Frequently Asked Questions (still being updated for Cohort 6)

FAQ About Program / Curriculum

Why is the CQ SSD only a 16-month program?

This is not a short-cut program. The rationale is not acceleration or cutting corners but rather an intentional concentration on the essentials of spiritual direction in an intensive manner with a specific participant in mind. The SSD program is not just for anyone but rather for persons who have some basic theological background, formational experience, history of being in spiritual direction, and the time, energy, and capacity to engage a yearlong intensive hybrid program. Focused attention is given to the essentials of spiritual direction: presence, prayer, contemplation, listening, and discernment. Each is integrated both in theory and praxis in every course we offer throughout the year. Examples of suitable applicants are: pastors/priests and religious sisters with theological education or ministry degrees, professional or volunteer hospice workers, campus ministers, chaplains, bereavement ministers, and men and women who have participated in spiritual formation programs or are involved in, gifted at, or called to a ministry of accompaniment but who may lack formal training as a spiritual director and/or may not have geographical access to a local program.

Are you firm about the requirement for the applicant to be in spiritual direction?

We do expect our applicants to have a history of being in direction for at least a minimum of six months to a year (ideally) prior to the start of the SSD. This prerequisite is rooted in the experience and wisdom of the Christian community’s practice of spiritual guidance and generally is accepted as a guideline in most, if not all, spiritual direction programs. Part of the rationale is that one fundamental way we learn to be spiritual directors is by being in direction ourselves. This is also the reason why we require participants to be in spiritual direction on a monthly basis while going through the program. That being said, the interviewing committee treats each applicant and his/her unique situation singularly, and we reserve the right to make legitimate exceptions if our communal judgment and discernment lead us to do so.

Is there an age requirement to be eligible to apply for your program?

We do not mandate a specific age but we are looking for applicants who have had a breadth and depth of life experience and who exhibit a spiritual maturity that enables them to accompany and effectively guide others.

How do I know if I have a call to be a spiritual director?

Great question! First, you may want to reflect on your sense of call over against your actual experience accompanying people in deep and personal, not to mention spiritual, contexts. It is rare to have a call divorced from actual related experience. The best guides are those who know the geography of faith and the terrain of the spiritual journey from both a personal experience and having been in spiritual direction for an extended time. Second, you may want to reflect on your own journey and ask questions like: Do people tend to seek me out for spiritual companionship and as someone who listens and offers prayerful support? Do I practice and know the difference between accompanying and supporting persons versus telling, fixing, rescuing, judging, or changing people? Do I enjoy accompanying others on their spiritual journey as they discern God’s movements in their lives?

What exactly do you mean that the program is “highly experiential and praxis-driven”?

More than half our curriculum involves actual practices of the principles being taught. Assignments are typically the reflective types and integrate experiential aspects of contemplative presence and prayerful listening. Our program brings head and heart together and is not designed to be an academic pursuit even though we expect graduate level work from our participants.

Is it true that I would have to have my own directee(s) while going through the program?

We expect that by the end of the second quarter (or even earlier) you will be directing at least two people so you are able to put into practice all that you are learning thus far. This experience will allow you to bring a “case” for supervision and consultation on a monthly basis with a supervisor.

What is involved when you say this program is mentor-guided?

You are assigned a mentor who accompanies you on your training journey from beginning to end. The mentor does not assume the role of your spiritual director (whom you should continue to meet with while going through the program) but more of a coach, supporting and monitoring your progress throughout. He/she has free access to all your online courses without participating in the process. Your mentor regularly establishes contact with you over email, phone, and/or Zoom web calls. You are also part of a small mentoring group (5 people maximum) facilitated by your mentor during residencies and web conference sessions (via Zoom). The mentoring group meets every quarter for companioning time involving shared reflection based upon the AI (Appreciative Inventory) – an ongoing self-assessment/discernment process. During the final residency, your mentor conducts an exit interview with you to give helpful evaluation feedback and recommendations before you finish the program.

Do I get certified as a spiritual director upon completion of the program?

We prefer not to use the term Certification for our SSD because there is no official “body” that actually certifies anybody to be a spiritual director. We do not presume to confer upon anybody after finishing our program that they are now “certified” since we believe that spiritual direction is a charism and a calling. It’s either you have it in you or not. The training only confirms, validates, reinforces, and equips you for such a calling. At the end of our program we may offer a certificate of completion or participation but not a certificate of spiritual direction. We are careful not to give any impression to our participants that upon finishing our program that they are now “officially” a spiritual director.

Why do you refer to this program as “broadly ecumenical”?

We employ the term in its classic sense of representing the universal faith we commonly affirm together as Christ followers who subscribe to the Apostles’ and the Nicene Creeds. We are decidedly Christian in emphasis. Our work is oriented toward Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestants of differing persuasions. Our faculty represent such diversity and hopefully our participants as well because we value the rich privilege of learning from the various traditions of the Christian Church as a whole.

What makes this program unique and distinctive?

By way of summary, our program is:

a one-year focused training (15 months with breaks in between)
geared toward persons with appropriate background and experience
employing a hybrid format: online and residency combination
ecumenically broad in make-up and approach
decidedly contemplative-evocative in focus and stance
culturally diverse (international in its thrust and global in reach)
communal in emphasis
mentor-guided
experiential and praxis-driven
facilitated by experienced and seasoned practitioners in the field

Lastly, and most importantly, our program design is heavily influenced by the spirituality and writings of Henri Nouwen.

For a more detailed explanation of our program distinctives, click HERE!

FAQ About Online Learning / Technology

How does the SSD program differ from a traditional campus-based (face-to-face) program?

It differs in at least two important ways. First, the SSD is a hybrid-format program. While most coursework takes place online, participants are also required to physically attend two one-week residency sessions during the program. The combination of online engagement and face-to-face sessions utilizing multiple pedagogical modalities is vital and gives you the best of online learning and campus-based education. The hybrid approach with online learning sandwiched between residencies makes it possible for capable and gifted spiritual directors-to-be to participate. Work schedules, ministry responsibilities on weekends, and geographical distance (particularly for those living outside of the U.S.) often make multiple year, local programs problematic, if not impossible, for many interested persons.

Second, by design the SSD is a non-accredited program, unlike most undergraduate and graduate programs at colleges and universities, where you will earn grades and college credits. Although all credible programs involve intellectual rigor, we believe that spiritual direction (as care of souls) is not primarily an academic endeavor. We are convinced that the most appropriate environment for nurturing the call and developing the skills involved in becoming a spiritual director is not the academy but the community of faith. Both our online component and two weeklong residencies offer attentive mentoring and are done within the spirit of an intentional, supportive faith community.

My computer and Internet skills are pretty limited. Will I be able to keep up with the technological demands of the program ?

Technology and Internet access and skills are an important component in our program. While you do not need to be a computer expert, you do need to know how to:

Navigate and conduct a search on the Internet
Use email
Download a program from the Internet and install it

Students need to have consistent access to an Internet-capable (and connected) computer, and they need to already possess intermediate computer and Internet skills. We provide some basic training, as well as online tutorials and a Help Desk to assist you with Moodle (our online learning platform). If you have a newer computer with good Internet access and are self-motivated, willing to ask for help, and can follow written instructions, the technology should not prevent you from keeping up.

I will only be able to work on my online coursework when I have time here and there. Will that be a problem?

Only if your schedule prevents you from regularly engaging in your courses. Online courses offer participants a lot of flexibility with their schedules. However, each online course will have a specific structure (usually a week-by-week format) and a schedule with specific deadlines for activities, homework, and projects. Some courses may require you to login and take part in online discussions 3-4 times per week. Sometimes you will be required to take part in a synchronous activity at a specific time on a specific day.

How much time am I expected to invest per week for each online course?

It would certainly vary from participant to participant. On the average, participants should be prepared to invest a total of 10-15 hours each week as follows:

4-5 hours on coursework preparation and assignments
6-7 hours for online engagement: reading/responding to posts (Tuesday to Friday)
2-3 hours for personal reflection and experiential exercises

The week runs from Monday to Saturday (with Sundays off). Mondays are usually devoted to coursework preparation (reading texts, watching videos, listening to audio, etc.). Tuesdays through Fridays are usually focused on online engagement (responding to discussion question prompts, threaded discussion/interaction with classmates and the instructor, blog or journal posts, etc.). Saturdays are usually allotted for working on assignments and other review or catch-up work. Note, however, that this average time allocation will change once the “official” Practicum period kicks in half-way through the program as this will involve the participant directing at least two people and seeing a supervisor in addition to seeing his/her own spiritual director on a monthly basis. Also, during the Group Spiritual Direction module, more praxis time is required.

What are the minimum requirements for computer hardware and software needed to participate in SSD?

NOTE: This is not the most updated info but you get the idea of the minimum requirements.

Because of my work schedule and other commitments, I may have to work on my online coursework after 10pm each night. Will my instructor(s) be available to answer questions then?

While our instructors strive to be as responsive as possible, they are not available 24/7. Instructors will let the participants know how quickly to expect a response to their emails and phone calls and the best way to contact them with urgent matters.

Sometimes participants will be able to get their questions answered by someone other than the instructor. If participants need technical help with Moodle (our online learning platform), they can contact the Moodle Help Desk via email or find the answer they need in our Moodle tutorials. If participants have questions about an assignment or other course-related questions, they can post them in the Course Questions Forum, and the instructor or a fellow participant can answer.

I work full-time, have a family, and am active in ministry. Will that prevent me from successfully completing the program?

Online courses do require a substantial time commitment; although you will only be taking one course in a 4-week schedule at a time in SSD. While it is true that the major portion of each online course is asynchronous, which enables participants to complete the coursework at any time of the day during a given week, there is only so much time in a day. We encourage applicants to realistically review their daily schedules and commitments and check it against the estimated time expected per week for SSD participants.

If I have technical difficulties in an online class, how do I get help?

You will be given the email address for the SSD Moodle Help Desk, and someone will respond to you within a certain timeframe. Also each course will have a Course Questions forum, where you can ask any question including your Moodle questions.

In my online courses, will I have an instructor? How will I keep contact with him/her?

Each online course has an assigned instructor (or co-instructor). You will find contact information, such as an email address and phone number, on the course syllabus and on our Moodle website. Although you are not in a classroom, you can still seek guidance from your instructor when needed. Some instructors may also offer online or virtual “office hours” from time to time using Zoom web conference call.

Is the course work easier online?

It depends. Many potential participants have a misconception about online courses, thinking they will only need to log in to their course once a week, listen to a lecture, do a few activities, and take a quiz, similar to what they experienced in many of their face-to-face courses in college. That is not the case with SSD courses. Our online courses emphasize building relationships, and engaging and interacting – with the instructor, the course content, and with your fellow cohort participants. So unlike many face-to-face courses, participation in online class discussions is not optional or only for those seated in the front row.

Online courses rarely have the same pacing or instructional activities as face-to-face courses. Although synchronous communication tools, such as Zoom web call, may be used in your online courses – thus enabling the sort of real-time interactions students are accustomed to in on-campus courses – text-based asynchronous communication tools (e.g., threaded discussion forums) are still the primary tools used for participant-instructor and participant-participant interaction and communication in online courses. Due to the very nature of these tools (i.e., text-based and asynchronous), online courses have very different pacing and use very different instructional strategies than on-campus courses.

How do SSD students learn online? What does the “classroom” look like?

We will give you a video tour of Moodle (our online learning platform), via our Moodle website, so you’ll get an idea of how to access course content, interact with instructors and turn in assignments. We will also offer an “Orientation to Moodle and Online Learning” session before and during the opening residency. Two weeks before the first online course starts, we will host an optional “Open House” weekend on our Moodle site during which students will have the opportunity to “play” with Moodle and to get live help from our Moodle experts.

Online learning takes place in a variety of ways, but it is most effective when everyone in a course regularly and actively engages with the course content (readings, lectures, videos, etc.), with their instructor and with one another. Much of this engagement happens in threaded discussions (Forums), which are asynchronous (non-live) and, also, through different types of group work.

FAQ about costs/Fees

What does the payment structure/schedule for the School of Spiritual Direction (SSD) program look like?

The total program cost for our Cohort 6 is $8,500. The tuition amount can be paid in full any time after the applicant has officially been accepted into the program.

There is a one-time, nonrefundable application fee of $150 due immediately upon submission of application paperwork.

Note: The other additional costs to attend the SSD include the required books/course materials, practicum fees (spiritual direction/supervision sessions [negotiable fees]). Board and lodging for the Opening and Closing Residencies as well as travel to the locations will be at the participant's own expense. Although subject to change, both residencies are expected to be held in a retreat center within Southern California. Transportation to the residency venue for those arriving at a local airport (and back) will be the responsibility of the participant. The CQ office can offer assistance by way of suggested options, arrangement guidelines and instructions.

Payment Schedule:

Super Early Bird Applicants [SEB] (Those applying anytime now until September 15, 2023). SEBs are entitled to a $500 discount from the total fee. This means that the person has applied, has been interviewed, has been officially accepted, and has paid the required non-refundable (but transferrable) deposit, all within the specified period. Those who wish to take advantage of the SEB should therefore plan on applying early.

SEB applicants pay a total of $8,000 for the program.
A required initial deposit of $2,000 is due two weeks after receiving an official notice of acceptance to the SSD program.
A second payment of $2,000 is due by ____ (TBD)
A third payment of $2,000 is due by ____ (TBD)
A final payment of $2,000 is due by ____ (TBD)
Note: This no-interest extended/installment payment plan can be requested and granted on a case-to-case basis with a one-time $150 processing fee to cover PayPal and/or wire fee charges and fluctuating exchange rates.

Regular Applicants [RA] (Those applying any time after the SEB deadline of September 15, 2023 onwards until February 29, 2024 – which is the deadline for applications for Cohort 6 cycle)

A required initial deposit of $2,500 is due two weeks after receiving an official notice of acceptance to the SSD program.
A second payment of $2,000 is due by ____ (TBD)
A third payment of $2,000 is due by ____ (TBD)
A final payment of $2,000 is due by ____ (TBD)
Note 1: The second, third, and final payments for both SEB and RA will be adjusted accordingly soon. Watch out for the updated schedule soon.
Note 2: This no-interest extended/installment payment plan can be requested and granted on a case-to-case basis with a one-time $150 processing fee to cover PayPal and/or wire fee charges and fluctuating exchange rates.
Note 3: An RA who can pay the full tuition balance (after the initial deposit) up front on or before June, 2023 will be entitled to a $300 discount and will only pay a total fee of $8,200.

What does the SSD program cost actually cover?

The fee of $8,500 for the entire 15-month cycle covers the tuition fees and resources for all 8 online courses including the regular praxis sessions. It also covers the pre-practicum flat fee of $400 for about 9 hours of dyad “real play” practice sessions with supervisor and mentor feedback/coaching. The tuition for the 6 residency classes and other residency-related expenses for the two residencies [Opening/Closing] (but excluding board and lodging for 5 nights and 7 nights respectively) are also included. The total program cost covers all the course materials (excluding textbooks), online learning tools (excluding software programs), and stipends for our SSD online/residency faculty, mentors, and administrative staff.

When compared to other spiritual direction programs, SSD is fair and reasonably priced. Whereas a local 9 or 12-month program over two or three years may offer less over more time, our SSD program offers more in less time. By way of analogy, many universities offer a January term in which a semester’s worth of work is compressed into one month. The tuition fees of these month-long intensives are typically equal to semester-long classes. When evaluating the cost of SSD, it is important to note that our program is similarly compressed yet offer more than a local one-year program. In fact, the contact hours involved in our two residencies as well as in our 8 online courses of 4-6 weeks each (through instruction, facilitation, supervision, and regular interaction with instructors, mentors, and other cohort members) is comparable to many two- or three-year local programs and is, therefore, very reasonably priced.

What is the SSD refund policy?

The initial deposit is fully refundable if the participant (whether SEB or RA) drops out before the SSD application deadline of February 29, 2024. If the participant drops out anytime after the deadline is over, $1,000 out of the total monies given up to that point will automatically be forfeited. After the Opening Residency, no refund will be given, except for extraordinary circumstances beyond the participant’s control. Partial refund may be given at the discretion of the program director.

Is there any kind of scholarship available?

The SSD ultimately hopes to offer scholarship subsidy to deserving participants who demonstrate legitimate financial needs. However, as a relatively new school, the CQ SSD is not yet in a position to offer such scholarships at this time. The best we are able to provide at this point is our no-interest installment/extended payment plan.