Mental Health

Emotional Regulation & Grounding

When Clients Intellectualize Their Feelings: 10 Ways to Gently Shift Toward Emotional Processing

Some clients explain their emotions instead of feeling them—staying in their heads as a way to stay safe. While insight has its place, healing happens when emotions are experienced, not just analyzed. Here are 10 practical, in-session strategies to gently guide clients back to feeling: 1. Call Attention to the Pattern—With Curiosity, Not Judgment Instead of pointing out intellectualization as a defense, invite awareness:“I notice that when we talk about emotions, you describe them from a distance—like an observer. Do you feel that too?” This allows clients to recognize their pattern without feeling criticized. 2. Invite the Body Into the

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Guides & Tips

How to Get Clients to Open Up: 8 Practical Strategies

One of the biggest challenges in therapy isn’t just what to say—it’s how to create a space where clients feel safe enough to share. For many, talking about emotions is unfamiliar, intimidating, or overwhelming. Whether you’re a therapist, coach, or facilitator, helping people access and express their emotions is a key part of the work. Here are 8 practical ways to encourage clients to open up and share their feelings, with and without therapy tools. 1. Normalize Emotional Hesitation—But Offer a Start Some clients feel pressure to talk right away, which can create resistance. Acknowledge this openly: “It’s completely normal

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Guides & Tips

Therapist’s Guide: Using Therapy Cards to Grow Connection

Therapy cards offer a creative and structured way to explore emotions in sessions. Whether working with couples, individuals, or groups, they can be a powerful tool to facilitate deeper emotional work. By using structured prompts and interactive elements, therapy cards help clients name, explore, and process their emotions in a way that feels approachable and engaging. Why Use Therapy Cards? Therapy can be intimidating, especially when clients struggle to put their emotions into words. Therapy cards provide a tangible and visual tool that can break down barriers and create a safe, guided entry point for discussing deep and complex emotions.

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Family

Relationship Reflection Prompts: Past, Present & Future: A list of powerful questions to help couples, friends, or individuals reflect on their emotional journey with love.

Reflecting on our relationships offers valuable insights into our emotional journeys, helping us understand how past experiences shape our present connections and future aspirations. Engaging in thoughtful reflection allows us to navigate our emotions, recognize patterns, and foster healthier interactions with others and ourselves. Reflecting on Past Relationships Our past relationships, whether romantic, familial, or platonic, significantly influence our current perspectives and behaviors. Taking time to reflect on these experiences can help us identify lessons learned and areas for growth. Consider these prompts to delve into your past: Understanding Present Connections Being present in our current relationships involves recognizing and

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Family

Valentine’s Reflection: What Did Love Mean to You as a Kid?

As Valentine’s Day approaches, it’s a perfect time to reflect on how our understanding of love has evolved from childhood to adulthood. Our therapy card set, Emotions in Time, is designed to help you explore these evolving emotions, bringing moments like these into focus. By revisiting your earliest memories of love, you can gain valuable insights into your emotional development and the factors that have shaped your current perceptions of affection and connection. Childhood Perceptions of Love In our early years, love is often perceived through simple, tangible actions. For instance, young children might associate love with “helping each other,”

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