Flaws & All
AD: Delaun Anderson
Flaws & All is a card game born out of the necessity for mental health aid for Black people during these troubling times. There are many studies and statistics that show that African Americans either don’t have access to mental health resources or refuse to seek treatment due to stigmas in the community.
The cards are made to mimic (but not take the place of) therapy, and its purpose is to inspire a self-guided trip of introspection that helps individuals identify their feelings, identify their causes/triggers, and find safe, effective remedies for them.
What’s Inside
Inside the box, there are 7 decks of cards (one for each umbrella emotion), a guide to the Feelings Wheel, and a Journal.
The Feelings Wheel is a tool used by many therapists to help their clients identify how they’re feeling. The Feelings Wheel has been adapted to work with this card set. There’s a more detailed guide, titled “Your Feels & You”, included in the box that helps the user understand its purpose.
How it Works
Initially, you begin with the 7 umbrella emotions. The user picks the deck that most closely resembles how they’re feeling at the moment.
After you’ve chosen an umbrella emotion, you go towards the other cards in the suit to help narrow down exactly what you’re feeling. In this case, the user has chosen “Sad”.
Once the proper feeling has been identified, the user is provided with the psychologist’s definition of the feeling, in addition to common symptoms.
Once the proper feeling has been identified, the user is prompted to write in their journal to reflect on their emotion. They’ll answer questions like:
“What caused this feeling?”
“When did it happen?”
“Was anyone else involved?”
This should help them understand the causes and possible triggers for their emotions. It also acts as a great venting exercise.