Spiritual direction and supervision can be life-giving places for those in deconstruction-- those who are questioning the precepts, doctrines, practices, and systems that their faith was built upon. This vulnerable season is often fraught with confusion, hurt, and betrayal, especially when triggered by the failure of institutions and communities to live and function in loving, integrative ways. When these structures cease to function or become actively harmful for this person, spiritual direction and supervision can be nurturing spaces for those who no longer have walls to support and shelter them. These challenging seasons of spiritual instability, where one is stripped of supporting structures - whether directee or director - creates a kind of vulnerability that must be befriended and accompanied.

Session 1:
What do we mean when we say "deconstruction" and what do we hear when that word is used in spiritual direction? Unpacking our assumptions, biases, fears, and hopes around engagement with the constellation of experiences under this umbrella is the focus of session one. Together, we will consider what a common language around deconstruction might bring us, as well as the ways deconstruction has been engaged both well and not as well in the Christian community. We'll talk about dos and don'ts in the direction space and why agency is particularly vital for those journeying through deconstruction. We'll also dialogue around the differences and similarities between deconstruction and Dark Night of the Soul.

Session 2:
In session two, we'll think together about what our own deconstruction experiences as spiritual directors might mean to our practice and our directees. These tender spaces can feel particularly fraught and threatening when our vocation is accompanying others in their journeys with God. In conversation, we'll explore through cases and examples what issues might arise and how to bring them to supervision, as well as what tools might be helpful for our own self-supervision after sessions. We'll also explore what supervisors need to tend to as they hold space both for directors who are experiencing deconstruction and for directees who are experiencing deconstruction.

Upon purchase you gain access to the event recording for 18 months (available after event) & handouts