Paper Soldiers: A Clinical Case Study Exploring Papermaking as an Art Therapy Intervention to Increase Posttraumatic Growth in Military Sexual Trauma Survivors

Through a six-week qualitative, single subject clinical case study, the effect of papermaking and other paper based art therapy directives showed potential in increasing posttraumatic growth in a veteran with military sexual trauma (MST) related PTSD. Pre and Post-Test Questionnaires and the AT-PIA were administered to assess the client’s current level of mental health functioning, feelings about the MST experience, and to develop a treatment goal and art directives for the study, as well as check in and check out words, and Self-Work Assignments for personal reflection. Papermaking was chosen as the main art intervention because it carries within itself the essential artistic and therapeutic components that provide a corrective emotional experience and fosters posttraumatic growth. It is also innately process and success-based, symbolic, and narrative. The study participant increased posttraumatic growth and resilience, and made gains in new coping skills, art interests, increased self-esteem, and life purpose. Data from this study will be useful in developing trauma-focused art therapy protocols because of its underpinnings in neurobiological processes such as EMDR and bilateral stimulation for treatment of sexual trauma related PTSD. With the development of art therapy indicators of posttraumatic growth, the study results can also theoretically provide clinical answers and evidence of why papermaking is helpful to sexual trauma, what art directives are best suited for this work, and how those interventions should be combined to maximize client treatment success.