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Supervision

group & one-on-one supervision

What happens in supervision?

Supervision is a reflective process in which spiritual directors explore their own inner experiences during spiritual direction sessions. It offers a space to notice, name, and examine what is stirring within them in their work with directees.


Typically, a director brings a summary reflection of a specific situation encountered in a session, along with a focus question. This question helps guide the supervision, inviting deeper exploration of a strong emotional response, a sense of awe or wonder, or an unexpected insight that arose.


The confidentiality and identity of directees are always protected. The attention in supervision remains with the director’s interior experience (not the directee’s story). The ultimate purpose of supervision is to better serve our directees by nurturing the director’s presence, awareness, and discernment.

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Why is supervision necessary?

Regular supervision is essential for every spiritual director regardless of experience. From both a professional and ethical standpoint, it helps ensure that directors remain grounded, self-aware, and fully present in their ministry. Spiritual Directors International (SDI), the primary standards-setting body in the field, recognizes supervision as a vital best practice.


Supervision provides a space to identify and address issues such as transference, counter-transference, shadow dynamics, and other blind spots. It's not uncommon for a director to experience emotional responses that echo relationships with significant people from their own life. While such reactions are natural and often unavoidable, supervision helps directors recognize them as they arise, so they won’t interfere with the sacred task of truly listening and responding to the directee.

The group experience.

Our Group Supervision model brings together 4–6 directors once a month on Zoom. Each meeting is facilitated by a trained supervisor, while every participant contributes to the process. Different directors take turns presenting each month.


These groups foster openness, authenticity, and accountability. Members build trust, offering one another insight, encouragement, and a gentle presence. Along the way, laughter, tears, and joy are often shared. Some groups continue together for years.


Supervision groups are billed in 4 month series
priced at $40/session.

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What to expect.

Our approach to supervision is contemplative and practical. 
We explore what is happening in you as you companion others.
You grow to trust your inner wisdom and movement of the Spirit.
We support the honing of your skills as you grow comfortable in your craft (e.g., consultation).
You find companions on the journey in what can otherwise be a solitary ministry.

Have questions?

Contact us at info@francisspctr.com or
check out openings in an ongoing group at:

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Franciscan Spiritual Center

PO Box 144

3159 Furman Dr

Marylhurst, Oregon 97036

503-794-8542     
info@francisspctr.com

Front Office Hours: M, W, Th 9am - 5pm and by appointment. 

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