latter more affects advanced directors. The application of these findings is significant for those involved with the initial and ongoing formation of directors, and their professional associations.