NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A Nashville nonprofit is using the power of music to help veterans heal.

The goal of Creativets is to use the arts as a tool to allow veterans to open up after transitioning from life in the military.

The program pairs veterans with songwriters and musicians so they can help tell their stories through music.

Now, they've taken it once step further by partnering up with Vanderbilt University. The school has started an introductory songwriting class made specifically for veterans, with a focus on storytelling.

Creativets co-founder Richard Casper said music helped him cope with the loss of a friend.

"When you recall something, like when I thought about Luke's death, I remembered visuals and I remembered what happened inside," Casper said. "The moment I was able to sit down with a Nashville songwriter and tell them my story, and we turned it into a song. I was so excited... that I just repurposed my negative memory into that."

Six veterans took part in the first course during the fall semester. Creativets hopes to enroll 15 veterans in the class this spring.

You can apply for the program by going to the Creativets website.