Mental Health Ministry conference explores integration of psychology and spirituality

by Deacon Mike McGrady

The Diocese of Colorado Springs Mental Health Ministry, led by Deacon Mike McGrady of the Office of Marriage and Family Life, hosted its second annual conference on May 16 at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Colorado Springs. Dr. Staci Webb of Divine Mercy University and the Saint Raphael Center in the Archdiocese of Denver spoke on “The Psychology of Integration: A Holistic View of the Human Person.”

The event was open to the public and designed to empower lay people, mental health professionals, clergy, and parish staff to better understand ways to support the mental wellness of people they serve.

Catholic counselors, mental health organizations, lay people, and clergy from across the diocese attended.

Dr. Webb explained how the disciplines of psychology, philosophy, and theology work together to shape the Catholic understanding of the human person. She described ways these three fields together present a fuller vision of the human person than any one of them alone.

The Catholic Christian Metamodel of the Human Person integrates psychology with Catholic anthropology. This approach enables mental health to be viewed holistically so the human person is understood through both science and theology. This is essential because healing and human flourishing involves emotional, physical, and spiritual dimensions.

Dr. Webb described the roles of goodness, truth, beauty, and communion in bringing about human flourishing. Mental wellness is more than symptom reduction. It involves the integration of mind, body, heart, soul, and interpersonal relationships.

She addressed the significance of recognizing our personal identity as being rooted in God’s love, particularly in relationship to the role of suffering on our human journey. Dr. Webb showed how the virtues help order our emotions, desires, and actions. This involves our moral growth, not just emotional comfort. 

The transformative power of grace allows hope and dignity to remain central because true freedom is the capacity for what is good and life-giving. She emphasized that healing involves the interconnection of virtue, grace, and community.

This is essential since Catholic mental health ministry aims to accompany people as they address their mental well-being. When ministering to others, accompaniment asks, “How do I just listen?” It is a matter of recognizing our personal limitations, not to give advice or solve other people’s problems. Instead, it is a simply being present with people in the love of Christ.

Participants were invited to discuss four questions. How does the Catholic vision differ from solely secular models of flourishing? What dimensions of the human person are often neglected in mental health care? How can counselors integrate psychological and spiritual care ethically? What role do suffering and virtue play in growth?

A reflection exercise invited people to consider elements of human flourishing in relational, emotional, spiritual, and vocational areas of life. Where do we notice growth, and where do we desire deeper healing or integration?

This Diocesan Mental Health Ministry was featured in the 2026 Diocesan Ministry Appeal, and it focuses on awareness and accompaniment. This ministry aims to reduce and eliminate stigma, identify resources for parishes, and develop local networks of Catholic mental health professionals and ministries.

The Diocesan Mental Health Ministry does not diagnose or treat persons with mental health needs, but it publishes a list of licensed mental health providers who have been verified as practicing Catholics.

The ministry also offers training like Mental Health First Aid. This training teaches participants how to identify understand, and respond to signs of mental illness and substance abuse disorders. Mental Health First Aid teaches skills to provide initial support to someone who may be experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge,

Mental Health First Aid will be offered throughout the year and can benefit parish staff, lay people, clergy, first responders, and caring individuals. For more information, reach out to Deacon McGrady at mmcgrady@diocs.org or Kathleen McCarty at kmccarty@diocs.org.

The 2025 conference featured Deacon Ed Shoener of the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers. This international organization provides resources to foster Catholic mental health ministry throughout the Church, around the world, and at the Vatican.

The next mental health ministry conference is slated for October 2027. Details will be forthcoming. Other events will be announced in the near future.

If you are a Catholic mental health practitioner and would like to be included on the list of diocesan approved professionals, contact Deacon Mike McGrady at mmcgrady@diocs.org for information concerning the process.  

(Deacon Mike McGrady is Director of the Office of Marriage and Family Life for the Diocese of Colorado Springs.)