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Melissa Walker, a credentialed art therapist, aims to provide a
special kind of healing experience for her patients – U.S. military
service members. Walker took the stage at the National Museum of
Health and Medicine (NMHM) in Silver Spring, Maryland, on August 30,
2016, at the monthly Medical Museum Science Cafe to discuss the art
of "Unmasking the Trauma of War."
At the National Intrepid
Center of Excellence (NICoE) at Walter Reed National Military
Medical Center, a unique healing arts program has been developed.
The NICoE's four-week program takes service members who have
suffered traumatic brain injury (TBI), and other psychological
health conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),
and immerses them in a safe and healing environment. "It's a
patient-centered holistic model," Walker said. "It allows these
service members to holistically learn about themselves, process what
they've been though, and take the next steps."
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August 30, 2016 - CAPT Walter M. Greenhalgh, USN, Director, National
Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICOE), Walter Reed National Military
Medical Center (left), stands with Melissa Walker, NICoE Art
Therapist and Healing Arts Program Coordinator, next to a temporary
exhibition of art therapy masks on display at the National Museum of
Health and Medicine in Silver Spring, Md. Walker spoke at the August
Medical Museum Science Caf� titled “Unmasking the Trauma of War: Art
Therapy with Military Service Members.” The monthly informal talk
was held at NMHM. (National Museum of Health and Medicine photo by
Matthew Breitbart)
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As part of the art therapy process, patients are encouraged to
express their feelings and experiences though creation –taking the
form of a mask of their own design. Walker said "most of them are a
little hesitant at first, but it doesn't take long for them to warm
up to the idea of the project." Walker explained to the audience
that some patients choose to leave their masks behind after the
program has ended, as if to serve as a sense of motivation for her
future patients.
"I think this is what helps open them up to
the idea. Seeing the masks created by fellow service members
promotes a sense of
comradery." Creating the masks is more than just an art project –
"it allows these wounded service members to take their psychological
issues and fears and turn them into something physical and healing,"
she continued.
During the presentation, she showed a
neuroimaging scan from the brain of a patient. The area of the brain
responsible for speech and language showed less responsiveness,
which is common in individuals diagnosed with PTSD. This trauma
"makes it very difficult for them to process and vocalize what has
happened to them," Walker stated. The Healing Arts Program aims to
make it easier for patients to accept and process what has happened
to them through a variety of creative arts therapy methods. Each
patient goes through various types of therapy that is specifically
tailored to help service members depending on the severity of their
needs. Music therapy, therapeutic/creative writing, dance/movement
therapy, and art therapy help them unlock their experiences and
express their emotions in a safe, creative and supportive
environment.
For one of her long-term patients, art therapy
continues to have a profound impact on the way he processes what has
happened to him. For years, the patient suffered from what she
referred to as Bloody Face in Bunker (BFIB). Terrible flashbacks
plagued his thoughts and dreams, stemming from his experience while
deployed. After going through the NICoE program and creating a mask
that represented what haunted him, he began to improve dramatically.
"He told me that he had only seen Bloody Face once or twice since he
created the mask," said Walker. As for the mask, it still remains
safe and contained in Walker's studio as a reminder to its creator
of the powerful healing art therapy has.
Over time, she
began to realize that a series of patterns had emerged regarding the
themes of the masks. Some of the key topics of creation for a
variety of her patients include patriotism, the uniform, the injury,
death/grief, a sense of split self and
compartmentalization/fragmentation. NICoE began to gather data from
the masks, and is able to track how this therapy has had by
correlating the service members' incoming PTSD and generalized
anxiety scores with the themes depicted in the masks. Because of the
positive impact and attention this program has received, including a
feature story in National Geographic Magazine, other treatment
programs have expanded to include art therapy and are giving hope
back to those who didn't know of the positive impacts the creative
arts therapies could provide to them. "We see their affects change,
as well as their ability to be open with their providers, families,
and each other," Walker said.
Following the talk, guests
were able to explore the temporary exhibit and speak with Walker
about her work. As an added bonus, art made in France during World
War I were available for review from the NMHM historical collection.
Some of the historical artifacts included prints, carved wood
blocks, and other 2-D materials such as cards, embroidery, and a
cartoon. Ceramic artifacts from World War II were also on display.
A selection of masks from this unique program will be on
display at NMHM until September 23. Guests are welcome to explore
how these masks truly capture the pain, grief, misunderstanding and
trauma that so many service members experience after returning from
their deployments.
NMHM's Medical Museum Science Cafes are a
regular series of informal talks that connect the mission of the
Department of Defense museum with the public. The next Science Caf�
"Military Medicine's Investment in Global Health Engagement" will
take place on September 24, 2016, and will explore the DoD's
approach to global health engagement, and building relationships and
partnerships across the world.
NMHM was founded as the Army
Medical Museum in 1862 and moved to its current location in Silver
Spring, Maryland, in 2012. NMHM is an element of the Defense Health
Agency.
By Timothy Clarke
National
Museum of Health and Medicine
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2016
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