About Melissa:
Melissa Walker, a nationally registered Creative Arts Therapist, has dedicated her career to helping active-duty service members cope with the “invisible wounds” of war. She works at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE), a directorate of the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Since receiving her Master’s Degree in Art Therapy from New York University, Walker has specialized in treating service members suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI) and psychological health conditions such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In 2010, she designed and implemented the NICoE Healing Arts Program, a crucial component of the center’s interdisciplinary care model. The most powerful element of her program is mask-making. Trauma often silences its victims, making it difficult for service members to verbally process their experiences. By creating a mask, patients safely externalize deep emotions, trauma, and identity struggles related to their service. Melissa’s work has shown that these visual expressions help patients communicate their inner turmoil to peers and providers, promoting healing and self-acceptance. Melissa’s innovative approach has gained international attention. She also serves as a lead art therapist for Creative Forces: The NEA/Military Healing Arts Network, a partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts that aims to expand access to creative arts therapies for the military population.
