Melissa Walker is dedicated to helping recovering veterans safely express their deep thoughts and emotions in a creative environment. Walker, a creative arts therapist in the art therapy program of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, has been featured in a TEDMD Talk and a cover story of National Geographic Magazine.
Walker will be the featured speaker at Emporia State’s 45thAnnual Art Therapy Discover Day Saturday, March 23.
Walker designed the Healing Arts Program in 2010 at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence at Walter Reed. There, she works with patients in creating works to help them express their invisible wounds, which can include traumatic brain injury and psychological problems.
Discovery Day allows people wanting to learn more about art therapy to explore a variety of topics, featuring presentations, a question and answer session with Emporia State art therapy faculty, and hands-on workshops. Emporia State was one of the first universities to offer a graduate degree in art therapy when this form of therapy was developed 45 years ago.
Registration for Discovery Day begins at 8 a.m. in the Memorial Union. Walker will speak at 9 a.m. Registration for individuals is $5 and $35 before March 18, after that date the fees increase to $150 and $70 respectfully.
More information is at www.emporia.edu/teach/ce/art-therapy/.
TEDMD Talk: https://www.tedmed.com/talks/show?id=526823
National Geographic article: https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/02/150213-art-therapy-mask-blast-force-trauma-psychology-war/