Be Made Well - a passion project

Hi there! My name is Ana Maldonado, and I wanted to share more about my upcoming day retreat I am putting on through Counseling4Life, Be Made Well.

Be Made Well is a natural fruit from a partnership I have had with UT Austin’s Catholic Center, the University Catholic Center. Despite the high social accessibility in college, many of my clients reported feeling lonely in their healing journeys. I created Be Made Well not only to supplement their treatment through the psychoeducation and exercises I would lead them through, but more essentially, to provide them with a community of people who were also prioritizing their growth and healing. Upon seeing their positive response, we believed that it could benefit the San Antonio community at large.

We are in an epidemic of loneliness. Research reports stark numbers such as 1 in 5 Americans feeling lonely and 58% of them feel no one truly knows them. God created us to be known, seen, and loved and part of communities where His love can be conveyed through one another. Though therapists can be immense sources of love and support, we acknowledge the need for friendship and community that goes beyond our scope. Be Made Well hopes to cultivate a sense of community as we explore our woundedness and how God intends to be at the heart of our restoration. The day will feature talks, reflective experiential activities, a shared meal, and small group opportunities. The talks explore questions like “What is a wound?” “Who am I and how do I obtain the answer to this question?” “How do I obtain healing?” “What role does my Christian faith play in my mental health?”

We hope you come join us for this day of reflection and community.