For trainers, therapists and teachers
Words of Wonder cards can be used in many ways in training, coaching, therapy and education. They are a creative tool that can contribute to assessment of thinking styles, rapport building and interventions with individuals, families and groups. Workers will want to find their own ways of using them but here are some examples
Elevation
People's reactions to the quotes often clearly demonstrates how thinking can have an effect on feelings. Many of the quotes are uplifting and can elevate mood and well-being, some may make people reflective and some people may experience other emotions such as sadness or anxiety in their response. Different people will react to different quotes and can begin an exploration why people respond the way they do can help people to explore some of their attitudes.
Working with either individuals or group the card can help people define their own philosophy and choose or make up some quotes, sayings or proverbs that express their values and beliefs. These can be written on card and, if appropriate, laminated.
Groups
Warm-up exercise
- Put people in pairs
- give each person a card (face down)
- turn over and notice your reaction to the card- any reaction is acceptable
- Share your card with partner, your reaction and why you had that reaction
- In your pair choose your favourite of the two cards
- meet up with another pair
- As a group decide the favourite of each pairs cards
- Each group of four meets with another group and so on
Groups and families
Place a selction of cards Ask members to choose which cards have statement that fit best with their personal ethos. Use this to then ask to each person to create a statement or 'motto' that reflects their own personal creed.
Variations - 1. which cards give people the biggest uplift? 2. Which cards are people least comfortable with?
Place a selection of cards on the floor or deal out a number of cards to so members have a certain number of cards each. Each person then selects a card for each other member of the group which might be because they either reflect the the thought expressed in the card or the card might represent something they would like to give or might be useful to the person.
Put a selection of the cards on the floor or large table. Ask the group to rank the cards in terms of how useful they seem to be to group members. How this task is tackled gives a chance to observe group problem-solving andl istening skills. Can they find a fair, effective democratic method of solving the task?
Hand cards out randomly; ask whether the card individuals get fits for them or not? Would there be someone in the group it would be more suited? Would they want to give it or exchange, if they could write their own quote on a card what would it be? – This process can be used to explore perceptions of others and personal meanings.
Individual work
Giving cards, even selected at randomly, for people to think about, perhaps between sessions, can be useful way of encouraging personal reflection. Cards could be selected for a specific reason for a person to think about. However, it also seems cards given randomly can be just as powerful in invitig people to reflect. Just using a card to write the time and date of the next appointment can be enough to start a conversation about the card.
A useful exercise is to let a person read through a selection and then choose a card that means the most to them This often leads to some personal disclosures and information about what they value. It also offers an oportunity to assess the degree a person is able to use metaphor as this is part of many of the quotes and discussion about the cards can develop metaphorical thinking.
Personal Constructs
The cards can help elict conversation about important personal constructs or beliefs that people may hold. This can be done by asking people to select the cards which evoke the strongest reactions and exploring this, it can also be useful to ask what they would see as a statement that would mean exactly the opposite. Alternatively, give a selection of three cards and ask in what way two are alike and one is separate.
Emotion explorations
Many of the cards relate directly to particular emotions. Either select or ask the person to selct these cards from the whole set. Then group the selected cards into different emotions. The cards suggest ways of dealing with strong emotions; which ones doe the person feel they use, which ones they develop and what ones could they not imagine using.
