Music Therapy Retreats

Powerful, Life-Changing Retreats

Our retreats are run by Board-Certified Music Therapists and incorporate mindfulness, self-expression, and therapeutic songwriting with professional songwriters — plus, the gift of a guitar to learn new coping skills.

What We Do

Music Therapy Retreats provides evidence-based music therapy practices to support veterans and other people who experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

We host regular music therapy retreats, at no cost to the participants, so they can gain mental wellness through the power of music. Each participant engages in 4 group sessions and 2 individual sessions over the course of the retreat.

We are currently in the process of creating retreats for survivors of domestic abuse, rape, and other traumatic experiences that can lead to PTSD.

So many people need access to the transformative power of music therapy

11-20%

of military veterans are diagnosed with PTSD

23%

of women in the military reported sexual assault while in the military.

55% of women and 38% of men

have experienced sexual harassment while serving in the military.

How We Help

Our approach helps people identify triggers, learn coping skills for self-regulation, and reframe lived experiences.

Music Therapy Retreats utilizes music therapy “best practices,” including goal setting, mindfulness, songwriting experiences with professional songwriters, and adapted guitar instruction. 

Each participant engages in 4 group sessions and 2 individual sessions over the course of the retreat.

As part of the Retreat experience, each veteran receives a brand-new Breedlove Guitar which they use to work on physiological and psychological skills through playing and writing their own music.

Our Retreats help veterans transform their lives, which also benefits their families, care givers, and communities. Continuing opportunities in guitar instruction and songwriting are also provided to each veteran through partnerships with organizations across the United States.

Music Therapy Positively Impacts Relationships

There are a myriad of benefits to music therapy services that bolster recovery, rehabilitation, and resilience for military and Veteran populations across treatment domains:

  • Physical & Neurological Functioning
  • Continuum of Care through the Aging Process
  • Trauma Informed Treatment
  • Social & Emotional Wellbeing
  • Functional & Expressive Communication

*Attribution: American Music Therapy Association

We also conduct continuous program evaluation and collect outcome measures through self-survey PTSD scales and SPECT brain imaging, which helps further our research efforts.

Our Music Therapy Retreats Work

55% reduction

in veterans’ experiences of upsetting memories six or more times/week.

83% reduction

in experiencing physical reactions four or more times/week.

58% reduction

in symptomatic situations interfering in everyday life.

Cognitive Assessment Results

showed improvement in memory and attention.

*according to a 2019 attendee self-survey and 2020 attendee cognitive assessment

Where We Help

We hold Retreats all across the country. Retreats have been held in Nashville, Atlanta, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Aspen.

Our model is to serve veterans where they live — because we believe that our attendees should be able to return to their typical environment each night after the retreat programming is completed.

We partner with local non-profit organizations to identity people with the highest need in the local area. Since we are not an overnight retreat program, we do not provide lodging or transportation.

We are expanding retreat locations! Are you interested in hosting? Please contact us to learn more.

2025 Retreats

Apr 28-30, 2025

Amy Grant & Vince Gill’s Farm

Nashville, TN

For Veterans

May 2-4, 2025

Amy Grant & Vince Gill’s Farm

Nashville, TN

In Partnership with Thistle Farms

May 30-June 1, 2025

Holly Springs Cultural Center

Holly Springs, NC

For Veterans

July 18-20, 2025

WindWalkers Ranch

Carbondale, CO

For Veterans

Aug 22-24, 2025

Rolling Ridge Conference Center

North Andover, MA

For Veterans

Oct 6–8, 2025

Amy Grant & Vince Gill’s Farm

Nashville, TN

For Veterans

Oct 10-12, 2025

Amy Grant & Vince Gill’s Farm

Nashville, TN

In Partnership with Thistle Farms

Interested in attending a retreat?

Typically, we partner with local and national organizations to identify people in highest need and best matched to participate in our music therapy Retreats.

Specifically, if you are a Wounded Warrior Project alumni, contact your representative to request attending an existing Retreat and/or have a Retreat brought to your area. 

Space at each retreat is limited to create an intimate, safe environment. Contact us to learn more.

April 12-14, 2024

Mariott Hotel

San Antonio, TX

in Partnership with Wounded Warrior

May 3-5, 2024

Holly Springs Cultural Center

Holly Springs, NC

For Veterans

May 20-22, 2024

Amy Grant & Vince Gill’s Farm

Nashville, TN

For Veterans

May 24-26, 2024

Amy Grant & Vince Gill’s Farm

Nashville, TN

In Partnership with Thistle Farms

May 31–June 2, 2024

Drury University Center for Music Therapy and Wellness

Springfield, MO

For Veterans

July 19–21, 2024

WindWalkers Ranch

Carbondale, CO

Bob Cook Retreat For Veterans

Aug 23-25, 2024

Rolling Ridge Conference Center

North Andover, MA

Jordan Snow Retreat For Veterans

Oct 7-9, 2024

Amy Grant & Vince Gill’s Farm

Nashville, TN

For Veterans

Oct 11-13, 2024

Amy Grant & Vince Gill’s Farm

Nashville, TN

In Partnership with Thistle Farms

Nov 1-3

The Barn at The Jenny Doyle Group

Milton, GA

For Veterans

Interested in attending a retreat?

Typically, we partner with local and national organizations to identify people in highest need and best matched to participate in our music therapy Retreats.

Specifically, if you are a Wounded Warrior Project alumni, contact your representative to request attending an existing Retreat and/or have a Retreat brought to your area. 

Space at each retreat is limited to create an intimate, safe environment. Contact us to learn more.

May 5–7, 2023

Holly Springs Cultural Center

Holly Springs, NC

For Veterans

May 8–10, 2023

Amy Grant & Vince Gill’s Farm

Nashville, TN

For Veterans

May 12–14, 2023

Amy Grant & Vince Gill’s Farm

Nashville, TN

In Partnership with Thistle Farms

June 5–7, 2023

Drury University Center for Music Therapy and Wellness

Springfield, MO

For Veterans

June 9–11, 2023

Drury University Center for Music Therapy and Wellness

Springfield, MO

For Veterans

July 28–30, 2023

WindWalkers Ranch

Carbondale, CO

Bob Cook Retreat For Veterans

August 21–23, 2023

Rolling Ridge Conference Center

North Andover, MA

For Veterans

August 25–27, 2023

Rolling Ridge Conference Center

North Andover, MA

Jordan Snow Retreat For Veterans

October 9–11, 2023

Amy Grant & Vince Gill’s Farm

Nashville, TN

For Veterans

October 13–15, 2023

Amy Grant & Vince Gill’s Farm

Nashville, TN

In Partnership with Thistle Farms

November 3-5, 2023

Preston Ridge Community Center

Alpharetta, GA

For Veterans

November 6-8, 2023

Preston Ridge Community Center

Alpharetta, GA

For Veterans

October 21-23, 2022

Amy Grant & Vince Gill’s Farm

Nashville, TN

For Women Survivors

October 17-19, 2022

Amy Grant & Vince Gill’s Farm

Nashville, TN

For Veterans

August 26-28, 2022

Rolling Ridge Conference Center

North Andover, MA

For Veterans

August 22-24, 2022

Rolling Ridge Conference Center

North Andover, MA

For Veterans

May 20-22, 2022

WindWalkers Ranch

Carbondale, CO

For Veterans

May 13-15, 2022

Amy Grant & Vince Gill’s Farm

Nashville, TN

For Veterans

May 9-11, 2022

Amy Grant & Vince Gill’s Farm

Nashville, TN

For Veterans

Support Our Retreats

To continue providing no-cost music therapy Retreat experiences, we need your help!

Access Retreat Resources

For Previous Music Therapy Retreat Attendees: To access breathing exercise, guitar practice videos, and more, login to our retreat resource portal. No account? Please contact info@musictherapyretreats.org to request an account.