I am honored to share an article I was interviewed for about the benefits of art therapy for migraine and chronic pain for the Bezzy Community. Many thanks to Hannah for reaching out and highlighting what art therapy can do!
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Medically Reviewed by:
Tiffany Taft, PsyD
Art therapy can help manage migraine pain and offer an alternative to talk therapy. It doesn’t require artistic skill and can fit diverse needs.
Splattered paint covers my hands, arms, and every other bit of skin my apron doesn’t protect. A once-white sheet of paper is also awash with a rainbow of colors and shapes. For the first time in weeks, I’m not thinking about pain.
I reluctantly attended my first art therapy workshop, doubtful that I would connect with the practice. However, I left rejuvenated by the unique approach.
While no therapy is a cure for conditions like migraine, art therapy can play a significant role in helping people manage the impact of chronic pain.
What is art therapy?
“Art therapy is a therapeutic practice that combines the creative process with psychological counseling to promote emotional and mental well-being,” says Sophie Cress, a licensed therapist and mental health expert.
Unlike traditional therapy, art therapy uses art-making instead of verbal communication as a medium to explore and express thoughts and emotions.
“The aim is not to produce aesthetically pleasing art but to use the creative process as a means of personal exploration and healing,” says Cress.
Art therapy can include an array of mediums and activities, like:
- painting
- drawing
- sculpting
- collage-making
An art therapist typically leads one-on-one or group sessions. However, you can implement techniques independently at home. Art therapy focuses on physical creations, allowing people to process their emotions and thoughts through what their hands create.
While talk therapy is absolutely beneficial, art therapy is a great option if you’re unable to find the words to express your feelings. The two modalities can even be combined.
“Art therapy can be a gentle way of exploring thoughts and feelings surrounding lived experiences,” adds Kayleigh Ditchburn, an art therapist with migraine. “It can provide a space to build confidence, relationships, self-esteem, self-awareness, hope, and physical and mental well-being.”
How can art therapy help people with chronic conditions?
“Chronic conditions often bring about a host of emotional and psychological challenges, including feelings of helplessness, anxiety, and depression,” Cress says. “Engaging in creative activities provides an outlet for these emotions, allowing individuals to express and process their feelings in a constructive manner.”
The creative process can also offer a welcome distraction from physical pain, Cress adds.
For me, using art therapy alleviates some of the stress associated with chronic pain.
I pour my feelings into the paper, letting them spill out freely as red, green, and blue hues that explode into abstract images. Every stroke of the brush removes a pound of weight from my mind, enabling me to tackle my health with more positive energy.
“Art therapy can also help someone express what it feels like to have chronic pain because trying to describe chronic pain from an injury, trauma, condition, or disease can be very difficult to put into words,” adds Lacy Mucklow, a clinical art therapist. “It can show others what they are truly experiencing, and feeling more understood can be healing as well.”
Ditchburn has found huge benefits in using art therapy as a self-awareness tool.
“This all has a knock-on effect and relieves the severity of the symptoms over time,” she says. “It has not prevented my migraine. However, when I do go through episodes, I am now more aware of how to cope.”
Every stroke of the brush removes a pound of weight from my mind, enabling me to tackle my health with more positive energy.
Is there any science behind art therapy?
Numerous studies support art therapy as a potential coping mechanism for chronic pain.
A 2024 study found that art therapy can help with chronic pain by understanding and addressing the individual’s pain experience, using distraction techniques, and improving mental and emotional well-being. By extension, the researchers recommend art therapy as a preventive tool for migraine.
The 2016 research Mucklow refers to found that participants’ cortisol levels, as measured by saliva samples, went down after 45 minutes of art-making. Results were consistent across age, gender, and race and ethnicity as well as for people with previous art-making experience, meaning the practice benefitted everyone similarly.
Mucklow adds that even a short 15- to 20-minute art creation session can be an outlet for mental, psychological, and physical stress.
‘It sounds interesting, but I’m skeptical’
I understand people’s skepticism around alternative therapies outside the realms of mainstream psychology. It nearly stopped me from trying art therapy, too.
But we’re all unique humans, and there is no one-size-fits-all to therapy, so why not try something a little different?
If it’s not for you, you’ve only lost an afternoon, but if you do connect with the therapy style, you’ll add a beneficial skill to your toolbox of coping mechanisms for chronic pain.
“For those who are skeptical about trying art therapy, it’s essential to approach it with an open mind and consider it as an opportunity for self-discovery rather than a test of artistic ability,” advises Cress.
Remember, art therapy isn’t about becoming an art genius or even an amateur artist. It’s about processing your feelings through artistic practice.
“Art therapy is not for artists; it is for everyone,” says Mucklow.
The art you create is only for you.
Finding the right art therapist
“Choosing to start art therapy is a big decision, regardless of where you are in your journey, as is choosing an art therapist that suits you,” says Ditchburn. “I would say shop around first.”
Don’t be afraid to explore your options, just like with traditional therapists. You might not always gel with someone, and it’s OK to move on to another therapist if you don’t feel comfortable with someone.
“It’s important to highlight the versatility of art therapy,” says Cress. “Whether in a clinical setting, a community center, or at home, art therapy can be designed to fit various contexts and personal situations.”
Creating your own art therapy
If you vibe with art therapy but can’t afford to attend in-person workshops, you can practice at home. You can check out YouTube videos to help you along.
“Doing art therapy homework between sessions while seeing an art therapist can be beneficial to continue progress,” says Mucklow. “A common approach that can be helpful is to do art journaling.”
Set aside 10 to 30 minutes a week to pour out your feelings onto some paper, whether it’s with a pen, colored pencils, or anything else you find in your house.
Art therapists are a valuable resource you can tap into, but if working with one isn’t attainable right now, don’t let that stop you.
You can create a safe space for exploring your feelings through art in the comfort of your own home, and you’ll discover a rewarding coping mechanism that can help make migraine more manageable.
Takeaway
Art therapy is an evidence-based way to manage chronic pain, including migraine. You can find a professional therapist, participate in group workshops, or even do it yourself at home.
Art therapy isn’t about the art you produce. Instead, it’s about expressing yourself through art-making.
You don’t have to be an artist or have any skill, and it can benefit just about anyone.
About the author
Hannah Shewan Stevens
Hannah Shewan Stevens is a freelance journalist, speaker, press officer, and newly qualified sex educator. She typically writes about health, disability, sex, and relationships. After working for press agencies and producing digital video content, she’s now focused on feature writing and on best practices for reporting on disability. Follow her on Twitter.
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