In November, the institute was invited to be a partner for the first GratitudeAmerica Military Support Retreat at Winshape in Rome, Ga. Briana Goff and Lori Zetmeir conducted research and assisted with the small group sessions.
Similar to the institute’s Flint Hills Retreat in 2011, the retreat consisted of 12 veteran and caregiver pairs. Caregivers included primary support persons and spouses. The participants included both veteran and active duty members from all branches of the military. All veteran participants served post 9/11 in Iraq or Afghanistan and have been diagnosed with PTSD and/or a TBI.
The purpose of the retreat was to promote community based non-profit integrative intensive retreats for service members and their primary support persons in the Atlanta, Georgia area.
Events consisted of group education sessions as well as several local events, including square dancing, equine therapy, a ropes course and a nature walk.
This was the fourth retreat conducted by GratitudeAmerica. The others were in Marineland, Fla. They plan to host 3-4 similar retreats in both Florida and Georgia each year.