Therapy cards are used in psychotherapy as a tool for doing Parts Work, explore feelings, learn about yourself and process issues in therapy (see my article: How Parts Work Can Help to Empower You).
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| Parts Work Therapy Can Be Empowering |
How Are Therapy Cards Used For Parts Work and Self Reflection
I have used Inner Active Cards, which were developed by Sharon Sargent Eckstein based on the book, Parts Work by Dr. Tom Holmes counseling psychologist, to help clients while doing Parts Work therapy.
I have found that these cards, as well as other illustrated cards, help clients to understand the various aspects of themselves (also known as parts).
The cards can help clients with regard to:
- Self Exploration: The cards help clients to learn about their feelings, patterns, triggers and personal strengths
- Visual Anchors: The cards provide a visual anchor for clients to connect to the issues they want to work on so they can process these issues in therapy.
- Creative Prompts: The cards can provide a way for clients to connect with the creative aspects of themselves so they can open up to the problem solving and resilient aspects of themselves.
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| Parts Work Therapy Can Be Empowering |
- Conversation Starters: The illustrations on the cards often help clients to connect to their inner world and begin conversations with their therapist.
- Making the Unconscious Conscious: The cards can provide a way for clients to connect with their unconscious mind in a gentle and safe way to provide them with clarity and tune into their inner wisdom (see my article: Making the Unconscious Conscious).
Clinical Vignette
The following clinical vignette is a composite of many different cases with all identifying information removed to protect client confidentiality.
This vignette illustrates one way in which therapy cards can be helpful.
Bob
When Bob started therapy, he had difficulty accessing and expressing his emotions.
Bob sought help at the suggestion of his girlfriend, Emma.
Bob and Emma had been together for several months and they were having communication problems.
During their conversations, Emma realized that Bob was cut off from certain emotions so that he had difficulty expressing his feelings.
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| Parts Work Can Be Empowering |
Bob grew up in a family where his parents didn't feel comfortable with their own emotions, especially emotions they considered "negative" like anger, sadness and shame.
Due to his parents' discomfort with these emotions, Bob and his siblings learned to suppress their emotions so that, as adults, they were out of touch with their emotions.
After she obtained his family and relationship history, his therapist helped Bob to develop the internal resources to do therapy (see my article: Developing Internal Resources and Coping Skills).
When they both felt he was ready, his therapist helped Bob to identify feelings by identifying emotions in his body (see my article: Why Establishing Emotional Safety is so Important in Therapy).
For instance, Bob realized that when he felt constriction in his throat, he was holding back anger and when he felt a tightness in his stomach, he was feeling anxious (see my article: The Mind-Body Connection: The Body Offers a Window Into the Unconscious Mind).
His therapist explained Parts Work Therapy, also known as Ego States Therapy or IFS (Internal Family Systems), as a way to help him build self compassion, empathy, increase self awareness, reduce anxiety and become more empowered.
His therapist also introduced Bob to the Inner Active cards to facilitate the process by letting him look through the cards to see which ones resonated with him.
Over time, Bob was able to use the cards and Parts Work to gradually and safely get to feelings that he had suppressed in the past. This allowed Bob to begin to open up to his internal world and express his emotions more easily with his girlfriend and other people in his life.
Conclusion
Parts Work can be an empowering therapy for clients to heal.
Therapy cards are a tool some therapists use to help clients to heal emotionally.
Clients who usually have problems identifying and expressing their feelings often find the combination of the cards and Parts Work to be healing, especially for unresolved trauma (see my article: Why is Past Unresolved Trauma Affecting You Now?).
Getting Help in Therapy
If you feel stuck or you have problems you have been unable to resolve on your own, you could benefit from working with a licensed mental health professional.
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| Parts Work Therapy Can Be Empowering |
A skilled psychotherapist can help you to overcome obstacles that are keeping you from maximizing your potential.
Rather than struggling on your own, seek help from a licensed mental health professional.
About Me
I am a licensed New York psychotherapist, hypnotherapist, EMDR, AEDP, EFT (for couples), Somatic Experiencing and Sex Therapist (see my article: The Therapeutic Benefits of Integrative Therapy).
I work with individual adults and couples.
Trauma therapy is one of my specialties (see my article: What is a Trauma Therapist?).
I help clients by providing them with a safe therapeutic environment to explore their feelings so they can heal.
To find out more about me, visit my website: Josephine Ferraro, LCSW - NYC Psychotherapist.
To set up a consultation, call me at (917) 742-2624 during business hours or email me.