The Emotion Wheel, sometimes called The Feelings Wheel is a technique used to help people be better able to express the complex emotions they may be feeling. The images in the blog are taken from https://humansystems.co/emotionwheels/

The idea is a very simple one, if people are struggling to describe or understand their own emotions often a therapist will use a wheel to help the client explore their emotion in more detail. For example if a client says they feel angry because someone made a joke that used them as the punchline. You could use the word wheel, and your own understanding of emotions to maybe follow that emotion to level 2 and find the word humiliated, that may then be level 3 disrespected. The idea is to help more fully understand their reaction and thus explore the client’s response and way they process the emotion.

Here are 3 examples, the main emotion wheel, then two more specific ones for comfortable and uncomfortable emotions, because knowing a feeling doesn’t just have to be focused on a negative emotion, and finding more positive ways to feel is also part of therapy.

I hope these help, feel free to make use of them yourselves.

If you’d like video, telephone or face to face counselling in the Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme or Staffordshire area please do contact Wright Minds at laura@wrightminds.co.uk or on 07598810304