Though many people enjoy woodworking, it’s not often thought of as a therapeutic modality. In my experience, however, it offers a range of benefits and can be used like any other creative medium as a means for finding meaning, expressing oneself, and achieving meditative/introspective states. Whether you have access to hand tools, power saws, or are simply whittling, here are a few therapeutic areas you can explore when working with wood.
- Mindful engagement: Woodworking calls for intense focus. Selecting wood, measuring precisely, staying conscious of safety, and designing for function/aesthetics all demand attention and presence. One can temporarily detach from stressors, cultivate a sense of mental clarity, find a sanctuary from overthinking, or simply use woodworking time as a quite haven.
- Stress reduction and relaxation: The rhythmic and repetitive nature of woodworking as well as its demands for precision, spatial awareness, and patience can promote a sense of calm. You can take projects at your own pace without pressure or deadlines. See here for some nice woodworking sounds.
- Problem solving and working through frustration: Woodworking is full of puzzles and problems to be solved. There may be frustration built into the process when things don’t go as planned, but one can always back up and try again. Working through the problems can have big psychological payoff when the project is complete.
- Creative expression: Woodworking is an amazing outlet for bringing creative ideas to life, whether using 3D software, sketching ideas on paper, or improvising as you go. It can also be a way to connect with tradition or use inspiring original designs in one’s own creations. There are tons of project ideas to be found through a google search, on youtube, and through publications like Fine Woodworking.
- Accomplishment: There’s nothing like enjoying the tangible results of your labor. Making handcrafted furniture, smaller boxes, carvings, or building something functional around your home requires developing skills and exercising dedication, which flow into self esteem and accomplishment.
- Benefits for mental health: Ask any creative arts therapist and they’ll be able to tell you about the power of a hands-on creative process. Working with wood can be a powerful modality in helping to manage anxiety, depression, and working through all kinds of feelings by providing a creative outlet for expression and healing. See here for a cool program in Pennsylvania that offers woodworking groups for veterans to target PTSD.
- Community and connection: Whether through classes or collaborative projects people can share their enthusiasm, learn from each other, and build a support network through woodworking. The communal aspect of building something together provides a sense of belonging and shared purpose. It should be easy to find classes or woodworking groups near you such as Makeville in Brooklyn or Bentwood in Putnam County with a quick google search. Classes are great because they give you access to tools and materials and can guide you through project ideas. Also, perusing woodworking and tool groups on Facebook and visiting local yard sales to hunt tools can be a great way to connect people who have also caught the woodworking bug.
- In therapy: I’ve worked with people in session who discuss inspirations, designs and plans or who show me pics or bring in finished products. We also talk expansively about the intentions and benefits of woodworking and sculpting. The discussion helps to keep the creative process of woodworking within a therapeutic frame and also feeds into the therapeutic relationship in general.
Overall, woodworking transcends its traditional roots when it serves as a therapeutic tool and offers individuals a creative and meditative space for discovery and well-being. As people engage in the art of shaping wood, they not only craft physical objects but also create pathways to improved mental health.
If you’re interested in using creative modalities in therapy please learn more about our practice here or contact us.