The Brattleboro Retreat is a not-for-profit, regional specialty mental health treatment center that was founded in 1834. We provide a full range of diagnostic and treatment services for individuals of all ages. Nationally recognized as a leader in the field of psychiatry, the Brattleboro Retreat offers a high-quality, individualized, comprehensive continuum of care.
A member of the Ivy League Hospitals network, the Brattleboro Retreat is accredited by numerous state and national organizations including The Joint Commission. We offer among the highest ratios of clinical-staff-to-patients, the region's most extensive roster of psychiatric talent, as well as a wide range of contemporary treatment modalities and programs including:
- inpatient programs for children, adolescents, and adults
- partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient services for adults
- a residential program for children
- outpatient therapy for people of all ages.
The Brattleboro Retreat serves as a practicum site for numerous college and university programs including:
- Smith College School for Social Work
- The University of Massachusetts
- The University of Connecticut
- Antioch New England
- Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine (Retreat physicians have the opportunity to teach third year medical students from Albany Medical College (AMC) as the Retreat serves as a site for their Psychiatry Clerkship. Mentors may obtain clinical adjunct faculty appointment from AMC).
- Greenfield Community College
- Vermont Technical College.
The Brattleboro Retreat was founded in 1834 by a $10,000 bequest from Anna Hunt Marsh as attested to in her will. Born in 1769, Anna was the daughter of Jonathan Hunt, one of the first settlers in the 3-corner area that is now comprised of Northfield, MA, Hinsdale, NH, and Vernon, VT. Jonathan Hunt also served a term as Vermont's Lt. Governor.
The Brattleboro Retreat was the first facility for the care of the mentally ill in Vermont, and one of the first ten private psychiatric hospitals in the United States. Each of these institutions, which included The McLean Asylum in Massachusetts, The Hartford Retreat in Connecticut, and The Friends Asylum in Pennsylvania, followed the example of the York Retreat in York, England, which based its philosophy on the humane treatment of people with mental illness. The philosophy, known as moral treatment, was patterned on a Quaker concept that represented a daring departure in the care for the mentally ill and was introduced in the late 1700s by William Tuke.
The basis of Moral treatment was founded on treating patients with dignity and respect in a caring, family-like environment that included meaningful work, cultural pursuits, wholesome nutrition and daily exercise. In support of this philosophy, and to emphasize the healthful benefits of physical and emotional well being, the Retreat pioneered an impressive list of hospital firsts:
- first continuous patient newspaper
- first attendant's training course
- first hospital gymnasium
- camping programs, swimming pools and bowling alley
- first self-sufficient dairy farm.
Inspired by the courage of our patients, the Brattleboro Retreat is dedicated to children, adolescents, and adults in their pursuit of recovery from mental illness, and psychological trauma. We are committed to excellence in treatment, advocacy, education, research, and community service. We provide hope, healing, safety, and privacy through a full continuum of medical and holistic services delivered by expert caregivers in a uniquely restorative Vermont setting.
We’ll help you find the strength—but first we’ll help you find our campus!
The Brattleboro Retreat offers high quality mental health and addiction treatment in a safe, restorative southern Vermont setting. Our campus is just a short drive from most northeastern cities.
Our campus is located at:
22 Anna Marsh Lane
Brattleboro, Vermont 05301
802-258-3737
The Brattleboro Retreat is a private, not-for-profit organization governed by a volunteer board of trustees. The board meets regularly and provides an opportunity opportunities for public comment on matters relating to Brattleboro Retreat operations. To request to be included on the public comment agenda, please complete and submit this form.
For further information regarding public comment and meeting dates, please contact:
Brenda Nichols
Executive Coordinator
Brattleboro Retreat
PO Box 803
Brattleboro, VT 05302
Phone: (802) 258-6103
Fax: (802) 258-3796
