"Spiritual health is good mental health!" In my 40 years of experience in the business of mental health, it has become very clear to me that the relationship is very positive between mental health and spiritual health. In may ways the integration of physical, mental, relational and spiritual wellness are all critical pieces to the puzzle of being human. We also have to learn to understand and heal our past, so as to live fully in the present, contributing to the best future we can given what we can control of that. It's simple to state, but not easy to do. It will take work.

I was born in 1962 in Wiesbaden Germany, the 8th child of Ed and Bernice Maloney. My dad was a Lt Colonel in the US Air Force, stationed in Germany and my family was along for the ride. Both my parents were born in Colorado, and shortly after my birth, dad retired from his 22 years military service (1942 - 1964) and headed back home, to Colorado, where I grew up. 

Both my parents were believers in Jesus, and Christianity was their way of life. They brought up the 8 of us in the ways and practices of the Catholic Church. I attended 1st-8th grade at a parochial school, St Mary's School in Littleton, CO. It was the parish that my dad grew up attending, as well as my grandparents, aunts, uncles etc going back to very near the founding of the parish which was in 1901. 

I have lot's of memories of this time from the house to the school and in the community. These were mostly pleasant, and  I now value all the opportunities and challenges presented. It was good, but certainly not perfect. I can remember somewhere in maybe the 4th grade or so, sitting in church on a Sunday listening to the Gospel being read, and looking down the pew (toward my family, particularly my dad) and thinking, "If they were hearing what I was hearing, things would be different at home." It seemed as though God was a part of the family, church and community, a presence available and caring. 

Athletics (Football, Basketball and Baseball) were a large part of these years through grade school and junior high, as well as opportunities to grow and live out my faith. One opportunity was in 8th grade to participate in a student exchange experience with an inner city school, where I got to see what school was like there for a week, as well as accompany those students to our school. 

After graduating from 8th grade, my choice was to attend the Catholic HS that 3 of my brothers had attended, or switch the public school. At that time I had become the only child left at home, as my closest sibling was off to college and of course all the other kids were off navigating their lives. I was aware of challenges financially and not wanting to contribute to the burden, so I chose the public (free) school route. These were a tough couple of years for me and my faith life and practice, not surprisingly, ages 13-16 can be tumultuous. 

At 16, as a Sophomore in HS, I found connection, fellowship and faith through my peers in the Youth Group at the parish. I had the opportunity to attend a retreat up at Camp St Malo, in Allens Park Colorado, and found re-connection, relationship, healing and direction with my Lord. I dedicated myself to God, fully committing myself to follow him at this time in my life. It was not long before i was on the team, participating in leading retreats, with my friends (one who is now my wife), and grew in strength in knowledge and the practice of my faith. 

Upon graduating HS, I attended college at Colorado State University, Ft Collins, for the next 4 years. My girlfriend (mentioned above) also attended CSU over these 4 years. While there were formative experiences and trials (aka wobbly in full commitment and obedience to all good things) the lessons were available and implemented with the support and encouragement of good friends who were also on the journey of living out their faith. 

Upon graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work from CSU and getting married, the week after, we embarked on the journey of our adult and family life together. After a summer in an apartment in Aurora, CO, working as a construction painter, as I had done through college, we moved to a rural town in northeast Colorado, as my wife had gotten a job in the rural BOCES serving the Special ED needs of several rural schools, while I secured work in the Community Mental Health Center of the region. It was a tremendous opportunity for learning and growth in the skills of helping individuals and families and the community. 

In the course of 3 years of this work, I was growing in responsibility into leadership roles, leading programs and supervising staff, and seeking funding opportunities for greater services. It seemed time to take the next step educationally and I enrolled in a Master's Degree program at The University of Denver, so we moved back to Littleton and Beth gained employment in Douglas County Schools. With my experience in mental health care, I was offered a Traineeship in service to Community Mental Health through the NIMH and trained as a psychiatric social worker at Ft Logan MH Center (one of the 2 State Hospitals in the Colorado Mental Health System). 

With an advanced standing status regarding my previous work experience and education, I was able to complete a Masters Degree in four quarters, or 1 Calendar year. As I moved into the next steps of my work career, our family was also taking shape as we became 3, then 4 over the next few years. I secured work in Arapahoe County for the Mental Health Center, serving the greater Denver area as a Case Manager working with people experiencing severe and persistent mental health conditions, addiction and often homelessness. Within a year I was promoted to the Training Specialist, then to Program Manager, then added responsibility of other programs as well over the next several years. 

During this time we moved from Aurora back to Littleton and connected with a spiritual community. Connecting (re-connecting) with a community of inspiration and faith was a gift after the seemingly long haul of establishing work and family. I found a group of men to share life with, and began a tradition of an annual Gathering of Men retreat with men now 30 years and going. 

After 9 years I transitioned to employment in Jefferson County serving as the Manager of their south and mountain offices, 5 locations across Jefferson, Gilpin and Clear Creek Counties. It was within the year of this transition, that Columbine HS experienced the shootings and death of 12 students and 1 teacher. Columbine HS is very near the south office, actually within eyesight out of the office windows. It was also in the area we had moved into several years earlier. Needless to say a significant event impacting our lives, personally, spiritually and professionally. In the midst of this timeframe I discerned to start up a private practice, which included a day weekly inside Columbine HS the year after the shootings, serving the adults in the building. Additionally I took work doing evening and weekend shifts in the Porter Hospital System ER's (Porter, Littleton, St Anthony and St Anthony North) doing psychiatric assessments as I began to develop my own practice. 

In addition to this work transition, a group of men who had been working in men's retreat ministry were developing a model of experience to help Christian men go deeper, seek healing and get clearer on their mission of service in the world. I was invited to attend the initial "alpha" test weekend of the protocols in preparation for the first "beta" test or initial public weekend of Marked Men For Christ ministry. Continuing now for the past 23 years, I've had the opportunity to serve and lead some 94 weekends across the US and the world. 

I've now been in private practice  (Wisdom Counseling) for 26 years, serving the community seeing individuals and couples. Trauma, addictions and relationships at the top of the list of concerns I can assist with.