Supervision
group supervision & one-on-one supervision for practicing spiritual directors
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 on the director’s interior experience—not the directee’s story. Still, the ultimate purpose of supervision is to better serve the directee by nurturing the director’s presence, awareness, and discernment.
Why is supervision necessary?
Regular supervision is essential for every spiritual director—regardless of experience. From both a professional and ethical standpoint, it ensures 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, countertransference, 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 don’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.
The cost of Group Supervision is $40 per session, billed in four-month series.
What to expect.
Our approach to supervision is both contemplative and practical.
• We will explore what is happening in you as you companion others.
• You will grow to trust your inner wisdom and movement of the Spirit.
• We will support the honing of your skills as you grow comfortable in your craft (e.g., consultation).
• You will find companions on the journey in what can otherwise be a solitary ministry.
Have questions?
Contact Tom Welch at twelch@francisspctr.com or check out open spots in an ongoing group at:
