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. They help clients:

• Express emotions without feeling pressured
• Foster self-awareness and personal insight
• Improve communication skills in relationships
• Feel seen and validated through structured yet open-ended conversations

By introducing therapy cards into sessions, therapists offer a playful yet meaningful way to engage clients in emotional exploration.

1. Couples Therapy: Understanding Emotional Roles

Relationships are complex, and each person brings different emotional roles and patterns into them. One way to explore these dynamics is through therapy cards.

💜 Using ‘Parts in Me’ for relational dynamics:

• Have each partner pick a card representing a part of themselves that often appears in the relationship.
• Discuss: “How does this part help? How does it create challenges?”
• Encourage partners to explore how they can support each other’s emotional needs.

By identifying different aspects of their emotional selves, couples can gain clarity on their strengths and struggles, leading to deeper communication and empathy. This exercise helps bring unconscious patterns to the surface, making it easier for couples to navigate challenges together.

Expanding the Exercise:

• Ask each partner to write a short letter from the perspective of the chosen “part.” This can reveal underlying emotions and unmet needs.
• Swap letters and discuss insights in a safe, therapist-guided setting.
• Reflect on how different parts of themselves interact with each other in the relationship.

The goal is to normalize vulnerability and emotional complexity, helping couples understand and appreciate each other’s internal worlds.

2. Group Therapy: Sharing Emotions in a Safe Space

Group therapy can be a powerful setting for emotional healing, but it requires a sense of safety and connection. Therapy cards provide a structured yet flexible way to help participants express themselves and relate to others.

🎲 Using ‘Emotions in Time’ to encourage storytelling:

• Roll the time dice, pick an emotion card, and invite participants to share an experience connected to that emotion.
• This method helps normalize vulnerability and fosters shared understanding.

By providing a guided structure, therapy cards help individuals feel more comfortable opening up. Over time, these small moments of storytelling and reflection create a strong sense of community and belonging.

Deepening the Group Experience:

• After each story is shared, invite other participants to reflect on how they relate to the emotion.
• Encourage non-verbal responses (e.g., writing down a word, drawing, or using body language) to make space for different forms of expression.
• Use follow-up prompts: “If you could send a message to yourself at that time, what would it be?”

These exercises foster emotional validation and help participants feel truly heard.

(P.S. The photo contains a sneak peek from a new set of cards in the works—stay tuned!)

3. Individual Therapy: Helping Clients Identify Emotions

For many clients, putting feelings into words can be a challenge. Therapy cards offer a visual and interactive way to name and process emotions.

🃏 Using therapy cards for self-reflection:

• Have clients choose a card at the beginning of a session and reflect on how that emotion has shown up in their life.
• Discuss: “Where do you feel this in your body? When does this emotion show up most often?”
• This can be a useful tool for clients who struggle to articulate their feelings in words.

Additional Techniques:

• Create a “timeline of emotions” by having clients pick multiple cards that represent different life stages.
• Use journaling prompts alongside the cards for deeper processing outside of sessions.
• For highly anxious clients, incorporate mindfulness or grounding exercises before and after selecting a card.

By externalizing emotions into something tangible, clients can engage with their feelings in a way that feels less intimidating. Over time, this process helps build emotional literacy and self-awareness, making it easier for clients to communicate their inner world.

Final Thoughts

Therapy cards are a simple yet profound tool for emotional exploration. Whether used in couples therapy, group work, or individual sessions, they provide a playful, structured, and safe way to dive into emotional depth. By integrating them into sessions, therapists can create space for meaningful conversations, self-discovery, and healing.

If you’re a therapist, consider experimenting with therapy cards in your practice. You might be surprised by the insights and connections they help uncover!

💡 Have you used therapy cards in your practice? Share your experiences in the comments or explore more ways to integrate them into your sessions!