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Dr. Karen Shields Wright

My ministry practice focus, as an Ignatian-trained spiritual director and clinician, is cura personalis.  It's listening with you (together with the Holy Spirit) on where you sense God is drawing you; and to share what I studied from the teachings and wisdom within the Church’s spiritual tradition. Moreover, I am here to help you understand how God designed us and to care for your body, as well as your soul, for giving glory to God in a life of prayer to discover God's desires for you to flourish in service with Christ.

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Available for New Directees

Weekdays

International Time Zone Availability 

Blessings to you and all you love,

Karen

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Spiritual Director  
Mentor
Clinician 

Background

As a Catholic, wife, mother, grandmother, businesswoman, and clinician, along with being a lifelong learner, I seek to bring my vocational experiences and skills to this ministry in service for Christ. 

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After researching studies on spirituality and health during my clinical years as a chiropractic physician, I went on to study Christian Spirituality and Spiritual Direction and moved into hospital chaplaincy and retreat work. After obtaining a certificate in Catholic Social Teaching, I taught and wrote about the intersection of those teachings and lay spirituality for a life as a contemplative in action.

 

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Current Position

  • 2003 to present Private Practice serving (virtually* since 2011 ) as Spiritual Director

  • 2017 to present Spiritual Director & Mentor with Fairfield University's Murphy Center for Ignatian Spirituality 

  • 2022 to present  Co-Founder of Our Lady of the Way, Ignatian Virtual Retreat Center 

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In 2011 I began working virtually with directees who were experiencing illness and since then,I have to continue working online with adult women and men, those who are gifted with health, and those who currently are not.

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Education & Formation  

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Selected SD and CME
  • CME - Interpersonal Neurobiology - Mindsight Institute ('22)
  • "Advances in Mind-Body Medicine"  Thomas Jefferson U. Sidney Kimmel Medical College ('22)
  • Programs of the Murphy Center for Ignatian Spirituality, Fairfield University ('17-'22)
  • Programs of the Office for Ignatian Spirituality (OIS) Eastern Provence ('19-'22)
  • CME "Advances in Integrative Nutrition"  Thomas Jefferson U. Sidney Kimmel Medical College
  • "Handing on the Fire: Making Spiritual Direction Ignatian"  w. Fr. Joseph Tetlow, SJ, 
  • "Teaching of Discernment of Spirits" w. Fr. Timothy Gallagher 
  • "Practicum in Giving the 19th Annotation"  MCIS by Sr. Karen Doyle and Nan Bouche 
  • "Fundamentals of Cognitive Behavior Therapy" Mass General Psychiatry Academy 
  • "Stress Management and Resiliency Training " Mass General Psychiatry Academy 
  • "Giving the Spiritual Exercises in the 19th Annotation Format to Others"  Fr. Jame Bowler OIS 
  • "Essentials of Palliative Care" Chaplaincy Program. California State University
 
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Memberships & Listings​

  • Order of Malta – Dame of Magistral Grace

  • Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice Foundaiton

  • American Chiropractic Association 

  • Office of Ignatian Spirituality, Eastern Provence

  • College of Directors Murphy Center for Ignatian Spirituality

  • SeekDirection.app

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Area of Interest

The Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life, Discernment, Sharing the Ignatian Way, Prayer

Neurobiology,  Mind-Body Medicine, Integrative Evidence-Based Wellness

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Services

Virtual and In-Person

Spiritual Director & Retreat Director

Wellness Consultant (separate professional services, yet integrated with a life of prayer)

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