Comments on: How do I deal with psychological issues surfaced in spiritual direction? http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/2010/04/19/how-do-i-deal-with-psychological-issues-surfaced-in-spiritual-direction Seek Him - Find Him - Follow Him Tue, 22 May 2012 02:52:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: danburke http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/2010/04/19/how-do-i-deal-with-psychological-issues-surfaced-in-spiritual-direction/comment-page-1#comment-1137 danburke Mon, 26 Apr 2010 05:50:40 +0000 http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/?p=2708#comment-1137 Dear Cynthia - Often the retreat masters or hosts of retreats provide scholarships to those in need. Dear Cynthia – Often the retreat masters or hosts of retreats provide scholarships to those in need.

]]> By: Marie http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/2010/04/19/how-do-i-deal-with-psychological-issues-surfaced-in-spiritual-direction/comment-page-1#comment-1133 Marie Thu, 22 Apr 2010 08:10:10 +0000 http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/?p=2708#comment-1133 Thanks again Fr. John for sending, writing and giving a very wonderful answer. I have appreciated your answer and will now need to go back to my program of life. Since September I have been a daily reader to this site and there have been numerous "gifts" of spiritual information that you have shared. When I wrote about the confusion(Oct5) I was having with my director, you gave great advice and I have stayed with this priest. He has been a great blessing from God as has all of your work in serving us in this medium.<br>May Mother Mary protect you always. Thanks again Fr. John for sending, writing and giving a very wonderful answer. I have appreciated your answer and will now need to go back to my program of life. Since September I have been a daily reader to this site and there have been numerous “gifts” of spiritual information that you have shared. When I wrote about the confusion(Oct5) I was having with my director, you gave great advice and I have stayed with this priest. He has been a great blessing from God as has all of your work in serving us in this medium.
May Mother Mary protect you always.

]]> By: Anonymous http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/2010/04/19/how-do-i-deal-with-psychological-issues-surfaced-in-spiritual-direction/comment-page-1#comment-1713 Anonymous Tue, 20 Apr 2010 23:07:00 +0000 http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/?p=2708#comment-1713 Spiritual direction is not always simple, but always helpful! Spiritual direction is not always simple, but always helpful!

]]> By: Mary7Macharia http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/2010/04/19/how-do-i-deal-with-psychological-issues-surfaced-in-spiritual-direction/comment-page-1#comment-1131 Mary7Macharia Tue, 20 Apr 2010 22:00:35 +0000 http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/?p=2708#comment-1131 Thank you for this very educative Lesson. My fear is that since my mental breakdown in 2007 which landed me in hospital for two weeks, I am never sure what generates or controls my thought process, feelings or moods. I am still under medication. However, I have taken my Spiritual life very seriously and attend daily Holy Hour Eucharistic Adoration and Holy Mass. Thankfully, and by God's Grace, I have been able to obtain consoling advice during the weekly Sacrament of Reconciliation and that has given me courage as I am assured that I am in the right path and I am doing the right thing. However, I have found it hard to discuss my condition with the Priest who had agreed to be my Spiritual Director for fear of how I shall be judged. So I keep very much to myself and only meet, once a week, with the Members of our Eucharistic Apostles of the Divine Mercy. Here, I have progressed and gained more confidence in myself but I make sure no one knows about my previous problem or the other physical infirmites I am suffering from.<br><br>Although I had decided to get a Spiritual Director, I am still hesitant because I am not sure how he will handle my situation and if I can derive any benefit by opening up to him. What advice can you give me on how to proceed? I am really eager to grow in my Faith and improve my prayer life, but the uncertainty of what actually is in action within me worries me from time to time. Thank you for this very educative Lesson. My fear is that since my mental breakdown in 2007 which landed me in hospital for two weeks, I am never sure what generates or controls my thought process, feelings or moods. I am still under medication. However, I have taken my Spiritual life very seriously and attend daily Holy Hour Eucharistic Adoration and Holy Mass. Thankfully, and by God's Grace, I have been able to obtain consoling advice during the weekly Sacrament of Reconciliation and that has given me courage as I am assured that I am in the right path and I am doing the right thing. However, I have found it hard to discuss my condition with the Priest who had agreed to be my Spiritual Director for fear of how I shall be judged. So I keep very much to myself and only meet, once a week, with the Members of our Eucharistic Apostles of the Divine Mercy. Here, I have progressed and gained more confidence in myself but I make sure no one knows about my previous problem or the other physical infirmites I am suffering from.

Although I had decided to get a Spiritual Director, I am still hesitant because I am not sure how he will handle my situation and if I can derive any benefit by opening up to him. What advice can you give me on how to proceed? I am really eager to grow in my Faith and improve my prayer life, but the uncertainty of what actually is in action within me worries me from time to time.

]]> By: Cynthia http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/2010/04/19/how-do-i-deal-with-psychological-issues-surfaced-in-spiritual-direction/comment-page-1#comment-1712 Cynthia Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:26:00 +0000 http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/?p=2708#comment-1712 Father, what about those of us who can't afford to go on a Spiritual Exercises Retreat? Father, what about those of us who can’t afford to go on a Spiritual Exercises Retreat?

]]> By: Teresa http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/2010/04/19/how-do-i-deal-with-psychological-issues-surfaced-in-spiritual-direction/comment-page-1#comment-1130 Teresa Mon, 19 Apr 2010 17:35:29 +0000 http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/?p=2708#comment-1130 Father, I'm so glad you posted this question. I went through something similar three years ago when I began recovering memories of childhood abuse. I had just returned to the Church after an absence of over 25 years. When I first returned God helped to open my heart to His love and through that I began to allow myself to love others and others to love me. That process led to the recovery of some very painful memories. I did seek counseling and that helped me to deal with some aspects of the abuse. However, the most helpful thing I did was to attend a weekend spiritual exercises retreat. It was truly a life-changing experience. As you said, I big part of the retreat was developling a program of life. Although the retreat was rather intense, I left feeling happier than I had in months and I began attending daily Mass several times a week. Fast forward to the present, I no longer fear the memories, I have continued going to daily Mass whenever possible, and I go on the retreat every year. Father, I'm so glad you posted this question. I went through something similar three years ago when I began recovering memories of childhood abuse. I had just returned to the Church after an absence of over 25 years. When I first returned God helped to open my heart to His love and through that I began to allow myself to love others and others to love me. That process led to the recovery of some very painful memories. I did seek counseling and that helped me to deal with some aspects of the abuse. However, the most helpful thing I did was to attend a weekend spiritual exercises retreat. It was truly a life-changing experience. As you said, I big part of the retreat was developling a program of life. Although the retreat was rather intense, I left feeling happier than I had in months and I began attending daily Mass several times a week. Fast forward to the present, I no longer fear the memories, I have continued going to daily Mass whenever possible, and I go on the retreat every year.

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