5 ways to build emotional literacy through using Feeling Face Cards
For many years we have been using these very cool Feeling Face Cards in our group work. We have also been finding ways to integrate their use within the design of programmes, particularly those targeting men. We have found over the years that one of the challenges many men find themselves struggling with is around recognition of the wide range of feelings that they have. By default this limits their ability to recognise the feelings in others and respond accordingly. Building empathy skills concurrently builds safety and connection in relationships. The four stages of empathy are: firstly recognition of a emotion; secondly, recognition of a emotion in others; thirdly, being able to put yourself in another position and approximate the emotional experience; and fourthly, using the information available adjusting behaviour accordingly.
This is where we had found the Feeling Faces of huge benefit. At a simple level it helps to build an emotional repertoire while at a more complex level allows a person to have a deep sense of connection with others. We all know that feelings can be frightening things, particularly when they are very intense. Normalising feelings and the expression of the appropriate ways contributes to safety so that we don’t have to be a slave to them.
Below are five ideas about how to use the Feeling Faces Cards within a group programme.
- Learning the language of feelings. Having the Feeling Face Cards on the whiteboard (they are magnetized) allows for asking questions at certain moments within sessions what the feeling might be at any particular moment in time.
- Learning to meet needs appropriately. One of the challenges in group work is how to provide enough opportunity to rehearse and practice skills. We know that repetition and over learning are key ingredients in consolidating change. If a group member has identified a feeling such as sadness, then I am interested to know what the person might need by way of support from others. Many men in our experience isolate themselves with their feelings and expect others to guess what they are feeling. Ultimately they are asking other to be more mindful of their feelings than they are. Therefore practising the skill of negotiating to meet needs appropriately within the group becomes a great opportunity.
- Spot the emotion. This is a fun warm-up exercise for group members whereby the Feeling Face Cards are sorted with each group member taking a turn to come up to the front of the group and model the feeling. The task for the other group members is to guess with some accuracy the feeling being expressed. This does two things, firstly it helps the person miming the feeling to be more consistent, and secondly it allows group members to check on the accuracy of what they are seeing.
- Building a cultural language for emotion.You will notice that we have translated
where possible emotions into a Maori bicultural set for the indigenous culture of New Zealand. This helps to build language competency alongside feelings competency, with a language that is at some risk. This also helps facilitators to be more responsive to indigenous participants in programmes.
- Distinguishing between thoughts and feelings. It will not be a surprise to any person working with others that clarifying the distinction between what is a thought and what is a feeling, is often a theme in change work. Social competency is based upon the ability to communicate clearly, ensure meanings are clear, and respond accordingly. The Feeling Face Cards provide an opportunity to work back and forth between these two positions allowing for greater clarity. “What is the feeling that goes with that thought?”, is one of my favourite questions to help make the distinction.
These are some of the ideas of how we use the Feeling Face Cards in our practice. I am aware that we have sold significant numbers of these to facilitators involved in programme delivery around the world. I am really interested to know some of the creative ways that you have found to incorporate these on your practice. Love to hear from you.
For more information about where you can source these Feeling Face Cards go here.
Published on Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012, under Practice tips and techniques, Programme design & development
Comments are closed.
Sign up for our newsletter!
Recent Posts
- Working with people who don’t want to work with you
- Are you ready to seriously consider change?
- Understanding the Process of Intimate Partner Homicide
- An all too common story
- Supporting the specialised development of Probation Officers
Categories
- Announcements
- Family violence
- Learning & development
- Motivational Interviewing
- Offender work
- Practice tips and techniques
- Programme design & development
- Uncategorised
- What Ken thinks
- Youth offending
Archives
- October 2024
- September 2024
- July 2024
- June 2024
- May 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- December 2021
- January 2020
- April 2019
- March 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- June 2018
- June 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- September 2016
- July 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- October 2015
- July 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- January 2014
- November 2013
- September 2013
- July 2013
- May 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- April 2011
- February 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- July 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- July 2009
- July 2008