Feelings are hard to name.These monkeys make it easier.
A gentle, playful Emotional Literacy Support Card Deck for the therapy room and beyond — helping kids, teens, and adults notice what they feel, one card at a time.
Created by Jackie Flynn, EdS, LMHC-S, RPT-S™, RST-C/T · EMDR Playground™
Pick a card. Any card is okay.
How to use this deck
No scripts. No right answers. Just a gentle way in.
- These monkeys show feelings on their faces and in their bodies.
- Your body has feelings too.
- Pick a card. Any card is okay.
- Look at the monkey. What feeling do you see?
- Do you ever feel that way too?
- Where do you feel it in your body, if anywhere?
52 feelings. One expressive monkey.
From happy and calm to overwhelmed and furious — every card gives clients a way in.
Hey there,
I created this Emotional Literacy Support Card Deck as a gentle, playful tool for the therapy room and beyond. It's designed for moments when feelings are present but hard to name — when the goal isn't insight or resolution, but noticing and connecting in a way that feels safe and manageable.
The expressive monkeys on each card invite curiosity about emotions as they show up on faces and in bodies. Use a card to open conversation, slow the pace of a session, or help a client stay engaged without pressure to explain or fix anything.
There's no right way to use these cards. Pick one briefly, sit with it for a few moments, or return to it across sessions. Sometimes simply noticing is enough.
Made for real sessions, not just worksheets
Use these cards with the people you already see, in the approach you already use.
If a card feels helpful, use it. If it doesn't, set it aside. The deck will still be here when you're ready.— Jackie Flynn, creator of the Emotional Literacy Support Card Deck
Bring this deck into your next session
52 printable cards. One simple way to help someone notice what they feel.