National Veterans Wellness & Healing Center

The National Veterans Wellness and Healing Center in Angel Fire, Inc. (NVW&HC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization incorporated as a result of a study conducted by the Village of Angel Fire and the New Mexico Department of Veterans Services, alongside Angel Fire business and community partners. The mission of the NVW&HC 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. In 2009, NVW&HC began retreats for veteran families who had been diagnosed with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Eleven veterans and their spouses successfully completed the week-long retreat and have been celebrating their success since. In 2010, our second retreat was held and many more are scheduled for 2011.

National Veterans Wellness and Healing Center in Angel Fire has teamed with the New Mexico Department of Veterans Services, Angel Fire Resort, Cardinal Retreats, Roadrunner Tours, and the Native American community to create the programming for these retreats. Such a team coupled with the hands on experience along with total community support are a unique and winning combination that guarantees successful accomplishment of the veterans retreats.

PTSD is an anxiety disorder that can develop after a terrifying event in which the person was physically harmed or felt threatened. Symptoms can range from flashbacks to problem drinking and beyond.

Aside from the clinical approaches used to help the veterans, complementary alternative medicine such as yoga, guided imagery, Reiki, massage therapy, acupuncture and Native American ceremonies are used. The wellness and healing retreats have also successfully incorporated the use of equine assisted therapy into the program. After determining their past experience with horses, participants are then grouped for grooming, team driving and horseback riding.