The Use of Metaphor in Art Making for Acceptance and Change with People who Experience Chronic Pain

This study was designed to explore the use of metaphor in art making in order toinvestigate the concepts of acceptance and change with people who experience chronicpain. The primary question for this qualitative collective case study was: How does theuse of metaphor in art making help people with chronic pain express the experience ofacceptance and change? The research utilized a qualitative collective case study design tocollect and analyze the data obtained through: responses to the Chronic Pain AcceptanceQuestionnaire and the Pain Stages of Change Questionnaire; the creation of two art tasks,the first being “Draw a picture of yourself in a storm” and the second “Draw a picture ofa bridge going from one place to another place”; an open-ended responsive interview;and a validation interview. Medical records were obtained for additional sources of datathat included: diagnosis, treatment, duration of pain condition, and demographicinformation.The results of this study suggested that although each participant’s experience ofexploring metaphor in art making was unique, there was some overlap in meaning, andcommon themes emerged. It appeared that the use of metaphor in art making can helppeople who experience chronic pain express the concepts of acceptance and change in thefollowing manner: 1) by introducing an opportunity for the openness to, or avoidance of asituation, including the art making experience; 2) by providing a safe distance with whichto face a challenging situation; 3) through the metaphoric objectification of a situation,allowing for assessment, clarity and wise decision-making; 4) by providing the means forcommunication about the degree to which security and protection are implemented intheir lives; 5) by providing a way to explore personal and professional relationships; 6)by providing a way to reflect the influence of past experiences on present and futuresituations; and 7) through the discovery of a non-linear, meaningful and relaxing mode ofexpression. Although further research is required, this study seems to suggest that the useof metaphor in art making elicits a wealth of information regarding the concepts ofacceptance and change with people who experience chronic pain, and may not only proveto be an affordable and beneficial brief art therapy treatment, but also a clinicalevaluative instrument with which to assess treatment goals.M.A., Creative Arts in Therapy -- Drexel University, 200