Intro to Relational Spirituality

Moving Toward a More Secure Attachment with God and Others

Phase One: Orientation & Preparation // JULY 17–SEPTEMBER 1

The purpose of this phase is to familiarize yourself with the Relational Spirituality vocabulary and framework through self-study.

REQUIRED: Watch all six videos, below, in Dr. Todd Hall’s Relational Spirituality Essentials. Each video takes less than 15 minutes.

  1. RS 101 Welcome

  2. RS 101 Lesson One

  3. RS 101 Lesson Two

  4. RS 101 Lesson Three

  5. RS 101 Lesson Four

  6. RS 101 Lesson Five

Recommended:

  1. Do the exercises in the RS 101 Client Workbook: Building Secure Connections  Link  

  2. Read one or both of Dr. Hall’s books: Relational Spirituality (more technical) or The Connected Life (less technical).

  3. Listen to podcasts featuring Dr. Hall. There are many options:

    • Deeper Experiences—Nov. 26, 2025

    • Restoring the Soul—Episode 229

    • Attaching to God—Episode 072

    • The Contemplative Pastor, Part 1—March 19, 2026

RS 101 Lesson One Video

RS 101 Welcome Video

 

RS 101 Lesson Two Video

RS 101 Lesson Three Video

 

RS 101 Lesson Five Video

RS 101 Lesson Four Video

Phase Two: Journal & Share / / September 3—November 19

September 3: Group Gathering on Zoom. Reread session one of the Deep Growth Journaling Exercise that you completed at the 2026 HCI Leadership Retreat. And bring it to the gathering.

We will be discussing the following questions in our small groups of three. Please adhere to all HCI Guidelines (see below).

  1. What patterns have you noticed in how you handle stress or pain? Do you tend to move toward others, away from them, or somewhere in between?

  2. Describe one person from your early life who shaped how you relate to others. What were they like, and what did you learn about closeness (or distance) from them?

  3. Looking back, what was your implicit sense of whether others could be trusted, or whether you were worth caring for?

  4. What was your vision of your ideal self?

If time allows we will talk about implicit and explicit knowledge and maybe even go over the attachment filter matrix and sharing results. Link for Attachment Filter matrix.

September 10: Session Two of the Deep Growth Narrative Journaling will be emailed to you for you to complete at home.  

September 17: Group gathering: Bring session two of the Deep Growth Journaling Exercise that you completed at home.

We will be discussing the following questions in our small groups of three. Please adhere to all HCI Guidelines.

  • Who are the people you naturally turn to, and who do you instinctively avoid? What does that tell you about yourself?

  • How do you typically show up in relationships when someone needs you? What comes naturally, and what feels difficult?

  • In moments of conflict or disappointment, what's your go-to move? Can you name a recent example?

 If time allows we will talk about two ways to knowing Implicit and Explicit.

September 24: Session Three of Deep Growth Narrative Journaling will be emailed to you for you to complete at home.

October 1: Group Gathering Bring session three of the Deep Growth Journaling Exercise that you completed at home.

We will be discussing the following questions in our small groups of three. Please adhere to all HCI Guidelines.

  • Describe a time recently when life felt unbalanced or when something shook your sense of who you are or how things work.

  • What did this disruption surface in you? What fears, doubts, or longings became visible?

  • How have you been coping with it so far, and what's that coping been costing you?

 October 8: Session Four of Deep Growth Narrative Journaling will be emailed to you, for you to complete at home.

 October 15: Group Gathering Bring session four of the Deep Growth Journaling Exercise that you completed at home.

 We will be discussing the following questions in our small groups of three. Please adhere to all HCI Guidelines. 

  • What do you believe about yourself at your core? Where did that belief come from?

  • When you imagine being truly seen and accepted by someone, what comes up? What makes that hard?

  • What would it mean to move differently in relationships? What would have to shift?

October 22: Session Five of Deep Growth Narrative Journaling will be emailed to you—for you to complete at home.

October 29: Group Gathering on Zoom. Bring session five of the Deep Growth Journaling Exercise that you completed at home.

 We will be discussing the following questions in our small groups of three. Please adhere to all HCI Guidelines.

  • If you were fully yourself, secure and at peace with who you are, how would you show up differently with others? With God?

  • What small relational move could you make in the next weeks that would signal you're choosing a different way?

  • Who in your life might support you as you experiment with this?

Phase Three: Spiritual Transformation Inventory// November 5—19  

November 5: We will be e-mailing you a link to the Spiritual Transformation Inventory for you to take at home. This is a meaningful closing step to set you up for continued growth. Answer as honestly as you can. Please send the results to your small group leader: Betsy@GodHealstoday.org or cbwehner@me.com.

November 12: Group Gathering on Zoom. We will discuss how to get the most out of the Spiritual Transformation Inventory.