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Continuing Education

Providing Ongoing Education & Training To Music Therapists

We’re proud to be an approved provider of continuing education for music therapists through the Certification Board of Music Therapists.

Registration Info
Our Workshops

Our workshops have been developed to teach and train music therapists in our unique approach to addressing PTSD symptoms. We currently work with veterans and survivors of human trafficking and exploitation.

Music Therapists receive training through lectures and experiential activities and then participate in an actual music therapy retreat with our clients.

The goal is to increase how many clients are receiving music therapy services as well as how many music therapists are offering this specific service.

Lectures include Music and the PTSD Brain (designed by Mack Bailey, MT-BC), therapeutic songwriting, and use of the guitar as a reframing tool. A prerequisite course of basic neuroscience will be required before the retreat.

Music therapists are required to earn 100 continuing education credits within a 5 year cycle and our retreats fulfills 28 credits towards this requirement.

Why We Provide Continuing Education

At Music Therapy Retreats, we envision a world where people are healing from trauma, reclaiming their genuine selves, and developing their life path going forward. We believe one of the best paths to achieve this vision is to provide ongoing education and training to music therapists.

We are proud to be an approved provider through the Certification Board of Music Therapists (CBMT).

CBMT is a member of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence. Their Music Therapist-Board Certification (MT-BC) program has been fully accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies since 1986. As the only certifying board for music therapy, they are committed to rigorous competency testing. Their accreditation ensures unconditional compliance with stringent testing and measurement standards.

Working with the women of Thistle Farms and getting to hear their stories in such a beautiful setting was such a meaningful experience for me as a working professional. The farm was peaceful and a beautiful retreat from Nashville life. Mack was incredibly passionate about his work and that was evident in our talks before and throughout the retreat. Thank you Music Therapy Retreats!
— Victoria, Music Therapist, Board Certified
What you did by inviting me to participate was to feed my musical and therapeutic soul, when I didn’t even know I was hungry.
— J.R., Music Therapist, Board Certified
The 11 veterans you had sitting before you on Saturday morning were not the same 11 people who got up on that stage last night and poured their hearts out to everyone in the room. And because of that, not just their 11 lives, but every life with whom they come in contact is forever changed.
— M.E., Music Therapist, Board Certified

Upcoming Workshops

CMTE workshops are held across the United States, from Nashville, to Atlanta, and Maryland to Colorado.

Participants will learn to identify and assess PTSD symptoms, tailor music therapy experiences involving songwriting and coping skills, facilitate music therapy retreats, and document and evaluate data for continued research.

2026 Costs & Prerequisites

The cost of the program is $750 for professionals and $250 for students and you earn 28 CMTE credits. The program is open to board certified music therapists and music therapy students. No prerequisites required. Video links will be provided to participants prior to the retreat to gain basic neuroscience knowledge. Cost includes breakfast and lunch daily and one dinner. A list of area lodging options will be made available per retreat.

2026 Workshops:

May 14–17, 2026
Soldner Center — Aspen, CO

May 21–24, 2026
Holly Springs Community Center — Holly Springs, NC

May 28–31, 2026
Amy Grant’s Farm — Franklin, TN

July 16–19, 2026
Windwalkers Ranch — Carbondale, CO

August 20–23, 2026
Rolling Ridge — North Andover, MA

October 4–7, 2026
Amy Grant’s Farm — Franklin, TN

October 8–11, 2026
Amy Grant’s Farm — Franklin, TN

November 5–8, 2026
Grand Mesa Arts Center — Cedaredge, CO

November 5–8, 2026
Eagle Ranch — Flowery Branch, GA

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