Picture cards can be simple visual representations or convey complex symbolic ideas. They can be used with any age - from children through to adults - to prompt discussion, explore emotional responses or encourage creativity. Using pictures can help to tap into hard to articulate feelings and communicate on a level beyond words.
Why use picture cards within therapy?
We've included just a few reasons for how using cards can enhance the therapy situation:
Encourage communication
Cards can be used as a tool to express feeling, situation or ideas and can show things that are difficult to articulate or convey with words. They can go beyond speech and language and this can be used as a starting point for further exploration. For example, the client could choose a card that shows how they are are feeling right now or in a particular situation.
Creative exploration
Picture cards can help clients get into their creative side, can prompt storytelling or metaphorical thinking and help to see situations from a different point of view. For example, you could ask a client to select a card that represents their current problem or conflict - helping to distance the problem and make it easier to consider solutions.
Going beyond stuckness
A change of approach can be helpful when it feels like the therapy has come to a halt. Using picture cards can be a way of encouraging a a change through creative expression, both for the client and the therapist.
Safety
Using picture cards can feel safer for some clients - choosing cards that represent feelings or situations can help give a starting point for exploration can can convey complex patterns that may be hard to distinguish initially.
Reflection
As a tool for reflection, you may ask a client to choose a card that resonates with them and then explore why they were drawn to that particular image. Using cards in this way within the group therapy setting can be an excellent way of building connections as members share personal stories or responses, others begin to have insight into that person's life and experiences.
Practical Tips for Using Picture Cards in Therapy
Tailor the Cards to the Client: Not all picture cards are created equal. Consider the age, cognitive abilities, and interests of your client when choosing the cards. For children, brightly colored cards with simple images may work best, while adults might respond more to abstract or metaphorical images.
Create a Safe Space: Always reassure clients that there are no right or wrong answers when working with picture cards. The goal is to explore their thoughts and feelings, not to force an interpretation.
Encourage Open-Ended Exploration: Rather than leading with specific questions, allow the client to interpret the image freely. Open-ended prompts like "What does this picture make you think of?" or "How does this card relate to your life right now?" can stimulate deeper exploration.
Be Mindful of Cultural Contexts: Some images may carry different meanings depending on a client’s cultural background. Ensure that the cards are inclusive and considerate of various cultural interpretations.
We've found picture cards to be a valuable tool for enhancing communication and emotional exploration within the therapy session. Whether you’re working with children, adults, or clients with specific communication challenges, these visual aids can provide an accessible, engaging, and powerful way to facilitate deeper self-reflection and personal growth. Incorporating picture cards into your therapeutic toolkit, means that you can offer clients a new way to express themselves and help them to feel, see, hear, and understood.
How to start
It can be daunting if you haven't used them before but you could practice using them in your clinical supervision. Hopefully your supervisor would be open to this.
Alternatively, there are workshops to attend or watch and books. We have found that doing it in a safe space rather is better than just reading and can help with exploring the full extent of using picture cards.
Why not give it a go?
Upcoming Workshops
We aim to give you the tools you need to be an effective therapist. To this end we offer a range of online and in-person workshops. Find out more here.