Brattleboro Retreat

06/17/2026

As we approach Juneteenth and the nation's 250th anniversary, the Brattleboro Retreat invites our community to reflect on the connections between these two milestones.

In a new column published in the Brattleboro Reformer, we explore how the legacy of slavery continues to shape mental health, economic opportunity, and race relations in America today and why understanding this history is essential to compassionate, culturally informed care.

Read the full column here:

We at the Brattleboro Retreat have been reflecting on the meaning of Juneteenth for the Black and non-Black people that we serve. We concluded that familiarity with the history of

06/11/2026

We were honored to welcome Dr. Anthony Weiss (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Harvard Medical School Center for Bioethics) as our latest Grand Rounds speaker!

In his thought-provoking presentation, "Milieu as Mind: Distributed Regulation in Inpatient Psychiatry," Dr. Weiss explored how regulation and cognition extend beyond the individual and are shaped by relationships, clinical teams, and the therapeutic environment itself. Drawing on neuroscience, ethics, and systems thinking, he highlighted the powerful role of the inpatient milieu as an active therapeutic agent and the importance of staff as participants in a distributed regulatory system that supports healing.

Dr. Weiss was introduced by Rachel Conrad, M.D., and, earlier in the day, sat down with Kurt White for a podcast interview that will be featured in an upcoming episode of Unravelling... stay tuned!

06/11/2026

"Neurospicy" is a community-created term used to describe a neurodivergent brain, often in a playful, affirming, and self-expressive way.

Thank you to Angela Rowan, LICSW, for presenting our most recent Spring Lecture, "Neurospicy: Understanding Neurodiversity in Children and Adolescents." Her talk explored the phenomenon of neurodiversity, the neurodiversity paradigm, and neurodiversity-affirming practices for mental health professionals working with children and adolescents.

Looking ahead, join us for our next lecture, "Developments in Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Treatment," presented by Alfred Goldyne, MD, on July 14 from 12:00–1:00 p.m. The lecture is offered both in person at the Retreat and via live webinar. In partnership with VPA and Southern NH Area Health Education Center, one hour of CE/CME credit is available for mental health and medical professionals/nurses.

Register here: https://twinstates.ce21.com/

06/08/2026

The Brattleboro Retreat was proud to be a tournament sponsor for the 51st Annual Brattleboro Rotary Club Golf Tournament at Brattleboro Country Club! This wonderful community event brings people together in support of meaningful causes.

Proceeds from this year's tournament will benefit the Rotary Gateway Foundation, local youth initiatives, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, and the Brattleboro Retreat.

We were also proud to have Retreat CEO Steven Cummings on the course, golfing alongside colleagues Susan Plante, PMHNP, and Marley Balasco, Ph.D. Kurt White, a Rotarian and the Retreat's Vice President of Community Partnerships, volunteered throughout the day and cruised the course in a golf cart.

Thank you to all the volunteers and golfers who made this a spectacular day on the course!

06/08/2026

Join us for our next spring continuing education lecture TOMORROW, Tuesday, June 9th, "Neurospicy: Understanding Neurodiversity in Children and Adolescents" presented by Angela Snyder Rowan, LICSW.

The Retreat, in partnership with the Vermont Psychological Association and the Southern NH Area Health Education Center, is pleased to present this FREE lecture series featuring expert-led sessions on timely and relevant mental health topics.

- 12:00–1:00 p.m.
- Attend in person at the Retreat (free lunch included!) or remotely online
- Earn 1 hour of CE/CME credit for mental health and medical professionals/nurses

Register: https://twinstates.ce21.com/

06/04/2026

"You're made to want to change, you're made to hate that part of yourself through the eyes of others."

In the first episode of Unravelling’s three-part Pride Month series, we hear from Dr. Lucas Wilson, an interdisciplinary scholar and editor of Shame-Sex Attraction: Survivor Stories of Conversion Therapy. Drawing on both his research and personal experience, Dr. Wilson discusses the many forms conversion practices can take and shares his own journey through conversion therapy while attending a Christian university.

Together, they explore the lasting psychological and spiritual impact of these harmful practices, why they remain a reality for many LGBTQIA+ people today, and what communities, faith leaders, and allies can do to support survivors and challenge misinformation.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Du3hHR5IcbplT77yJZOsr?si=973f6a4092554c2a
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/made-to-want-to-change-conversion-practices/id1751187652?i=1000770958979
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1H5XBLHVmi4

05/22/2026

“We are very proud of the hard work that our psychology supervisors have done to make the program what it is today, having grown from a much smaller program 15 years ago. We have now trained 57 psychologists, with many remaining in New England to serve local communities. 17 graduates have continued working at the Retreat, 10 of whom are currently on staff," said James Benton, Ph.D. Benton, Director of Psychology Training at the Brattleboro Retreat.

05/21/2026

Kurt White, LICSW kicked off this year's Spring Lecture Series with a nuanced exploration of narcissism beyond the buzzword. He examined how therapists’ private clinical observations intersect with broader cultural conversations around gaslighting, self-esteem regulation, and personality structure. This presentation explored grandiose and vulnerable narcissistic dynamics, the pathways of admiration and rivalry, and the impact of narcissistic traits within couples, groups, organizations, and treatment settings.

Next up, is Angela Snyder Rowan, LICSW, who will present "Neurospicy: Understanding Neurodiversity in Children and Adolescents" on June 9th, noon-1pm. The lecture series is presented in partnership with the Vermont Psychological Association and the Southern NH Area Health Education Center, and provides one hour of CE/CME credit for mental health and medical professionals/nurses.

Register for in-person (lunch included) or remote attendance here: https://twinstates.ce21.com/

05/15/2026

Join us for the first of our three spring continuing education lectures on Tuesday, May 19th, for "Navigating the Narcissistic Dynamic in Therapy and Life," presented by Kurt White, LICSW.

The Retreat, in partnership with the Vermont Psychological Association and the Southern NH Area Health Education Center, is pleased to present this FREE lecture series featuring expert-led sessions on timely and relevant mental health topics.

🕛 12:00–1:00 p.m.
📍 Attend in person at the Retreat (free lunch included!) or remotely online
🎓 Earn 1 hour of CE/CME credit for mental health and medical professionals/nurses

Register for in-person event: https://twinstates.ce21.com/item/the-winning-move-play-navigating-narcissistic-dynamic-therapy-life-person-144108
Register for live webinar: https://twinstates.ce21.com/item/the-winning-move-play-navigating-narcissistic-dynamic-therapy-life-live-webinar-144109