About CreatiVets

CreatiVets is an organization that provides disabled veterans the opportunity to use art therapy, music, and creative writing to address the psychological and emotional needs that arise from combat-related trauma.  In 2013, several veterans were taken to Nasvhille, TN, to participate in therapeutic music writing sessions sponsored by CreatiVets.  The Armed Forces Foundation provided the veterans’ transportation to Nashville.

In summer 2013, CreatiVets was launched out of central Illinois to take action against the invisible wounds veterans experience after combat.  In fact, the organization was founded by a disabled Marine veteran, Richard Casper.  Casper says, “Taking medication and talking with counselors did not have a long-term effect on my psychological needs, so I turned to art and music as an outlet.  I want to share this form of therapy with other veterans and change their lives for the better.”  Casper is a recent graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Casper also explains how CreatiVets is unique in that it teaches veterans how to better deal with stress creatively, so the healing can continue after participating in an art therapy session.  One veteran said about his experience, “I felt better about talking about myself and what happened to me in those few hours than I did talking to a psychiatrist for a whole year. Now whenever I need to be calmed down I can listen to or play the song we wrote, instead of sitting in an office talking to someone who doesn’t understand.”

During the week of December 9^th, two veterans had the opportunities to be paired with professional songwriters to create pieces that tell their stories.  Warner/Chappell Production Music also partnered with CreatiVets to professionally record three songs that were written by veterans during past few months.  The artists who volunteered their time to record the music are Jeff Coplan, Jeff King, Steve Brewster, Jerry McPherson, Bruce Bouton, Jimmy Nichols, Jeff Balding, Mark Lonsway, Lance Carpenter, Noll Billings, and Matt Mason.  The songwriters who assisted the veterans are Lance Carpenter, Mark Irwin, Noll Billins, Jeff Coplan, Rob Blackledge, Bob Regan, Joe Collins, Dave Pittenger, and Matt Mason.

CreatiVets is a fast growing organization that continues to serve our nation’s veterans and will have an impact on the veteran suicide rate, which is currently 22 per day.  Without the help and cooperation of the Armed Forces Foundation, the professional songwriters, the musicians, APM Music, and Warner/Chappell Production Music the CreatiVets therapy program would not be possible.

To learn more about CreatiVets visit www.facebook.com/creativeterans.