Dare To Dream Ranch. Military Retreat. Multifaceted Equine Therapy Programs

Dare to Dream Ranch is a military retreat that offers complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) programs for service members, veterans and their families to overcome the challenges of war such as PTSD, anxiety, depression and insomnia.

As of September 2014, there are about 2.7 million American veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars (compared to 2.6 million Vietnam veterans who fought in Vietnam; there are 8.2 million "Vietnam Era Veterans" (personnel who served anywhere during any time of the Vietnam War). According to RAND, at least 20% of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have PTSD and/or Depression. (Military counselors I have interviewed state that, in their opinion, the percentage of veterans with PTSD is much higher; the number climbs higher when combined with TBI.)

Although flawless counts are impossible to come by – the transient nature of homeless populations presents a major difficulty – the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) estimates that 49,933 veterans are homeless on any given night.

Approximately 12,700 veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation New Dawn (OND) were homeless in 2010. The number of young homeless veterans is increasing, but only constitutes 8.8% of the overall homeless veteran population.

As of 2015 Rhode Island has 71,429 veterans. The RI National Guard has the second highest deployment rate since 9/11. They mostly provide security forces and expertise in civil engineering.

Disability rates -1 out 3 from Iraq war suffer from PTSD or Traumatic Brain Injury due to multiple deployments.
1/3 homeless in America are veterans
Veteran unemployment is nearly twice the national unemployment average.

The VA reported in 2012 from 21 states that 22 veterans a day commit suicide.

In addition to the complex set of factors influencing all homelessness – extreme shortage of affordable housing, livable income and access to health care – a large number of displaced and at-risk veterans live with lingering effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which are compounded by a lack of family and social support networks. Additionally, military occupations and training are not always transferable to the civilian workforce, placing some veterans at a disadvantage when competing for employment.

Dare to Dream Ranch is a non profit multifaceted equine therapy organization that offers complementary and alternative healing programs. This complementary and alternative approach will include treatments like equine therapy, yoga, reflexology/massage, hypnotherapy/group therapy, horticulture therapy, nutrition education, healthy cooking, exercise and career counseling for our U.S. military service members and veterans experiencing PTSD, anxiety, depression and loss of job security. The produce from the garden will also be used to help feed RI’s homeless and at risk veterans. A 12 week program including a job internship program will be designed to help homeless and at risk veterans become successful civilians.
The purpose of animal assisted therapy is to provide interventions that would not be possible with only a human provider. Equine assisted psychotherapy utilizes the horse's responsive nature as a therapy tool. They are naturally curious, have individual personalities, and mirror human behavior The structure of EAP provides a unique atmosphere for the client to work through personal challenges.

Body-based work, such as yoga, increases a sense of awareness, safety and mastery over one's body while building skills to effectively interpret and tolerate physiological and affective states.

Reflexology is application of pressure to the feet and hands with specific thumb, finger, and hand techniques without the use of oil or lotion. It is based on a system of zones and reflex areas that reflect an image of the body on the feet and hands, with the premise that such work affects a physical change to the body

Hypnotherapy is used to create subconscious change in a patient in the form of new responses, thoughts, attitudes, behaviors or feelings.

In horticulture therapy you learn to grow your food organically, and reduce stress and anxiety. Go beyond sustainability to integrate and connect people with their natural world. .
With nutrition and healthy cooking workshops we demonstrate how what you eat affects your energy, thinking, libido, and your overall health and wellbeing. Learn how to cook what you grow.

You cannot work on a farm without exercising. Exercise builds strength, confidence and improves your mood by increasing your endorphines which is a natural anti-depressant. The comradery of having other service members or veterans participate in our programs will help them feel that people understand what they are going through.
With our career counseling we will help the service member or veteran take their passions, and talents and help them figure out who they will serve to become successful civilians.
In participating in the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program before the program the service member and their family can build memories before deployment. The family may participate during the deployment and then reconnect after deployment.