National Veterans Wellness & Healing Center - Flint Hills Retreats

Components of the National Veterans Wellness & Healing Center - Flint Hills Retreats

Nature therapy and therapeutic recreation are vitally important components of each retreat. In addition to the serene environment of the Flint Hills, each retreat utilizes evidence-based traditional and holistic treatment modalities when treating Veteran Couples to include:

Group Psychoeducation *

Group sessions are designed to approach Post-Traumatic Stress in three phases – The Past, the Present, and the Future. Maximum participation and interaction is highly encouraged for Veteran Couples. These sessions are facilitated by our lead clinical therapist and are the most critical component to the retreat. Participants receive 15 hours of group therapy during each 5-day retreat.

Couples Psychoeducation and Therapy *

Couples therapy sessions occur on a daily basis and are designed to help the couple reconnect and make progress in their relationship. These sessions are facilitated by a licensed counselor/therapist with experience in family-based psychotherapy and post-traumatic stress. Participants receive 5 hours of couples- therapy during each 5-day retreat.

Yoga *

Yoga for post-traumatic stress facilitates the Soldier's efforts to reintegrate the body with the mind. Researchers believe that trauma causes the mind to disconnect from the body as the body's subconscious survival mechanism take over, causing a physiological imbalance. Empirical findings indicate that yoga is effective in helping regulate stress, emotions, and helping the autonomic nervous system regain balance. Yoga classes are conducted daily during the retreat by a certified yoga instructor from the State of Kansas. Participants receive 5 hours of yoga instruction during the retreat.

Native American Spiritual Healing *

The Flint Hills Veteran's Wellness Retreat has teamed with the Haskell Indian Nations University to provide a Native American Spiritual Healing component to the retreat. Many Veterans challenge, and sometime lose, their sense of faith after experiencing combat. Traditional Native American ceremonies are used to help the Veteran reconnect with nature and regain a sense of spirituality. Native American healing brings the culture of Kansas into the program, and is a critical component of the retreat. The Native American healing component is conducted by a traditional Native American Healer from the State of Kansas, and is affiliated with Haskell University.

Equine Assisted Therapy

Equine assisted psychotherapy is an emerging form of therapeutic intervention in which horses are used as tools for clients to gain self-understanding and emotional growth. Equine assisted psychotherapy is a type of animal assisted therapy, a field of mental health that recognizes the bond between animals and humans and the potential for emotional healing that can occur when a relationship is formed between the two species. Participants will conduct 5 hours of Equine assisted therapy during the 5-day retreat, to include grooming, horseback riding, team driving, and camp/pack stations. The classes are conducted by qualified volunteer Kansas ranchers.

Massage, Acupuncture, and Reiki

These Eastern Medicinal Mind-Body techniques either bring awareness to the body or directly manipulate the body to bring about desirable mood and energy states. Empirically based studies suggest that these techniques can help bring the Autonomic Nervous System back into balance. Certified volunteer instructors from the State of Kansas administer sessions to Veteran Couples throughout the retreat. Each participant will receive an individualized 1-hour session in each of these three modalities during the 5-day retreat.

* Included in preliminary weekend retreats

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