[Self-Study] Papermaking as Art Therapy to Address Trauma and Loss (N/NY-TR82)

Gretchen M. Miller, ATR-BC, ACTP is a Northeast Ohio Registered Board Certified Art Therapist and Advanced Certified Trauma Practitioner. Her art therapy clinical work has included serving youth and adults impacted by trauma and loss. Gretchen is also an art therapy educator, regional, national, and international speaker, author, supervisor, and community organizer. Recently, Gretchen co-edited The Art and Art Therapy of Papermaking: Material, Methods, and Applications published by Routledge in 2023.

Meredith McMackin is a Registered Art Therapist and Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of Washington. She received an MFA in Studio Art, an MS in Art Therapy, and a PhD in Art Education from Florida State University, where she researched the therapeutic process of hand papermaking with student veterans. Her art therapy clinical work has included serving adults impacted by trauma and loss. Meredith currently works as a creative arts therapist with the Vancouver VA Medical Center in Vancouver, Washington.

Annie is an artist, art therapist, and educator currently working as Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator for the Art Therapy program at West Virginia University. She obtained her MS in art therapy in 2013 and her PhD in art education with emphasis in art therapy in 2020. She has clinical experience working in inpatient psychiatric facilities, hospice and bereavement, memory care, developmental disabilities, and community arts settings. Her doctoral research focused on using papermaking for narrative storytelling and trauma recovery with older veterans. She has also expanded her artistic and therapeutic practice in papermaking to work with community loss, bereavement, mental health recovery, and social activism. She is also a collaborator with Peace Paper Project, an international community-arts initiative that utilizes traditional papermaking as a form of trauma therapy, social engagement, and community activism.