The Strengthen Emotion Discovery Wheel™

Let me tell you what all the fuss is about! This is a visual aid to help people think and talk about their emotional experiences, their values, desires and intentions.

I didn't start out intending to create a new emotion discovery tool. It started when I approached a graphic designer to help me make a more accessible feelings wheel for my clients. As I shared about how I talk my clients through conversations about feelings and emotion needs and experiences, I realised that I needed a completely new design. Something that was holistic and included all the "feels" we have in our body, our thoughts, and our own personal history.

As a positive psychology practitioner, I also wanted a visual aid that didn't just help us name challenging emotions and a few happy ones. We needed something that empowered us to talk about the complexity of our emotions and the positive things we desire and need in our lives.

The wheel is different. Its starts with a big pause in the centre, because finding a place of calm is key for us to be able to really process our feelings. We all pause in different ways. For some of us, pausing actually happens when we get active. Sometimes we need to be somewhere different or to just slow down.

It also has a section to encourage us to notice what's happening in our whole being. This can take a while. It really helps to identify patterns we experience and what triggers or calms us.

The different segments of the wheel are divided into categories that help us think about the impact of what we are or have been experiencing. They also give us the opportunity to link how we're feeling to what's gone well or what we're missing. Often, big and challenging emotions are linked to positive things we want or value but haven't been receiving or experiencing. So we looking towards how we can be proactive with what's next for us is really helpful.

There is no one way to use the Strengthen Emotion Discovery Wheel™. It's simply a visual aid. As we designed it, we used an accessible, dyslexia friendly font and spacing that made it less overwhelming. When it came to choosing the colourway, we made a discovery of our own! My family were divided about which colourway we should pick. Not only that, but each person had a strong preference for which one calmed and attracted them.

As accessibility was why this creative journey began in the first place, I asked the designer to deliver two colourway choices and a black and white version for people who prefer to use their own colour overlays.

When I train practitioners in using this visual aid, teaching them to give people the choice of which colour they prefer is important. That's also why every resource pack includes all three colourways.

• The digital resource pack has Strengthen Emotion Discovery Wheel™ pdfs in the oceans, neutrals and monochrome colourway as well as other videos, pdfs and tips on emotion discovery.
• The printed versions for framing offer a choice of the oceans and neutrals colourways printed on demand on beautiful eco, high quality art paper.
• The printed A4 mats are printed on a recyclable (in the correct places), soft, wipeable and flexible plastic. Perfect for having on your desk or using with clients.

I've also created explainer videos for everyone who purchases a resource pack and a practitioner pack with extra tips for professionals using this with clients.

The Strengthen Emotion Discovery Wheel™ is now available as a digital resource pack!

Grab the Household Resource Pack if you're not a wellbeing or education professional.

Snap up the Sole Practitioner Resource Pack if you are! Just £49 and you'll get 20% off until September 30th if you use code EMOTIONS20 at the checkout.

About me:

I'm Andrea Urquhart, a specialist AuDHD, Emotion & Positive Psychology Coach and Trainer. If we haven't met before, I'd love to welcome you to this community.