Snag Your Copy Spiritual Direction And The Care Of Souls: A Guide To Christian Approaches And Practices Brought To You By Gary W. Moon Accessible From Digital Format

is an informative book about the importance and expectation of a spiritual director in many of the Christian faiths, This text, in my opinion is actually around,stars. It is definitely educational and informative when it comes to various approaches to spiritual direction, however, I really found it hard to engage with the material, Usually in books I find a chapter, or even a paragraph that's like an "ah ha!" Moment, Sadly, I can't recall one of those moments during this read, It Was very informative but I

would have liked to have seen more case studies than just in the final chapter, In recent years, many Christian clergy, laity and mental health professionals have rediscovered the ancient practices of spiritual direction, Seen as a refreshing alternative to the techniques and limitations of modern psychology, such practices offer new insights for pastoral care, But many remain unclear on what spiritual direction is and whether its methods are applicable to their own clients and parishioners,

Spiritual direction is a practice of Christian soul care that is found most notably in the Catholic, Orthodox and Episcopal traditions but is also present in Wesleyan/Holiness, Pentecostal/charismatic, social justice and Reformed communities.
Predating modern counseling and psychotherapy movements but sharing key principles and insights for spiritual formation, spiritual direction offers significant resources for today's pastors, counselors, therapists, chaplains and other caregivers attuned to the work of God in people's lives.

In this landmark volume, editors Gary W, Moon and David G. Benner, along with a team of expert contributors, provide a comprehensive survey of spiritual direction in its myriad Christian forms, Specific chapters offer careful historical perspective and contemporary analysis of how Christians from various backgrounds have practiced spiritual direction, with particular attention to each tradition's definition of spiritual direction, the process of authentic transformation, the role of the spiritual director, indicators of mature spirituality and other aspects of the spiritual direction process.
Chapters also provide psychological and clinical insight into how spiritual direction is similar to, different from and can be integrated with psychotherapy and pastoral counseling to help others experience spiritual transformation and union with God.

This was not my favorite spiritual direction resource because it is a series of essays written by different folks, far too much of the book felt repetitive If you are looking for a book to tell you specifically what Spiritual Direction is, then this is not your book though it is quite informative to how Spiritual Direction works and the goals/heart of SD, however, it is mixed with other information, but if you are looking for a book that gives a good overview of how America's church traditions view spiritual direction, psychotherapy, and pastoral counseling then this is your book.
It is academically written so reads more like a textbook or like a thesis, If that is not your style, then you may not enjoy this book, However, I found it absolutely insightful and encouraging in discerning my desire to pursue a calling to Spiritual Direction and confirm my thinking that I do not want to pursue a degree in counseling or therapy.
It also helped me decipher a great deal between the heart of each church tradition and a great deal of history,

I will say, being Anglican, I was highly disappointed in the way the Episcopalian tradition was depicted, I felt a great deal of tradition and Anglican spirit was not expressed due to the current Episcopalian American diversions not all Episcopalian churches are this way from the true, more international Anglican Way.
That would be my only complaint about this book,

I appreciated the wide range of perspectives and honest look at how Spiritual Direction is not and should not be counseling, but that SD can be integrated into therapy but this book is mostly theoretical and in early stages of research and wondering I would say.
Mediocre. An interesting read, but not sure what the book accomplishes, Maybe more like Its a helpful and broad intro to How soul care is practiced in different Christian traditions, but it reads like a textbookish, informative anthology, . . which is exactly what it is, Very much appreciated the helpful focus on the differences between spiritual directors, pastoral counselors, and psychotherapists, This is a great source for understanding and defining spiritual direction all the more clearly, In the first chapters you'll hear spiritual direction defined by directors from different Christian traditions, You'll see the similarities and the differences within each tradition, Another major emphasis carried all the way through, but most specifically in the latter chapters, is a definition and comparison of Spiritual Direction, Pastoral Counseling and Psychotherapy, You will learn how they overlap and how they differ, along with recommendations on how one might use both/all in a productive way while keeping them distinct, Sometimes credited simply as Gary Moon

Gary W, Moon PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary is director of the Martin Family Institute and Dallas Willard Center for Christian Spiritual Formation at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California, He also codirects Fuller's doctor of ministry degree program in spiritual direction, which blends ancient Christian spirituality, Ignatian spirituality, and spiritual formation insights from Dallas Willard, He served as distinguished professor of psychology and Christian spirituality at Richmont Graduate University, editor in chief for the journal Conversations, and director of the Renovaré International Institute for Christian Spiritual Formation.
His books include Apprenticeship with Jesus and Falling for God, .