About Gretchen

Education- Gretchen obtained a Bachelor of Science in Art Therapy from Bowling Green State University (BGSU) in 1995 and received her Master of Arts in Art Therapy from Ursuline College in 1999. During her time at BGSU, Gretchen was the 1994 receipt of The School of Art’s James W. Strong Community Service Award, in which she was given funding to develop and implement a community-based arts program for youth. Gretchen was also the 1995 receipt for Outstanding Art Therapy Student awarded by the College of Health and Human Services at BGSU.  In 1999, Gretchen was the award receipt for Exceptional Creativity and Achievement in Thesis Research from Ursuline College’s Master of Arts in Art Therapy Program.

Professional Practice- Gretchen has worked extensively with children and adolescents, including being the Founder and Art Therapy Program Coordinator (1995-2002) of a residential treatment partial hospitalization art therapy program at The Cleveland Christian Home, as well as developed and implemented a clinical art therapy program for Applewood Centers, Inc., within a residential treatment program for adolescent females from 2002-2004.  Since 2004, Gretchen has been working in the area of childhood trauma and loss, including practicing art therapy with grieving children and adolescents who have experienced a death of a loved one, as well as children from homes of domestic violence. Gretchen’s work with trauma intervention and loss motivated her to become a Certified Trauma and Loss Consultant through the National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children (TLC). 

In 2004, Gretchen founded Art Therapy Outreach Services as a community resource for the Greater Cleveland & Lorain County areas to provide art therapy groups and trainings for professionals and agencies. Gretchen has provided contract art therapy services for agencies such as Welcome House, Inc., The Beck Center for the Arts, The Brecksville Center for the Arts, The Teen Health Center, Cornerstone of Hope, Bereavement Services of Southwest General Medical Center, Cogswell Hall and Common Ground Center for Renewal working with children, adolescents, and adults.

Presentations-Gretchen has presented regionally and nationally on the application of art therapy, including at BATA Symposiums, several AATA conferences, is a guest lecturer and adjunct professor at Ursuline College’s Master of Arts in Art Therapy & Counseling Program, and has presented throughout the Greater Cleveland area for agencies such as Applewood Centers, Inc. and The Art Therapy Studio. Gretchen is also a visiting guest faculty for Mount Mary College’s Master of Science in Art Therapy Program in Milwaukee, WI.

Professional Affiliations- Gretchen has been active within the American Art Therapy Association (AATA) since 1994. She is currently a Credentialed Professional Member and for over three years (2005-2008), was Web Editor of AATA’s official site. She currently serves on AATA’s Journal Advisory Board and is Program Chair for AATA’s 40th Anniversary 2009 Conference in Dallas, TX.

 

In addition, Gretchen is a Credentialed Professional Member of Ohio’s Buckeye Art Therapy Association (BATA) and currently is serving her second term as President of this non-profit membership organization. She leads a twelve member Board of Directors and membership of almost 200 art therapists, students, and other interested professionals who are dedicated to the advancement of the practice of art therapy. She also has served as BATA’s Publications Committee Chair (2005 & 2006), which included being the Editor of BATA’s quarterly professional newsletter, The Palette. 

 

Special Interests- In addition to her interest in using art therapy for trauma intervention, Gretchen also has an interest in computer technology, including creating, designing, and managing different websites and forums related to art therapy, networking, and providing resources to art therapists. In 2008, she created The Art Therapy Alliance on the social media networking site LinkedIn to bring together art therapists, students, and interested professionals who support the use of art therapy.  She also moderates the Art Therapy Student Networking Forum, Ohio Art Therapy E-Group, and Art Therapy Dialogue E-Group on Yahoo Groups.

 

Art- Gretchen enjoys painting, creating collage art, creating mixed media art, and making altered books. Here are some of her favorite collages:  

 

 

To learn more about Gretchen’s work as an art therapist, check out her LinkedIn Profile or her website gretchen-miller.com.