Working with young people, I learned that sometimes conventional talk therapy can be overwhelming and even intimidating, for some. Talking openly about feelings can be a very new experience for many young people, especially those who have never had counselling before. With this in mind, I personally find it useful to have resources in my 'tool box' to help things along.

As a person-centred counsellor and creative arts therapist, I prefer to offer resources that are still very much client-led, leaving room for self-expression and these cards are great for that.

I think those of us who work with young people, have perhaps had a time when a client shares their art work, a poem or a song with us, as a way to open up and voice their inner experience. It's often their way of inviting us in and communicating without having to actually say the words. 

When I started to create this deck, I knew straight away that I wanted to paint images that were raw and relatable, the kind of images that a young person might doodle and sketch in the back of a notebook, not perfect illustrations. 

So how might you implement these into sessions?

As with any resource, to me, it's important to have it as an offering or option as opposed to a requirement. So, if a client is stuck, or unsure where to start, these cards are typically my go to. I might say 'I have these cards if you'd like to explore them' or often I leave them in eyes view and the young person naturally enquires 'What are those?'. 

In fact, I find that having resources in arms reach or at least in view has always proven to be beneficial in my therapy room. 

How I use them in sessions

I begin by handing the whole deck to the young person and inviting them to select any cards that represent how they are currently feeling, a specific situation or experience. I sit quietly and patiently, giving them space to flip through the cards. 

At times, they hold up a card and ask 'What does this mean?' and I often answer with something like 'Hmm, I guess it could represent lots of things. I wonder what it means to you?'. They will often think it over a moment and then decide if it speaks to them or not. 

I believe it's important to allow the client to see the image through their own lens, and not have my thoughts projected onto it, so even though I had an idea of what they represent when I painted them, I don't share that. I allow my client a blank slate to have it mean whatever it does to them. It always blows me away how differently the cards are perceived, and if I were to impose my meaning onto a card, that might be lost and that would be such a shame because it reveals so much. 

Once the client has selected some cards, I invite them to share why they selected each card and what it means to them. I don't ask about specific cards, I simply invite them to start wherever they feel comfortable. The process of using these cards can, at times, fill a whole session and in my experience, I wouldn't recommend pulling them out with 10 minutes to spare. In the instance that a client hasn't finished talking about all the cards, I invite them to take a photo of any they would like to re-visit and give a voice to in the following session, if it feels right for them.

Benefits of Using the Cards

For me, the biggest benefit of using these cards is that they make it easier for young people to get started. When talking about feelings feels too much, the images offer a way to express what's going on for them. I find that even when a young person says they don't have anything to talk about, it's often more a case of 'I don't know how to begin to talk about the thing I want to talk about'. I often notice that once a young person chooses a card, the conversation starts to flow naturally and effortlessly.

Another benefit is that the cards are completely flexible, meaning there is no “right" or “wrong” way to use them. Some clients choose one card, others spread out ten, sometimes a card is chosen because it represents a very specific feeling, and other times it’s picked simply because “I just like it.” All of these responses are valid, and each one opens up space for exploration.

I also love that the cards encourage creativity and individuality. The same card that means “loneliness” to one client, means “peace” to another. That uniqueness really honours the person-centred approach, each young person’s perspective is at the heart of the work, not mine.

Finally, I think the cards can take away some of the pressure. Talking about emotions face-to-face can feel very intense, but when a young person has a card in their hand, the focus shifts to the image. It’s almost like the card becomes a safe buffer, creating distance, helping them express something that might feel too vulnerable to put into words straight away. 

I really hope you enjoyed this insight into why I created this deck and how I personally use it in sessions with my adolescent clients. 

If you wish to check out this deck please click here

Michelle 

Any reviews in this blog can be verified through my website or Etsy.