Short Term Spiritual GuidanceFortress Press This book represents a significant departure from most contemporary writing about spiritual direction. While most writers focus on long-term relationships of guidance, specifically envisioning long listening sessions, Bidwell changes focus. Spiritual direction, he insists, typically requires intervention in a specific crisis or situation or question, is not formal, lasts fewer than five sessions, and must be actively and intentionally focused on the person's growth. Bidwell's work shows what spiritual directors can learn from the short-term therapy model, especially about enabling people briefly but effectively to ''learn to listen on their own and with others for God's presence.'' Focusing on how God is already active in the directee's life allows the participants to identify God's action and respond in ways that collaborate with that identified movement of the Spirit. |
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action axis activities Anna approach appropriate response attend behaviors brief pastoral counseling brief spiritual direction brief therapy Christ Christian spiritual church clarify closer to God contemplative awareness couple daily directee's director and directee divine reading emotions ence example exercise experience explore family members family's feel focus focused Gail genogram goals God's action God's presence heart Holy imagine important Jesus Juan Kenneth Leech kenosis listening long-term Nicholas of Cusa not-knowing position offer participants particular pastoral care person seeking practice of brief practice of spiritual pray prayer prayer of quiet presence and action questions reflect religious response to God's rience Scripture seeking spiritual direction self-emptying sense session of brief share silence soul specific spiri spiritual direction conversation spiritual direction relationship spiritual disciplines spiritual growth spiritual guidance stage statement of purpose story suggest Therapy thoughts tion tual direction understanding Wendy worship