Weaving Through Pain
March 2, 2025
This article is Part II of a two-part series on pain and art therapy, following Art Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Pain Management.
There’s something quite lovely about working with textiles arts, feeling the fibres slip between your fingers and watching something take shape under your guidance. But it’s more than simply making something; it’s the whole tactile experience, the feel of the fibres, the gentle pull of the thread, that brings a sense of presence and calm. The sensory feedback from weaving engages the nervous system in a way that can be incredibly soothing, grounding the mind in the repetitive motion and helping to regulate pain responses. It’s a process of focusing the mind, steadying the body, and easing discomfort through touch and rhythm.
Weaving, in particular, has a rhythm to it, something steady, predictable, and calming. The repetition of movement is almost meditative, gently nudging the mind away from pain and into a more peaceful state. There’s no need to force stillness or silence; instead, weaving allows focus to shift naturally, filling the mind with texture, colour, and the satisfaction of creation. In a way, it transforms pain, not by making it disappear, but by softening its edges and making it easier to live alongside. The act of creating something tangible, expressive and beautiful, gives a sense of control and accomplishment, even when the body feels unpredictable.
And the benefits don’t stop when the weaving does. Structured art therapy programmes help people develop long-term coping strategies, becoming better equipped to handle the ups and downs of chronic pain. Over time, creative expression becomes an anchor, something to return to during pain flares, offering both relief and a reminder that pain doesn’t have to define the day.
Beyond the personal experience, weaving also has a way of bringing people together. Participating in a weaving circle or an art therapy group fosters connection, breaking the isolation that can accompany living with chronic pain. Arts-based health programmes improve well-being and create a sense of belonging for those navigating pain. In these spaces, there’s an unspoken understanding, a shared experience that can make the burden feel a little lighter.
Weaving can be a therapeutic practice that blends creativity, movement, and mindfulness into something deeply healing. As research continues to validate the role of art therapy in pain management, I think fibre arts generally, but weaving in particular deserves a place in art therapy treatment plans. Whether practiced alone as a quiet ritual or as part of a community, it offers a way forward, one thread at a time.
Extra reading for the curious
Angheluță, A., & Lee, B. K. (2011). Art therapy for chronic pain: Applications and future directions. Canadian Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy, 45, 112-131.
Carden-Coyne, A. (2020). The Art of Resilience: Veteran Therapy from the Occupational to the Creative, 1914–45. In The First World War and Health (pp. 39-70). Brill.
Crawford, C., Lee, C., & Bingham, J. J. (2014). Sensory art therapies for the self-management of chronic pain symptoms. Pain Medicine, 15(Suppl 1), S66-75.
Futterman Collier, A. D., Wayment, H. A., & Birkett, M. (2016). Impact of making textile handcrafts on mood enhancement and inflammatory immune changes. Art Therapy, 33(4), 178-185.
Haaga, M. (2015). Effects of art therapy intervention for chronic pain and psychosocial comorbidities.
Hasio, C. (2011). Searching the soul: Veterans and their arts and crafts. Art Education, 64(6), 48-54.
Henare, D., Hocking, C., & Smythe, L. (2003). Chronic pain: Gaining understanding through the use of art. The British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 66, 511-518.
Koebner, I., Chatterjee, H., Tancredi, D., Witt, C., Gosdin, M., Rawal, R., Weinberg, G., & Meyers, F. J. (2021). Developing a framework for arts in health programs targeting individuals with chronic pain: A mixed-methods study of practitioners. Public Health, 197, 68-74.
Potter, S. (2019). Art Therapists' Work with Textiles.
Michelle Saleeba Psychology
Subiaco | Mullaloo | Outdoors | Online
Evidence-based therapy for adults seeking clarity, resilience, and renewal