Worries Card Sort®

$55.00

Worries Card Sort®: An Interactive Game for Clinicians and Caregivers

Sometimes the hardest part of talking about worries is knowing where to begin.

The Worries Card Sort® is an evidence-informed, interactive tool designed to help children and teens identify, explore, and talk about their experiences and the things that make them feel worried or afraid. Using illustrated cards featuring a wide range of common childhood fears, children can sort and share their worries in a way that feels approachable and engaging.

Developed with reference to the themes outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the Worries Card Sort is not a diagnostic tool. Instead, it can help parents, caregivers, and clinicians notice patterns and themes in a child’s worries, uncover fears that may be difficult for a child to put into words, and identify areas that may be helpful to explore further.

Created by psychotherapist Nikki Carter, MSW, RSW, the Worries Card Sort gives children and the grown-ups supporting them a shared language for talking about worries — and a starting point for helping children take small, supported steps toward the things that take up space in their brains.

Designed for use by families, therapists, educators, and other helping professionals, the Worries Card Sort® can be used on its own or alongside Brave On Purpose to continue the conversation about worry, courage, and being brave on purpose.

Free Local Pickup Available

Worries Card Sort®: An Interactive Game for Clinicians and Caregivers

Sometimes the hardest part of talking about worries is knowing where to begin.

The Worries Card Sort® is an evidence-informed, interactive tool designed to help children and teens identify, explore, and talk about their experiences and the things that make them feel worried or afraid. Using illustrated cards featuring a wide range of common childhood fears, children can sort and share their worries in a way that feels approachable and engaging.

Developed with reference to the themes outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the Worries Card Sort is not a diagnostic tool. Instead, it can help parents, caregivers, and clinicians notice patterns and themes in a child’s worries, uncover fears that may be difficult for a child to put into words, and identify areas that may be helpful to explore further.

Created by psychotherapist Nikki Carter, MSW, RSW, the Worries Card Sort gives children and the grown-ups supporting them a shared language for talking about worries — and a starting point for helping children take small, supported steps toward the things that take up space in their brains.

Designed for use by families, therapists, educators, and other helping professionals, the Worries Card Sort® can be used on its own or alongside Brave On Purpose to continue the conversation about worry, courage, and being brave on purpose.

Free Local Pickup Available

Instructions

Worries Card Sort® consists of 85 cards with different worries or experiences on them (for example, bedtime or sleeping alone, when my caregiver gets angry or scares me, unwanted thoughts that pop into my head even when I try not to have them, feeling sad a lot of the time, speaking in front of the class or asking my teacher a question, feeling guilty about something that happened, how my body looks, and so on), and a game board with four categories for sorting (never or not at all, sometimes or a little bit, always or a lot, and unsure or doesn't apply). 

No matter what category the child chooses for any given card, it is important to validate their inner world and experience in a way that proves we understand them.

For example, if a child places the card "when my caregiver gets angry or scares me" in the "a lot" category, it is important to validate the child's reality without becoming defensive, explanatory, or self-referential. You may wish to consider utilizing the "3 because" strategy, where we demonstrate our understanding to the child by hypothesizing 3 because statements that convey understanding: "It makes sense that you feel worried when mom gets angry, because it can be loud and because it can be scary and because it probably makes you feel sad." Ensuring our response aligns with a child's inner experience and effectively conveying our understanding can allow the child to feel validated. This approach can contribute to the development and enhancement of a child's emotional regulation skills.

 Important to Note

While this game has been developed in accordance with current criteria from the The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), Worries Card Sort® is not a replacement for professional mental health services or diagnostic assessment. In cases of worrisome or persistent mental nealth concerns, please consult a licensed clinician or mental health professional.

If you have any questions, concerns, or feedback, please don't hesitate to contact Nikki Carter: contact@valleycentreforcounselling.com