Merryl E. Rothaus

Visiting Faculty,School of Applied Psychology, Counseling and Family Therapy

Summary of Education and Relevant Experience

B.A., Syracuse University; M.A. Naropa University.
Merryl Rothaus is a board-certified registered art therapist and licensed mental health counselor. Rothaus maintains a private psychotherapy practice where she blends her training as a transpersonal art therapist with her post-graduate studies in the Hakomi method of mindfulness-based, body psychotherapy. She previously taught in the Graduate Transpersonal Art Therapy department at Naropa University for five years where she also was the Onsite Coordinator of the Naropa Community Art Studio. Rothaus has worked extensively as an Art Therapist in a community-based, social-action context with a variety of populations including at-risk youth, adults with mental illness, women working with body image and eating disorders and with people who are actively dying. Rothaus has presented her work nationally and locally at various conferences and trainings.

Affiliations

Publications

Franklin, M.; Rothaus, M.; Schpok, K. "Unity in Diversity; Communal pluralism in the art studio and the classroom." In Kaplan, F. (Ed.), Art therapy and social action; Treating the world's wounds, London and Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2005.

Rothaus, M. Girl Power and art therapy; Self-Identity, self-esteem and empowerment with at-risk adolescent girls. Unpublished master's thesis, Naropa University, Boulder, Colorado, 2001.

Professional Presentations

Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence, "Art Therapy with Victims of Domestic Violence," Pueblo, CO, 2006.

American Art Therapy Association Conference, "Teen Art Therapy in the Gallery: Community Collaboration of Inside-Out Boxes," San Diego, CA, 2004.

Art Therapy Professional Lecture Series, "Teen Art Therapy in the Gallery: Community Collaboration of Inside-Out Boxes," Naropa University, Boulder, CO, 2004.

American Art Therapy Association Conference, "Unity in Diversity: Community Pluralism in the Art Studio and Classroom," Washington, D.C., 2002.

Compass House Outreach, "Art Therapy as the Treatment of Choice with Adolescents," Boulder, CO, 2002.

Art Therapy Graduate Student Presentations, "Self-Identity, Self-Esteem and Empowerment With At-Risk Adolescent Girls Using Art Therapy," Naropa University, Boulder, CO, 2001.

Grants and Contracts

Contributed to writing grant for the Community Foundation of Boulder County (2002) which awarded the Naropa Community Art Studio monies for working with adjudicated youth.

Contributed to writing grant for Sheila Fortune Foundation (2004), which awarded the Naropa Community Art Studio monies for art supplies and studio staff.

Wrote grant to Open Door Fund to do a studio art therapy group for GLBTQ teens.

Co-wrote grant for Youth Opportunities Advisory Board (2005) to do "YAY" scales project with Boulder Youth Body Alliance.

Professional Interests

Art therapy as social action
Community-based art therapy
Hakomi and body-centered psychotherapies
Body-centered, mindfulness-based art therapy

On Interest Area

"My interest in art therapy as a form of social action has led me to work within a community context with marginalized populations in a commitment to have their voices seen and heard through the language of art. I believe that line, shape, color, texture and engaging in the creative process as a language is inherent in all people and can be used for healing and growth on multiple levels. My training in the Hakomi method of mindfulness-based body-centered psychotherapy is an excellent and logical pairing with art therapy."

On Teaching at Antioch

"I am inspired by Antioch's commitment to social action and training our students to be culturally-competent clinicians which is supported through being surrounded by an incredibly diverse pool of outstanding educators and clinicians. I am committed to and love talking with students in order to support, cultivate and empower their blossoming interests and areas of passion as clinicians and academics."

Contact Information

School of Applied Psychology, Counseling and Family Therapy
206-268-4810

Merryl Rothaus
206-268-4809
E-mail