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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

Co-Founder, Executive Director & US Army Veteran, MA, LPCC

Degrees:
MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Regis University

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

Co-Founder, Clinical Director & USAF Veteran, MA, LPCC

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.

Meet Tegan Rowley

Co-Founder, Clinical Director & USAF Veteran, MA, LPCC

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.

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

Humility

We are not superior to those we help. We will meet those who are suffering as an equal who is ready to support.

Service

We vow to share what we have experienced in healing by being willing to go wherever we are called to help others heal themselves.

Healing

Healing is the transcendence of suffering. We believe all people are capable of this and deserve to experience the emotional freedom it brings.

Awards & Recognitions

JUN 2022 Tillman scholar: Tim Spalla
DEC 2021 F. Leonard Pomponio and Elizabeth M. Adams Outstanding Graduate Award: Tegan Rowley

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