Beyond the Basics
Ongoing education and training for Spiritual Directors
Refresh - Grow - Bloom
Includes learning, a contemplative community and practices, experiential training, practical topics and more
Did you always wish Tending the Holy or your spiritual direction training program had a third year or kept going? Or that you could revisit some of those teachings now that you've been meeting with directees? Do you need a safe and wise community to discuss current issues and a place to keep learning?
Do you miss being in a contemplative community, where taking the time for quiet and talking about deep things is the norm? Longing for a refresher or to improve some of your skills as a director? Join us in Beyond the Basics.
What is Beyond the Basics?
Beyond the Basics is a Christian ecumenical program that rests on the premise that we continue to receive and grow the gift of being able to be present and listen to another’s story in a healthy way; through our own prayerful practices, ongoing education, peer support, skill development in supervision, and our continued contemplative experience of God as Director.
At Christos, we present Beyond the Basics in three online units (six sessions each), which may be taken independently or in any sequence. More than simply a book study, Beyond the Basics expands on original Spiritual Direction curriculum to further develop Directors with skills, insights and experience.
As a Beyond the Basics attendee, you will grow and gain competence through:
Further development in the art of Spiritual direction; ability and skills to listen respond, and discern during the sessions and beyond
Continued developing knowledge of scripture, prayer practices and ways to enhance and engage in sessions
Gaining flexibility and wisdom in places where directees may be in resistance, dark nights of the soul, movements in stages of faith and prayer, liminal spaces, changing images of God, mental health issues, and other common areas
An understanding of beginning theory and practice of Supervision and commitment to soul care
What would you like to see in our Beyond the Basics curriculum? Click below to take a quick survey.
Click the video at right to hear from Beyond the Basics Coordinator Cecilia Whitacre
Content. We will look at practical topics such as how to find directees, set up a practice, create a retreat, bring spiritual direction to your church/community, etc. You will also enjoy a small group component that will enhance your understanding and give experiential practice time for tools and skills development, within that most important practice of peer supervision. You will have a trained, experienced Spiritual Director facilitating your group.
Attendees. This program is for any Spiritual Director whether you’ve just been seeing directees for a little while or have been offering direction for years. Both beginning and advanced directors will benefit from the materials. Christian Spiritual Directors from Christos and other organizations are welcome.
Timing. Unit One (Summer) begins in June 2026. Unit Two (Fall) is planned for Sept. - Nov. 2026. Unit Three (Winter/Spring) is planned for January - March 2027. You may take units individually, or all three. Each unit will have fresh content, utilize a different classic book on spiritual direction (not already read in TTH) and need not be taken in a particular order.
Cost : $495 for Christos alumni; $595 for non-alumni per unit. A discount will be offered for those taking consecutive units (tba). The unit cost includes a $50 non-refundable cancellation fee.
What does Beyond the Basics include?
FAQ
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No, each unit (see below for unit decriptions) may be taken on its own without any prerequisites.
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This course is for both new and experienced spiritual directors who want to reconnect with their practice, develop their unique voice, and expand their vision for Spiritual Direction in the wider church and community. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to reinvigorate your practice, this course will offer insights, practical answers and support.
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Stable internet and access to Zoom; a quiet space where you can reflect, engage and participate in the exercises during class; time and space outside of class for reading (we will take our time and read one book over three months) reflection and light assignment practices.
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This course will be similar to the Beyond the Basics class that was offered in summer 2025, which was our “beta” trial run to gauge level of interest and discover more about the topics to explore. Beyond the Basics has been expanded to full-year program (three units) that includes communal, practical and experiential learning. This is not just a book study, although we will be reading one book in each Unit to ground us in the foundations of spiritual direction and to expose you to other authors and topics.
The Moodle content platform also will be used for fresh content and resources to review, as well as some teachings from Tending the Holy to review. We are tailoring part of the class to attendees, and will be inviting you to share the specific topics, practices and consultation questions you have.
Beyond the Basics - Unit Descriptions
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Workbook – Spiritual Direction: A Practical Introduction ©2008 by Sue Pickering. Unit 1 topics include:
Spiritual Direction: what does it look like in actual practice? What makes a good director? Practicing the skills
Listening to God. Knowing how God communicates, how do we know it’s God, awareness and presence
Discernment. Recognizing God in religious experience and in the everyday of the directee
Responding to God. Working with our directees changing prayer, symbols, intimacy with God
Listening and Responding to Ourselves. Self-knowledge, the body, red flag areas, therapy, self-care for the director
Listening and Responding to Others...in places of disappointment, pain, trauma, abuse, transitions, crisis, blocks, sexuality, transference & counter-transference, grief, dark nights, etc.
Practical Spiritual Direction in churches, pastoral ministry, group direction, retreats and other context
Supervision. Supervision as gift and necessity
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Book: Spiritual Direction: A Guide for Sharing the Father’s Love by Acklin & Hicks. Unit 2 topics include:
Spiritual direction basics reviewed: fundamentals, structure of a meeting. One-on-One and groups
Interiority. The heart, basic pattern of direction
Vulnerability. Sharing, patience, setting the pace, what makes for vulnerable sharing
Listening. The challenges, self-monitoring, working models
Communicating. Affirmation, resistance, validation, some particular challenges, wrapping up a session, confession
Guidance for Prayer. Tools, discernment, mission, charisms
Passages in prayer and movements in the spiritual life. The three ways, Ignatian insights, dark nights
Psychological models and healing. Insights from psychology, woundedness, our role in healing prayer, emotions
The spiritual director. Qualities, experience, self-awareness, areas of struggle; pride, anger, inadequacy, boredom, and ongoing formation
Supervision. Its benefits and necessity
Unit 3 - Listening to Self: Exploring the Contemplative Dimensions and Mind Management - January - March 2027. Book: The Way of Spiritual Direction by Nemeck & Coombs
DETAILS AND REGISTRATION INFO TO COME!
Questions?
Please contact Cecilia Whitacre, Tending the Holy Chicago / Beyond the Basics Program Coordinator, cecilia @christoscenter.org.