ASD Integration Cohort

A nine-month continuing formation program for spiritual directors

August 2026 — May 2027 | Cohort times TBD

Built for trained spiritual directors seeking to further their formation and align their practice to our tradition, the Integration Cohort takes you through an essential core of the ASD curriculum along with a peer learning community.

  • Deepen your development through seven core courses at the heart of the tradition.

  • Participate fully online, and watch video lectures on your schedule.

  • Journey with a monthly cohort to process your engagement.

 
 
 

Program distinctives

 

Our Integration Cohort invites trained directors from any “school of practice” shape their vocation toward a tradition where spiritual direction is:

  • Rooted in the historical spiritual direction tradition.

  • Built on a robust theology of formation.

  • Conversant with both ancient and contemporary psychology.

  • A pastoral vocation of soul care, in service to the Church.

 
 

Time commitments

 

Participants engage with all lesson content (see “Curriculum” below) ahead of each cohort meeting. Additional reflective and writing activities are encouraged to help facilitate the learning process but are entirely optional. A typical month consists of:

  • Lesson content: videos and reading (2-4 hours weekly)

  • Lesson activities (1-2 hours weekly, optional)

  • Cohort meetings (1½ hours monthly)

As practicing spiritual directors, participants are also expected to meet monthly with their own director.

 

Entry requirements

 

Prior to registering, participants should have:

  1. Completed a minimum two-year formal program of training in spiritual direction.

  2. A regular, deep prayer life featuring some degree of both conversation and quiet with God.

  3. A lived commitment to the Christian faith.

  4. An active commitment to participate in a local church.

Membership in the Order of the Common Life is not a requirement.

 

Curriculum

 

Each one- to two-month module consists of four to eight lessons.

    1. New Testament Theology

    2. Asceticism

    3. Theosis in the Christian Life

    4. Contemplation (Cohort)

    5. Love & the Trinity

    6. Discernment

    7. The Dark Night

    8. Charismatic Renewal (Cohort)

    1. Critical Thresholds

    2. Immersion & Outward Growth

    3. Convergence & Slowing Down

    4. Emergence & Interior Growth (Cohort)

    5. Deeper Conversion

    6. Night of the Spirit

    7. Spiritual Espousal & Marriage

    8. Conclusion (Cohort)

    1. Our Spiritual Direction

    2. The Spiritual Director as Abba & Amma

    3. Spiritual Direction as Listening

    4. Spiritual Direction as Wisdom (Cohort)

    5. Spiritual Direction as Divine Love

    6. The Spiritual Director as Human

    7. SD as Human Relationship

    8. SD as Formational Healing (Cohort)

    1. The Passions

    2. Patterns

    3. Freedom

    4. The Spiritual Director (Cohort)

    1. Introduction to Contemplative Listening

    2. Purpose of Contemplative Listening

    3. What We Listen to

    4. Deep Listening Skills (Cohort)

    1. Why We Ask Questions

    2. Types of Questions

    3. Techniques of Questions

    4. Finding & Fostering Curiosity (Cohort)

    1. The Character of Love

    2. The Director-Directee Relationship

    3. Scope of Practice

    4. Supervision & Care of the Director (Cohort)

Following our cohort curriculum, participants are also encouraged take our continuing ed course “Spiritual Direction in the Local Church” to their own church, to help steer imagination toward integrating spiritual direction into the care of their local congregation.

 
 

Cost & shared economy

 

General tuition for the 2025-26 cohort is $1,200 total for seven courses plus monthly cohort meetings.

Members of the Order are invited to participate at no set cost but by freewill contribution, according to our commitment to shared economy.

 
 

How to apply

 

Applications are open now until May 30. Email Wendy Gierhart, director of formation and learning, with any questions.

 
Begin Your Application