Art Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Pain Management
March 2, 2025
Chronic pain is more than just a physical sensation, it seeps into emotions, thoughts, and the fabric of daily life. Traditional approaches to pain management tend to focus on medication or physical interventions, but there is growing recognition of the benefits of a more integrative mind-body approach. Psychological and creative therapies offer relief, not simply by reducing pain but by transforming the way individuals experience it. Among these, Art Therapy (AT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) are particularly powerful tools. Together, they provide a way not only to cope with pain but to lead a meaningful and fulfilling life despite it.
Art Therapy uses all sorts of creative expression to help individuals process emotions, relieve stress, and build a new relationship with their pain. ACT is a form of cognitive-behavioural therapy that encourages individuals to accept their thoughts and emotions rather than battling against them. Instead of seeing pain as an enemy to be defeated, ACT promotes a different approach: acknowledging pain’s presence while still moving towards a values led, fulfilling life. Through mindfulness, psychological flexibility, and commitment to personal values, ACT teaches individuals to shift their focus from avoidance and struggle to active engagement with life.
Combined, they create a deeply transformative approach to pain management. ACT teaches that pain is inevitable but suffering is optional; Art Therapy provides a tangible means of engaging with this philosophy. Instead of resisting pain, individuals are encouraged to explore its presence, and reframe its meaning, which can lead to reduced pain perception and a greater sense of emotional balance.
One of the most transformative aspects of integrating ACT with Art Therapy is the realisation that acceptance does not mean resignation. Too often, people fear that accepting pain means giving up on the possibility of relief. In reality, acceptance is about making space for pain while also making space for joy, creativity, and fulfilment. The process of creating art mirrors this principle beautifully. Paint may smudge, clay may crack, but rather than seeing these as failures, artists learn to incorporate these changes into the evolving work. In the same way, those living with pain can learn to adapt and reshape their experience, finding new ways to engage with life that honour both their struggles and their strengths.
For anyone struggling with chronic pain, exploring these therapies could offer a pathway towards a richer, more meaningful existence. The goal is not to erase pain entirely but to learn how to live fully alongside it.
Part II explores Weaving through pain
Some further reading suggestions if interested:
Backos, A. (2022). Act art therapy: Creative approaches to acceptance and commitment therapy. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Carvalho, S. A., Gillanders, D., Forte, T., Trindade, I. A., Pinto-Gouveia, J., Lapa, T., ... & Castilho, P. (2022). Self-compassion in acceptance and commitment therapy for chronic pain: a pilot study. Scandinavian journal of pain, 22(3), 631-638.
Crawford, C., Lee, C., & Bingham, J. (2014). Sensory art therapies for the self-management of chronic pain symptoms. Pain Medicine, 15(S1), S66-S75.
Hass-Cohen, N., Bokoch, R., Goodman, K., & Conover, K. J. (2021). Art therapy drawing protocols for chronic pain: Quantitative results from a mixed method pilot study. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 73, 101749.
Hass-Cohen, N., & Findlay, J. C. (2009). Pain, attachment, and meaning making: Report on an art therapy relational neuroscience assessment protocol. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 36(4), 175-184.
Herbert, M. S., Tynan, M., Higdon, A., Backhaus, A., Chu, G. M., & Afari, N. (2025). Perspectives on an integrated acceptance and commitment therapy and mindfulness meditation program: A qualitative study of veterans with chronic pain. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 100885.
O'Neill Haaga, M. (2015). Effects of art therapy intervention for chronic pain and psychosocial comorbidities. Expressive Therapies Dissertations. 79. https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/expressive_dissertations/79
Michelle Saleeba Psychology
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Evidence-based therapy for adults seeking clarity, resilience, and renewal