How do you connect to your emotions as a therapist? Are there therapeutic aids that you can use in-session to increase the depth of therapy for your client? Can you use similar therapeutic aids for your self-care?
Natasha is a B.A.C.P Accredited counselor and Psychotherapist based in Nottingham England.
Visit her website. Connect on Instagram and Facebook.
Purchase My Little Therapy Box Mood Cards and visit the website.
The resource My Little Therapy Box is a tool that everyone, therapists and day-to-day people alike, can benefit from because it allows people to identify their emotions while simultaneously giving them constructive advice or feedback that may encourage them to make meaningful changes to their situation.
The difference is [that] there wasn’t a product out there that was helping people to just pinpoint like this what is actually going on in their life … a lot of the emotion cards focus just on the emotion which can be really helpful but actually for some people it can be really hard to explore that emotion. (Natasha Page)
My Little Therapy Box, while validating emotions, looks at more practical things that you can look at or do that can help you to process the emotion, and what in your life might be linking you to that felt emotion.
I know these are really hard-hitting subjects to bring up, but of course the difference between not asking that question as a therapist … if you don’t ask you might not ever know and that could just be so powerful in getting someone to open up and say: “I have felt like that”. (Natasha Page)
If you are in session and using the My Little Therapy Box and a client picks out a card that they may not be ready to speak about but are indicating to you, that helps you to know that those things are on their mind and perhaps in the future you can revisit that topic with them.
Even though there are powerful benefits, it is also necessary to be aware of the potential limitations.
The My Little Therapy Box is not a replacement for actual therapy. It is a tool that is meant to aid the therapeutic resource.
People need to know that if they are experiencing suicidal thoughts then on the cards it recommends to them that they should consider seeking out a therapist or medical professional who can assist them.
It is not recommended to use the cards with a child that is younger than 11 years old. This resource has the strongest positive outcomes with older children, teenagers, and adults.
Since therapists are the point of call for many people, they must make space and time to care for themselves when it is needed.
Of course, these cards can be used in just the same way [for you] as a client that you are supporting might use them … in the form of talking with someone, of course, maybe journaling, writing things down as well and just reflection and taking time to stop, pause and reflect on how you’ve been. (Natasha Page)