Stories and Songs from our Music Therapy Retreats

Formerly Music Therapy of the Rockies, Music Therapy Retreats provides veterans and those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with evidence-based music therapy practices.

Our retreats are offered at no cost, giving participants the chance to improve their mental health through music. We use proven music therapy techniques, including goal setting, mindfulness exercises, songwriting with professionals, and adapted guitar instruction.

This approach helps attendees recognize triggers, learn self-regulation, and reinterpret their past experiences.

During the Retreat, each veteran is gifted a Breedlove Guitar to aid in developing both mental and physical skills through music.

About Wade Bates and “The Tower”

I was Army Infantryman Mounted in vehicles in Afghanistan – a line unit to secure & control the border and peacekeeping missions. I was hit by IED shortly after the incident this song is about. My injuries retired me.

I was forced in my duty as Tower Guard to fire on a young girl. I had only ever told maybe one or two people. I’d written the whole story down – titled The Tower – but only for myself. My co-writer Buddy Mondlock was hesitant for me to take on this particular story. Buddy said, “I appreciate you sharing that with me”, but he was nervous about exposing me that much. We talked later and I assured him, “This is the story I want to tell”. Buddy: “I was impressed that Wade insisted on telling the hard story. I have so much respect for him”.

I want to make sure that whoever hears about this program knows that without someone like Buddy being there, it wouldn’t be possible at all. I’m so grateful. Buddy did a great job making the guitar support the song, something the story could hang on. Hearing it that way brought to life that she was a real person. It was completely different hearing what I had written in this beautiful song. A lot of tears were cried when it was performed.

Listen to a preview of Wade Bates song with Buddy Mondlock here:

Support Mental Wellness for Veterans

Music Therapy Retreats has served more than 100 veterans and people suffering from PTSD at retreats in Tennessee, Colorado, Maryland, and beyond.

With just a $100 donation, you can receive this song — along with two full albums that give you an inside look at our retreats. The stories and songs compiled here highlight their experiences.

Listen to memories unfold, as the retreat attendee’s experiences are explored and captured in song.