Short-Term Spiritual Guidance
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.
Key Features:
A one-volume guide to the practice of spiritual direction
Beautifully and simply explains the classic concepts
Specific and helpful advice for different situations and for group direction
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Duane R. Bidwell is professor of practical theology, spiritual care, and counseling at Claremont School of Theology and a minister of the Presbyterian Church (USA). He is the author of Short-Term Spiritual Guidance, The Formation of Pastoral Counselors, and Empowering Couples.
"In Short-Term Spiritual Guidance, Duane Bidwell. . . offers several specific interventions that the reader can use when caring for the spiritual life. He not only makes the point that, historically, most spirit care is brief but also goes on to suggest how brief spiritual care can be done. He provides a way that ministers and concerned laypersons can offer spiritual direction that honors the person, recognizes the context of how the care is offered 'on the run, ' and stays true to the historical direction has been offered. I think you will find his specific suggestions for how to go about care, and this specific intervention involved, very beneficial." --Howard W. Stone, professor emeritus of psychology and pastoral counseling at Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University
