Meet the Team
“When our wounds cease to be a source of shame, and become a source of healing, we have become wounded healers.”
– Henri Nouwen
Meet Tim Spalla
MA, LPC
Co-Founder, Executive Director
Licensed Clinical Supervisor
US Army Veteran
Degrees:
MA, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Regis University
PhD (in progress), Clinical Psychology, University of Denver
Bio:
Tim earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 2004 from the University of Northern Iowa. After graduating, Tim joined his brothers and volunteered for the US Military where he served as an Army Ranger and completed multiple combat deployments to Iraq. In 2009, he was selected to serve in a coveted position within U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) where he would go on to spend several years supporting counter-terrorism missions throughout Europe, East Africa, and the Middle East. In 2015, Tim left defense but stayed in Africa to form his own company of former U.S. military veterans partnering with African governments and conservation non-profits to combat poaching and illegal wildlife trafficking. In 2018, Tim partnered with the National Geographic Society to help them identify and expose entities involved in all levels of wildlife crime throughout the continent and internationally.
Although Tim couldn’t articulate it at the time, the decision he had made to continue working in the Middle East and Africa after leaving active duty quickly became a way for him to avoid the spiraling mental health crisis he was facing. For years, Tim had lived in fear of both the stigma, and the judgment from healthcare providers and therapists who would look aghast as he shared details of his experiences working in Iraq and Africa. In 2019, Tim’s professional and personal life collapsed under the weight of his mental health challenges, and in this collapse, it became clear that he needed to focus on healing himself and his young family. A breakthrough occurred when Tim discovered plant medicines and mindfulness. For the first time in his life, Tim began to feel a sense of wholeness and clarity of purpose. It was through this journey of suffering, healing, and growth that the Wounded Healer Project was born.
As a combat veteran, Tim experienced and witnessed immense pain, suffering and the sense of isolation that can emerge from unresolved trauma. He’s witnessed this same level of pain manifest in the war-torn communities where he has lived and worked the past two decades. From al Qaeda in Iraq to frontline wildlife rangers in Africa and most recently, the men and women within the Colorado Department of Corrections where he served a mental health counselor – Tim knows trauma is global. Now he is committing the rest of his life to helping others embrace the pain and suffering of their deepest wounds, so that they may ultimately arrive at a place of healing and peace – something he believes everyone deserves regardless of where their life’s path has taken them.
Meet Tegan Rowley
MA, LPC
Co-Founder, Clinical Director
Licensed Clinical Supervisor
USAF Veteran
Degrees:
MA, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Regis University
Bio:
Tegan served on active duty in the USAF from 2012-2015. Overcoming many challenges just to be able to enlist, she was ready to put her life on the line for the protection of others. However, very early on in her time in service, she suffered a career-ending back injury which eventually led to a medical separation from the military. Frequent harassment from an unsupportive chain of command, the ability to deploy being permanently revoked, and the loss of some physical functioning due to her injury led to a deep depression, a sense of hopelessness, and suicidal ideation at times. She often questioned if she was even worthy of being called a “veteran” at all.
After meeting other service members in a pain management program a year after her initial injury, Tegan saw that she was not alone after all and that others were struggling just the same as she was. This was the beginning of Tegan discovering her true life’s purpose: to advocate for and help veterans heal.
As she has taken the path on her own healing journey, Tegan has pursued higher education in mental health counseling, advocated for and created Female Veteran and LGBTQIA+ Veteran therapy groups in Colorado Springs, explored alternative healing modalities, and specialized therapeutically in trauma work. Over time, Tegan’s passion to advocate for veterans has remained at the core, but has expanded and evolved into what she and Tim have built into The Wounded Healer Project.
Meet Tegan Rowley
Co-Founder, Clinical Director & USAF Veteran, MA, LPC
Degrees:
MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Regis University
Bio:
Tegan served on active duty in the USAF from 2012-2015. Overcoming many challenges just to be able to enlist, she was ready to put her life on the line for the protection of others. However, very early on in her time in service, she suffered a career-ending back injury which eventually led to a medical separation from the military. Frequent harassment from an unsupportive chain of command, the ability to deploy being permanently revoked, and the loss of some physical functioning due to her injury led to a deep depression, a sense of hopelessness, and suicidal ideation at times. She often questioned if she was even worthy of being called a “veteran” at all.
After meeting other service members in a pain management program a year after her initial injury, Tegan saw that she was not alone after all and that others were struggling just the same as she was. This was the beginning of Tegan discovering her true life’s purpose: to advocate for and help veterans heal.
As she has taken the path on her own healing journey, Tegan has pursued higher education in mental health counseling, advocated for and created Female Veteran and LGBTQIA+ Veteran therapy groups in Colorado Springs, explored alternative healing modalities, and specialized therapeutically in trauma work. Over time, Tegan’s passion to advocate for veterans has remained at the core, but has expanded and evolved into what she and Tim have built into The Wounded Healer Project.
Licensed Clinical Team
Our Licensed Clinical Team are either fully licensed (not under supervision) or provisionally licensed counselors who have completed their graduate education and are in the process of completing the post-graduate supervised experience required for full licensure (2,000 hours over a minimum of 2 years). Every provisionally licensed counselor is overseen by a fully licensed clinical supervisor and receives continual training and consultation over their client work.
Ailbe Astor
MA, LPCC
US Marine Corps Veteran
Insurances accepted: Anthem BCBS, Aetna, Cigna, Medicaid, United Healthcare, UMR, & Private Pay
*Waitlist for new clients*
Read Ailbe's Bio
Ailbe Astor is a dedicated advocate for veterans, shaped by his service in the U.S. Marine Corps as an aircrew member on the CH-46E helicopter.
His experience as aircrew included service in the Persian Gulf during the Southwest Asia Ceasefire Campaign, navigating an intense in-air incident that ended in an emergency landing, and enduring the loss of a full crew that included a close friend.
Upon leaving active duty, he immediately struggled with sleep disturbances, nightmares, anger, and substance use, which led to work and legal issues.
His first job after his military service was assisting veterans with registration and VA education benefits at a local community college. While these interactions provided him with a focus outside his own struggles, they also reinforced his avoidance of confronting past events.
Since 1998, Ailbe has devoted his career to serving veterans through roles in higher education, including administration of VA education benefits, mentorship programs, academic advising, and admissions.
He extended his dedication to veterans by working with a service dog organization, using his well developed interpersonal and interviewing skills to assist veteran clients in finding the best service dogs to meet their specific needs.
These diverse experiences, coupled with his deep understanding of military life and its challenges, have affirmed Ailbe’s passion for supporting veterans. After years of serving large numbers of veterans, he chose to focus on one-on-one interactions and small group settings, providing personalized support and ensuring lasting impact for those who have served.
Master’s Level Clinical Interns
Our Master’s Level Clinical Interns are current student veterans pursuing their Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Every intern is in the clinical phase of their program completing their practicum and/or internship requirements to graduate. Every intern is overseen by a fully licensed clinical supervisor and receives continual training and consultation over their client work.
Jonathan Hernandez
US Army Veteran
University of Denver
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Insurances accepted: Anthem BCBS, Aetna, Cigna, Medicaid
Read Jonathan's Bio
Jonathan Hernandez is a prior service Army National Guard member with a background in field artillery. During his service, he supported key missions including attending the presidential inauguration, aiding in natural disaster relief, and assisting with riot response efforts.
During his time in the military, Jonathan witnessed firsthand how mental health was often seen as taboo, with service members neglecting their emotional well-being out of fear of stigma. This experience fueled his desire to pursue counseling, particularly for military and veteran populations, so he could offer support and help break down those barriers.
Currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology–Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of Denver, Jonathan earned his B.S. in Psychology from the University of Central Missouri. He is passionate about helping military and high-stress career individuals, including first responders, with mental health challenges.
Jonathan’s counseling approach is rooted in an Adlerian perspective, valuing the understanding of the past, present, and future in the therapeutic process. He incorporates trauma-informed care, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) to help clients process their experiences, make sense of their current lives, and work toward positive change. His goal is to provide clients with a safe and informed space to explore their mental health, while acknowledging the stigma that often surrounds seeking support in military and high-stress environments.
Ultimately, Jonathan aspires to become a military psychologist, working with active-duty military members to support their mental health and well-being. His goal is to help clients accept their past, understand how it affects their present, and create a path toward healing and growth.
Joe Layman
US Army Veteran
Colorado Christian University
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Insurances accepted: Anthem BCBS, Aetna, Cigna, Medicaid
Read Joe's Bio
My name is Joseph Layman, and I have lived in Colorado for nearly 10 years. Primarily, I was raised in the South, until my mother died. I was then shipped off to NY to live with my aunt and her family. For over two years, I attended a Baptist Church. While I loved learning about Jesus, I began to have a strong distaste for my Pastor. Everyone was going to hell if you didn’t believe like him. I remember giving a nun a Bible tract and telling her to repent for being a Catholic; I was 12. I attended a Catholic high school and learned that Catholics weren’t so bad after all. While I was serving in Iraq (2003-2004), no matter how bad it got, reciting the Hail Mary Prayer gave me peace. I converted to Catholicism on Easter Sunday (2008).
I am a retired Soldier and Deputy Sheriff. I served 26 years in the Army, and I was in law enforcement for over 15 years, serving the City of Atlanta for 10 years and Douglas County (CO) for over seven years. In 2023, I was medically retired from the Army, years of abuse on my body resulted in me riding off into the sunset. I served in Iraq from (2003-2004), and again in (2009-2010), Djibouti and Somalia (2018-2019), and finally Germany from (2019-2020). I also have several stateside active-duty missions. Upon retiring from the Army, I went back to the Sheriff’s Office, but unfortunately I could not pass the physical. I was allowed to retire from the Sheriff’s Office.
Leaving the military was not easy, initially I wanted to be a nurse, but the VA (Vocational Rehab) would not pay for the program because of my laundry list of injuries. I am a firm believer that God whispers in my ear with a hammer. I have over five years of sobriety, so I called my sponsor. His advice help others with that struggle with their sobriety. The VA approved of my program and here I am.
I have been happily married for over 10 years, we have two kids who are in college, and we have four dogs. I loved hiking, biking, and going to the gym.
Brian Miller
US Army Veteran
Colorado Christian University
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Insurances accepted: Anthem BCBS, Aetna, Cigna, Medicaid
Read Brian's Bio
Brian Miller is a graduate student at Colorado Christian University pursuing a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. As a combat veteran, Brian served in the US Army Infantry from 2006-2010, deploying to Sadr City, Iraq, in 2008-2009. His personal experience navigating the challenges of military service, coupled with 14 years of service as a full-time firefighter/paramedic, provides him with a unique understanding of the pressures and experiences faced by veterans and first responders. Brian is passionate about mental health and dedicated to helping others heal from trauma. He is committed to providing compassionate and effective care tailored to the specific needs of those who have served.
Meghan Sevcik
US Army Reserves
Regis University
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Insurances accepted: Anthem BCBS, Aetna, Cigna, Medicaid
Read Meghan's Bio
Meghan commissioned into the U.S. Army in 2009 as a Field Artillery officer, serving at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, before volunteering for the U.S. Army Special Operations Command’s Cultural Support Team program in 2011. After passing selection and completing training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Meghan deployed to Afghanistan from 2011 to 2012, working alongside Special Operations forces, including the 75th Ranger Regiment.
In 2015, Meghan transitioned out of active duty and moved to Denver to pursue a Master’s degree in International Security at the University of Denver. During her transition, Meghan struggled with the challenges many veterans face, including a loss of identity, and navigating the uncertainties of life beyond the military.
Despite these challenges, Meghan found purpose through competitive running, proudly representing the U.S. Army and U.S. Armed Forces in national and international competitions as a member of the All Army running team. Through these experiences, she rediscovered a sense of discipline, camaraderie, and connection.
Since transitioning from active duty, Meghan has explored a number of professional fields but ultimately found her calling in counseling, recognizing the need for support among veterans facing similar struggles. She is now pursuing a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Regis University. Meghan continues to serve in the U.S. Army Reserve as a Civil Affairs Officer, supporting operations in the Indo-Pacific region including Fiji and Timor-Leste. She is deeply committed to helping veterans from all backgrounds navigate life’s transitions and challenges, ensuring they receive the compassionate and effective care they deserve.
Rachel Wright
USMC Veteran
University of Denver
Forensic Psychology
Insurances accepted: Anthem BCBS, Aetna, Cigna, Medicaid
Read Rachel's Bio
Coming soon!
Master’s Level
Pre-Clinical Interns
Our Master’s Level Pre-Clinical Interns are current student veterans pursuing their Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling who are not yet in the clinical phase of their graduate program. These interns have been accepted to begin their clinicals with Wounded Healer Project in a future semester and do not see clients until they complete all of their university’s requirements to proceed.
Steve Yang
US Marine Corps Reserves // Accepting Clients January 2026
Naropa University
Read Steve's Bio
I served 11 years on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps as a Naval Aviator and Unmanned Aircraft Commander before transitioning into life as a multimedia artist and production designer. Today, I’m a Somatic Movement Therapist in training, merging creative expression, a passion for life, and body-based healing into my work. My approach is rooted in helping others reconnect with their bodies through mindful movement, nervous system regulation, and basic practices that meet people where they are—on the ground, in real life.
My focus is on mastering the human experience by understanding the mind and our neurobiology to reestablish a relationship with our body—so we can free the mind and unlock our full potential. That journey begins by getting back in touch with our sensations, listening to the quiet intelligence of the body, and cultivating gratitude for the lives we live in. I believe the structure, adaptability, and resilience we developed in the military are not just survival tools, but a foundation for deep transformation. Through breathwork, focus, and being brilliant at the basics, we can transmute limiting beliefs, reframe our stories, and move toward lasting freedom.
It’s an honor to be part of the Wounded Healer Project and to walk alongside others with humility, strength, and deep respect for the human journey.
Brian Sims
US Army Veteran // Accepting Clients Spring 2026
Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School
Read Brian's Bio
Brian Sims is a U.S. Army Infantry Veteran, former DoD Contractor, and FEMA-certified Emergency Management Professional with extensive experience leading veteran recovery and crisis intervention initiatives. A person in long-term recovery, he has transformed lived experience into national leadership, serving as a director and board member for multiple veteran-focused nonprofits and developing programs that have trained over 30,000 volunteers and led disaster response initiatives that have saved millions of lives and billions of dollars in private and public property.
Brian founded veteran recovery and crisis intervention programs adopted by law enforcement agencies and community partners across Florida. He holds certifications as a Certified Recovery Peer Specialist–Veteran (Florida), Veteran Supported Recovery Professional Peer (New York), Certified Psilocybin Peer Supporter, and NAADAC Certified Event Interventionist, along with advanced credentials in suicide prevention, trauma-informed care, and first responder peer support. He is currently the National Director of Project: REBIRTH, the nation’s first Warrior Recovery Community Organization (WARRCO), and is pursuing his Masters of Arts in Addictions Counseling at the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate school, and is excited to synthesize evidence based peer support modalities with clinically supported services for the Veteran and First Responder Communities and families at The Wounded Healer Project.
Our Staff
Kelsey Rowley
Veteran Spouse // Executive Assistant
Read Kelsey's Bio
Coming Soon
Board of Directors
Now Accepting Applications! Send a resume and cover letter to Kelsey Rowley, Executive Assistant, at kelsey@thewhp.org
Lyndsey Ryan
MA, LPC, LAC, ACS
Board Member
Read Lyndsey's Bio
Lyndsey Ryan is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Addictions Counselor, and Advanced Clinical Supervisor with over 25 years of experience walking beside individuals through trauma, addiction, and transformation. Her career has been devoted to those carrying invisible wounds, particularly military veterans, justice-involved individuals, and survivors of severe complex trauma.
For more than two decades, Lyndsey has served veterans in outpatient therapy, trauma recovery, and systems-level advocacy. In Boulder County, she served as the Veteran Specialist within the Adult Integrated Treatment Court, providing trauma-informed therapy and coordinated care for veterans navigating the intersections of moral injury, substance use, and the criminal justice system. Her clinical work in this role — and as a program developer and supervisor — helped establish more compassionate pathways to healing for those who had fallen through systemic gaps. She has also built programming and provided therapeutic support within prison and jail-based facilities, police-assisted crisis response teams, inpatient psychiatric care, homeless shelters and community clinics, always bringing a steady, respectful presence to those who have faced the extremes of suffering.
Today, Lyndsey serves as Chief Therapy Officer at Ambio Life Sciences, where she leads the clinical, research and coaching strategy for Ambio’s Neuroregeneration Program alongside leading Foundational and Detoxifcation programming in both Mexico and Malta. Her work explores the therapeutic potential of ibogaine and other psychedelic-assisted therapies for people navigating neurodegenerative illness, traumatic brain injury, Operator’s Syndrome, PTS, addiction, and complex emotional and cognitive pain. In this role, she bridges neuroscience, research, trauma therapy, and contemplative wisdom to create integrative models of care that honor both safety and soul.
In her private practice, Embodied Illumination Psychotherapy, Lyndsey offers Ketamine-Assisted Therapy and professional supervision and training for therapists entering the psychedelic-assisted therapy field. Her approach blends EMDR, Internal Family Systems, Somatic Experiencing, Art Therapy and Tibetan Buddhist psychology within a deeply relational, trauma-informed frame.
Coming from a lineage of veterans, she is a survivor of developmental trauma who lives with multiple sclerosis—now in remission through ibogaine-assisted therapy—and she walked beside her father through early-onset Parkinson’s disease. hese experiences have grounded her lifelong commitment to finding the intersection where science, compassion, and healing meet.
As a Board Member of The Wounded Healer Project, Lyndsey brings decades of direct service, leadership, and lived empathy to the organization’s mission of ensuring that no veteran is left behind. Her work embodies the belief that the very experiences that break us open can become sacred ground for transformation — and that healing, at its core, is an act of returning to purpose, courage, and connection.
Michael Hartman
Board Member
Read Michael's Bio
Mike is a demonstrated leader with a deep background in organizational management, strategic and financial planning, mergers and acquisition financing, and translating complex ideas into easily understood language. He has more than 20 years of leadership experience in entrepreneurship and finance serving in executive and board roles in the public, private, and not for profit sectors. His career focus has been on driving private sector economic growth with a mission focused lens. Mike is currently the Chief of Staff for the City of Denver’s Economic Development arm and before that spent five years in the startup world, as the Cofounder and CEO of a startup focused on ending suicide and improving mental health for Veterans and First Responders. Before his stints in entrepreneurship, Mike served as the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Revenue with responsibility for the Division of Motor Vehicles, Division of Taxation, Colorado Lottery, and the Enforcement Business Group (including regulatory and enforcement activities for the Alcohol, Marijuana, Casino, Horse Racing and Auto Dealership industries). He spent his early career financing leverage buyouts for private equity funds. Mike earned his MBA from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business with concentrations in entrepreneurship, economics, and finance and a BSBA in accounting from the University of Colorado’s Leeds School of Business.
George Miller
Indigenous Elder | San Filipe Pueblo
Board Member
Read George's Bio
30 years of sobriety
30 years of attending sweat lodge ceremonies,
4th year of supporting Sundance ceremonies,
Two years participating in teepee meeting.
My greatest enjoyment is watching people heal and grow spiritually, like Luke has, Tim and Seth. They’ve found what works best for them and they keep showing up for ceremonies.
I’m 68 years young, and still learning everyday.
Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean.
Why “The Wounded Healer Project”?
The concept of “wounded healer” was coined by Swiss psychologist, Carl Jung, which describes how a healer is most effective after having been healed themself. Being wounded does not prevent someone from being able to work with those in need of healing; On the contrary, the wounded healer is a companion and an equal – someone who can humbly meet another in their suffering without a sense of superiority. We believe the healer is not someone who heals you, but rather someone who helps you find the key to healing that allows you to heal yourself.
Our Mission
01
Prevent veteran suicide by going back to our military communities to find and help our brothers and sisters who are isolated and suffering
02
Empower veteran mental health providers and encourage transitioning service members to consider a career in mental health
03
Serve marginalized veterans who may be overlooked due to addiction, poverty, incarceration, homelessness, unemployment, terminal illness or other challenges.
The Labyrinth
Our logo is a labyrinth, which is a symbol of the meandering, but purposeful journey of healing. It is a symbol of our journey inwards to heal ourselves and back out again into the world to share our experiences and help heal the world. Our motto, “Going back to get the others,” is representative of our own journey inwards to heal ourselves and then going back to our military communities to find and help our fellow veterans heal.
Our Values
Awards & Recognitions
AUG 2024 University of Denver Graduate School of Professional Psychology (GSPP) Dean’s Scholarship: Tim Spalla
AUG 2023 The Father Ignacio Martín-Baró Award for Excellence in Counseling: Tim Spalla
JUN 2022 Tillman scholar: Tim Spalla
OCT 2022 FOX 31 Denver, Serving Those Who Serve, Hero of the Month: Tegan Rowley
DEC 2021 F. Leonard Pomponio and Elizabeth M. Adams Outstanding Graduate Award: Tegan Rowley
Publications
The Most Dangerous Place for a Veteran; Fighting a New Battle: Don’t Let Isolation Be the Threat You Didn’t See Coming : Tegan Rowley, Veterans Life Magazine, February/March 2025 Issue
Breaking the Cycle: How the Wounded Healer Project Supports Veterans in the Legal System Veterans Life Magazine, September/October 2024 Issue
Healing the Hidden Wounds: Veteran Moral Injury, Addiction, and the Promise of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Denver University COST Program Lunch and Learn Event with Tim Spalla
Tim Spalla – Opportunities for Counselors to Support Military-Connected Populations – National Board of Certified Counselors Newsletter. May 2024
Tim Spalla – Man of Action Pete A Turner & the Break It Down Show Podcast. October 2023
Tim Spalla – Veteran Mental Health: PTSD, Moral Injury and Culturally Competent Care Pat Tillman Foundation Huddle 226. May 2023
Tim Spalla, Army Ranger Veteran and The Wounded Healer A More Elite Podcast. September 2022
Regis alumnus wins Tillman scholarship. Regis Life. July, 2022