OUR MISSION
is to establish an environment that is responsive to the needs of veterans and military families using creative therapies and processes that focus on emotional and physical healing.
Helping Veterans Come Home To
A Life Changing Experience
The National Veterans Wellness and Healing Center (NVWHC), located in the beautiful alpine setting of Angel Fire, NM, is looking forward to a wonderful year in 2013 with several retreats planned with the help of funding from sources which we have applied for help. Remember none of our funding has been subsidized by veterans benefits nor insurance up to this time.
NVWHC had a challenging year with funding in 2012. We were only able to hold one retreat thanks to private donations and a few small grants, but only those couples that had been on the wait list since 2010 were able to be served. The retreat made a huge difference in their lives.
In 2011 we had a very successful year filled with healing and giving hope to veterans and their families. That year we held 8 week long retreats for veterans and active duty military members who suffer from PTSD and their significant loved one at no charge to the couple. 298 individuals joined us from around the country from New Mexico to North Carolina, and Connecticut. The retreats, built on the three components of traditional therapy, alternative therapy, and Native American healing practices, received much acclaim from the participants. On average, NVWHC retreat-goers experienced a 25% improvement of PTSD symptoms when comparing pre- and post-retreat. As one veteran participant stated:
"This retreat has helped us tremendously in delving into the healing process! What a wild ride...and it's only going to get better. Having an opportunity to attack the hard stuff while in a safe environment has been priceless! I am so thankful for this opportunity. Thank you all!" —Veteran Participant, May 2011
Participants are also actively continuing their involvement with the NVWHC by attending reunions and after care groups. In 2011 we held 8 reunions at a ranch in the veteran-friendly community of Angel Fire, NM where families were able to continue their healing journey and bond with fellow participants. In addition, past participants are also initiating reunions in their own communities.
Other significant NVWHC accomplishments include:
- Funding is being sought from Wounded Warrior Project for continued retreats in 2013 along with a bill in the NM Legislature for FY 2014.
- Lisa Ling, American journalist, visited one of our retreats in the spring of 2011 and filmed a documentary to be a part of her series Our America which was aired on The Oprah Winfrey Network on November 6th, 2011 and again on Veterans Day of the same year. It continues to be shown today on the Military Channel and on OWN. It is called "Invisible Wounds of War."
- 8.4 acres of land very close to the Carson National Forest in Angel Fire was donated for the future site of the Center.
- Kansas State University is modeling our programming and offering retreats to veteran couples with PTSD at a local retreat facility in Flint Hills, KS.
- The NVWHC is gaining national recognition as a significant provider for innovative PTSD treatments and continuing to establish Angel Fire as the most vet-friendly small community in America.
NEWS
Past News2012 Retreat information and now it is 2013!!
Unfortunately, only one retreat was held in 2012 due to limited funding, but we did have some private doners and a few small grants that made it possi... Full Story
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