47 Veterans Complete Groundbreaking Ayahuasca Retreat for PTSD Treatment

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif., Sept. 18, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- The Coming Home Project, a nonprofit organization founded in 2021, partnered with Birds Eye View Project to host a groundbreaking healing retreat for 47 U.S. combat veterans and first responders. The retreat, held from September 5 to 12, 2026, coincided with the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. This intensive weeklong program included four nights of ayahuasca, a plant medicine known for its potential to treat PTSD, traumatic brain injury (TBI), anxiety, and substance use disorders.

Birds Eye View Project, a Texas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, provided the cornerstone funding for the retreat. The organization, founded by Ryan "Birdman" Parrott, a survivor of a 2005 IED attack in Iraq, has raised over $6 million through experiential fundraising to support partner-led programs. The Coming Home Project, led by Nate Brown, a former U.S. Navy SEAL and retired firefighter/paramedic, served as the specialist healing partner. The retreat was conducted at Rythmia Life Advancement Center in Costa Rica, the only facility in the world medically licensed to administer ayahuasca, operating under the regulatory oversight of Costa Rica’s Ministry of Health.

The program aimed to address the high rate of veteran suicide, a national crisis where up to 44 veterans die every day from suicide and self-injury. Statistics indicate that veterans are twice as likely to kill themselves and 2.3 times as likely to have PTSD compared to the general population. Over 60% of participants in 'gold standard' treatment programs drop out, and for those who stay, less than 50% find relief. Meanwhile, more than two decades of research have proven the effectiveness of psychedelic treatments, with over 80% of participants finding relief.

The week-long program at Rythmia included classes, supervised ayahuasca ceremonies, and integration events. Participants were selected through Birds Eye View Project’s War Feather Program, a six-month reintegration initiative that guides up to 50 veterans and first responders through seven phases at no cost to the participants. The War Feather costs between $15,000 and $20,000 per participant over six months, with participants paying nothing. The group included members from the War Feather Program’s inaugural War Feather event.

According to Brett Odom, a board member of The Coming Home Project, the program marks a pivotal new chapter in mental health treatment options for America’s veterans and first responders. "We chose them because they understand this isn't about sending somebody away for a week and hoping they come home fixed. It's about walking beside them before, during, and long after the retreat has concluded."

The Coming Home Project plans to conduct at least four more retreats in 2027 to continue expanding access to the veteran community. "We are thrilled with the result," said Nate Brown, Founder and Executive Director of The Coming Home Project.

Since 2015, Birds Eye View Project has raised over $6 million through experiential fundraising to support partner-led programs. The organization’s flagship initiative, War Feather, is a six-month reintegration program that guides up to 50 veterans and first responders through seven phases at no cost to the participants.