Making the Decision to Refer: Spiritual Directors Look at the Potential Need for Counseling
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Author
Walker, Kathalin
Date
2001
Degree
Master of Arts in Pastoral Theology
Abstract
During the course of a spiritual direction relationship it
sometimes becomes necessary for a director to suggest to a directee that
she or he seek assistance from a psychotherapist in addition to or, in
extreme cases, instead of, the spiritual direction being sought. A problem
arises, however, in the director being able to determine whether or not
that time has come in any given relationship.
Various factors may contribute to the dilemma spiritual directors
experience when faced with the potential need to refer a directee for
counseling. Experienced directors may encounter difficulties in
discerning the situation, perhaps through a reluctance to suggest to a
long-term directee that she of he should “start over” with someone else.
Or perhaps, while recognizing the need to a more therapeutic approach
to a situation, the director has a lack of referral resources. A primary
factor however, is inexperience on the part of the director. Addressing
the period of inexperience which we all must go through at the
beginning of our ministry is the focus of this project.