Cope

Cope - projective cards for emotional processing

Projective cards work through association. They show an image without fixed meaning, so your own emotion or experience can mirror itself in what you see. Cope is such a set, specifically developed for anyone searching for words to describe feelings that are hard to name.

The deck consists of 88 cards with soft, symbolic illustrations. They are subtle enough not to shock, but specific enough to trigger recognition. The images show human situations: hands holding each other, figures in landscapes, abstract forms representing emotional states.

Cope is a collaborative project between a Russian artist, an Israeli therapist, and OH Publishing from Germany. The latter is the publisher also responsible for the well-known OH cards, a series used worldwide in therapy and education.

How the cards are used

In therapeutic settings, facilitators lay the cards out face up or face down, depending on the method. The client chooses a card and describes what they see. That description becomes the starting point for conversation.

The cards also work outside therapy. You can use them alone to sharpen your own emotional awareness, or in a group to open dialogue about a difficult subject. The multilingual guidebook describes various methods that can be applied directly.

What sets Cope apart from, say, tarot cards is that there is no system behind it. No fixed meanings, no archetypes, no structure. It is entirely about what the image evokes in you at this moment.

Draw a card when you feel overwhelmed. Describe what you see as if you are telling a story. That act of creating distance helps you gain grip on what you feel.

Who this deck works for

Cope is designed for professionals working with trauma, grief or emotional processing. Coaches, therapists and counsellors use it as part of their methodology.

But you do not need a therapeutic background to use the cards. The images speak directly to intuition. Many people use them during self-reflection or journaling.

The illustrations are also suitable for use with children, provided they are guided. They are not shocking and can help children name their feelings.

About the creators

The artist who designed the images comes from Russia. The therapeutic foundation was developed by an Israeli expert in the field of trauma processing. OH Publishing from Germany published the project and had the guidebook translated into multiple languages.

OH Publishing is known for projective cards that are widely used in care, education and coaching. Their products are used to stimulate empathy, communication and creativity.

Specifications

• Number of cards: 88
• Card size: 89 x 127 mm
• Material: sturdy matte cardstock
• Weight: 340 g
• Guidebook language: multilingual (Dutch, English, German)
• Publisher: OH Publishing
• Type: projective cards for therapeutic use and self-reflection

Questions we often get

What is the difference between Cope and the other decks in the OH series?
Cope is specifically developed for emotional processing and trauma. The images are softer and more focused on human situations than the more abstract OH cards. You can use them independently or combine them with other OH decks.

Do I need to be a therapist to use these cards?
No. The cards are accessible and work based on what you yourself see in the image. They are professionally developed, so if you are working with heavy emotions, guidance can help.