Spiritual Accompaniment: An Invitation to Soul Listening
Presented by Diane M. Millis PhD
September 16, 2021 ~ 12pm – 1:30pm Central Time
Overview and Objectives
To “listen” another’s soul into a condition of disclosure and discovery may be almost the greatest service that any human being ever performs for another. –Douglas Steere, Gleanings: A Random Harvest
Encouraging another’s soul to speak challenges us to go beyond the stance of active listening so many of us have been taught. In this webinar, we will consider approaches for deep, soulful listening. Since this manner of listening begins with ourselves, we will devote time to contemplation and reflection in addition to presentation and discussion.
As a result of this webinar, participants will be able to
- Articulate the conditions that invite another’s soul to speak.
- Demonstrate listening to their own souls as they listen to others.
- Explain what helps and hinders them from listening soulfully.
NACC Certification Competencies Addressed in this Webinar
PIC1, PIC2, PIC3, ITP2, IPT3, PPS2
Presenter Information
Diane M. Millis, Ph.D., is a spiritual director and professor of spiritual formation. She holds degrees in communication studies, family studies and human development, and certificates in spiritual direction, retreat direction, spiritual direction supervision, and interfaith dialogue. Diane is a Roman Catholic laywoman who is drawn to the study and practice of both Western & Eastern 
contemplative spiritualities.
Diane earned a M.A. in Interpersonal and Small Group Communication and a Ph.D. in Family Studies and Human Development at the University of Minnesota. She taught at the University of Minnesota, Saint Catherine University, College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University, and currently teaches at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities. She is the author of Conversation—The Sacred Art: Practicing Presence in an Age of Distraction; Deepening Engagement: Essential Wisdom for Listening and Leading with Meaning, Purpose and Joy; andRe-Creating a Life: Learning How to Tell Our Most Life-Giving Story (named one of the best spiritual books of 2019). She is the founder of Companions on a Journey, a group spiritual companioning initiative (funded by the Lilly Endowment, Inc.); the Journey Conversations Project, an interfaith dialogue initiative; and producer of Lives Explored for the Collegeville Institute. Diane leads retreats and workshops throughout the United States and Canada and is a frequent teacher and popular presenter for Spiritual Director’s International. She serves on the editorial board for Presence, an international journal of spiritual direction. For more information about her ministry, visit www.dianemillis.com.
