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.
NOTE: Beginning Cohort 3 onwards, the breaks are lengthened in between modules from one week to two weeks (Interim Period) and the quarterly breaks from two to three weeks (Inter-Term) to allow ample space for the participants to engage in a more contemplative processing of the materials and their own training experience. In addition, we incorporated a pre-practicum SD-supervised “real play” practices in dyads. We are also lengthening the Group Spiritual Direction (GSD) module from 4 weeks to 6 weeks starting with Cohort 4 to allow more time for group praxis. If we factor in the 4-week pre-requisite intro course (Soul Companioning), the Orientation to Online Learning workshop, and the one-month focused preparation time prior to the Opening Residency, the entire program technically involves more or less a 15-month period.