A Community Art Therapy Group for Adults With Chronic Pain

Abstract

This paper describes a community art therapy group for people living with chronic pain. The paper is presented in three sections: the aims and rationale for establishing such a group, description of clinical interventions and a case study.This innovative model of group art therapy offers short term, focussed art therapy group support to chronic hospital patients through a community art therapy initiative.The paper reports on quantitative and qualitative measures undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of the group -specifically pre and post group validated questionnaires and qualitative feedback at the end of the group.This pilot programme offers a new model of short term art therapy intervention for people living with chronic conditions. KeywordsArt therapy, chronic pain, community, hospital out patients, group Word count Main text 5495 words Abstract 114 wordsThe role of a community art therapy group for people with chronic pain 3 MAIN BODY TEXT

The Effects of Mindfulness-Based Mandala Coloring, Made in Nature, on Chronic Widespread Musculoskeletal Pain: Randomized Trial

“…Overall, MBMC within nature could not verify therapeutic factors identified from art therapy studies on pain management [19][20][21][22][23]. In terms of art therapy providing security of relational attachment for individuals with chronic pain [19,21,22], MBMC within nature would take this into account because this study was implemented on a short-term basis.…”

“…In terms of art therapy providing security of relational attachment for individuals with chronic pain [19,21,22], MBMC within nature would take this into account because this study was implemented on a short-term basis. In terms of art therapy useful for emotional and psychological support for individuals with chronic pain [23], MBMC within nature may have influenced the results because it was implemented on a group basis and the therapeutic protocol includes sharing the experience with others.…”

“…Therefore, mindfulness-based mandala coloring made within nature was conducted within the framework of mindfulness-based art activities in terms of coloring materials provided to participants [20]. The group therapy format was rationalized based on the evidence-provided guidance that group support is beneficial [23]. MBMC within nature consisting of a mandala drawing lasted for four hours.…”

“…Therapeutically, art facilitates self-realization and rediscovering a more evident self [18]. There are a few art therapy studies that reported chronic pain effects for various population groups and medical conditions [19][20][21][22][23]. The therapeutic factors revealed in art therapy studies for pain management are as follows.…”

“…First, art making evolved to provide the individual with a way to increase the security of relational attachment, when their pain experiences are shared with the art therapist [19,21,22]. Second, group art therapy is useful for emotional and psychological support when their pain experiences are shared with others [23]. MBAT aims to connect the creative process of art making with the awareness of inner self and emotions [24].…”