Traces of Care
52 watercolor scenes for noticing the care that was received, needed, missed, or may still be possible. Built for EMDR, play therapy, talk therapy, and family work, one quiet image at a time.
Take a moment to look at the image. Notice what happens inside as you spend time with it. There is no right or wrong response.
I made Traces of Care as a nervous system informed reflection tool for the therapy room. It's for moments when the work is about noticing care that was received, needed, missed, or may still be possible.
The images hold ordinary moments of protection, steadiness, warmth, and connection. A blanket placed around someone. A person staying close. Food offered without questions. Someone matching another person's pace. Care is often communicated through small actions rather than words.
You might use a card to explore what safety or support feels like in the body, what feels familiar, or what brings up longing. Some images may feel comforting. Others may bring grief, resistance, relief, or nothing at all. Whatever your client notices is welcome.
52 scenes, each one an invitation
Every card is an original watercolor illustration, soft enough to hold whatever a client brings to it.
Small actions, not always words
A blanket, offered before anyone had to ask.
Someone stepping into the rain to shield you.
Care that shows up as looking after a wound.
Patient hands, teaching yours.
The ache of noticing when it didn't arrive.
Someone letting you lean, for however long you need.
No script to follow
Take a moment to look at the image.
Notice if anything in the scene feels familiar, or something you wish for.
Notice what happens inside as you spend a moment with it.
There is no right or wrong response. Whatever you notice is welcome.
Bring it into any modality
EMDR therapists integrating resource and attachment work into sessions.
Play therapists working with felt safety and embodied experience.
Family and attachment-focused clinicians exploring relational patterns.
Any clinician opening a conversation about unmet needs, resilience, and connection.
"These cards can be integrated into EMDR, play therapy, talk therapy, family work, or other clinical approaches."
Jackie Flynn, EdS, LMHC-S, RPT-S™, RST-C/T
Sometimes care is something we remember. Sometimes it is something we wish had been there. And sometimes it is something we are learning to recognize and receive now.
Traces of Care grew out of that idea, a set of ordinary, watercolor moments gentle enough to sit with in session, whatever they bring up.
Everything you need to bring it into session
- 52 printable watercolor cards (digital PDF)
- A how-to-use page for setting up the deck in session
- Ready to print at home or through a local print shop
- Instant download, delivered right after checkout
Before you print your deck
No. Traces of Care is a reflection tool, not therapy. As Jackie notes on the deck's instructions page, if you or a client need support, please reach out to a licensed provider.
You'll get an instant PDF download through Teachable right after checkout, so you can print the cards at home or send the file to a local print shop.
Yes. Clinicians use these cards across play therapy, talk therapy, family work, and other relational and attachment-focused approaches.
52 cards in total, plus a short how-to-use page to help you set the deck up in session.