Gathering the pieces: A handbook for the creative exploration of chronic pain

Gathering the pieces: A handbook for the creative exploration of chronic pain is a reference written for people living with chronic pain and the art therapists that support them. By offering readers an overview of contemporary pain research and diverse cultural perspectives on the root causes of dis-ease, followed by relevant art therapy theory, this handbook illuminates how art therapy can help people living with chronic pain to better understand their symptoms and find healthy ways to move forward. Twenty-six art invitations are provided to guide readers in exploring their relationship to pain, utilizing a trauma-informed sequence. Illustrations and insights from the researcher’s personal artbased inquiry on chronic pain accompany the art invitations. The handbook concludes with a reflection on the project outcomes and possible avenues for future research.