Feelings Check
We often use the feelings wheel at Hope House so Kaley Ann shares some ways she helps clients use this simple tool.
What is a feelings wheel?
A feelings wheel is a tool that can help you identify an emotion, or emotions, you are feeling. It can be used to identify how you are currently feeling or how you felt at a particular time. Whether you are familiar with emotions or not, it can be challenging to think about the possible emotions, so this is a guide to make it easier.
How do I use a feelings wheel?
When looking at a feelings wheel, you may notice it has three circles: an inner circle, a middle circle, and an outer circle. The feelings in the inner circle are primary emotions. As you expand towards the outer circle, the emotions become more descriptive. To use the feelings wheel, you will first need to identify your primary emotion. Once you identify the primary emotion, look at the middle circle, also in the same color as the primary emotion, to help you be more specific. If none of the words fit, you can repeat the process for the outer circle. The hope is that you can identify an emotion in the outer two circles.
Why is it important?
With all the different emotions on the wheel, there is likely to be at least one that relates to what you are experiencing. The feelings wheel is an essential step in counseling because it helpsyou expand your emotional vocabulary. It also helps increase your awareness of what you are feeling. How can you learn to understand, connect, and regulate your emotions if you cannot identify what you are feeling? Identifying a feeling, or feelings, is the first step for therapeutic work.
Some of the benefits of using a feelings wheel are…
Empathize better
Connect with others, especially your spouse
Solving problems
More usable information in journal entries
Understanding your motivations
What now?
Look at the feelings wheel two or three times per day for a feelings check. How am I feeling right now?
Start to explore different words other than the words you would typically use without the wheel.
Use new words from the feelings wheel every time you do FANOS
Use it in therapy sessions
Use it when writing in your journal
Use it when doing the SUPPORT model.
FOR MORE MENTAL HEALTH GUIDANCE, SET UP AN APPOINTMENT WITH KALEY ANN!
