The Empty Chair Cards Are Inspired by the Gestalt Empty Chair Technique and created by Yasmin Shaheen-Zaffar.

The Empty Chair Cards

Gestalt is a type of therapy which was developed by Fritz and Laura Perls and others in the 1940’s. Gestalt psychology, is a therapy that takes into account the whole individual and its focus is on the the obstacles which get in the way of the present.

The primary aim of this therapy is to help clients become more aware of what they are experiencing in the present moment.

In Gestalt therapy, awareness is seen as the primary mechanism for change. First before we go further it is important to remember Gestalt therapy can often bring out intense reactions and emotions which may not be suitable for all individuals.

This form of therapy may also not be ideal for persons who are already emotional flooded.

The intense emotional responses that can be evoked can be harmful to the client if misused or abused by an inexperienced counsellor or therapist (Melnick et al., 2005).

It is essential for the therapist to judge whether this technique is suitable for their client’s needs.

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About the Cards

Imagine an extra seat in the room.

You pretend someone (or some part of you) is sitting there and you talk to them out loud. Then you move over, sit in that chair, and answer back.

  • Who can “sit” there? A parent, partner, boss, your younger self, your anxious voice – whoever needs a conversation.

  • Why do it? Speaking to the empty chair makes hidden feelings concrete and brings them into the present, where you can see them more clearly and choose what to do next.

  • How long does it take? Just a few minutes of back-and-forth can reveal a lot.

  • Is it safe? Yes – provided you go at your own pace and have a supportive listener (your therapist, coach, or a trusted friend).

That’s all: one empty seat, two sides of a conversation, and space for fresh insight.

Hey … I’m Yasmin 🙂 a neurodivergent trauma and relationship counsellor. Before I ever dreamed of becoming a counsellor, I took photos of empty chairs wherever I travelled.

I now have hundreds of them. Only later did I realise why they spoke to me. As a teen I lost several loved ones. Each empty chair reminded me of someone who was no longer there. Many of us know that feeling.

During my counselling training I learnt about the Gestalt Empty Chair Technique – a powerful exercise, but one that can feel a bit blunt or even strange: “Talking to an empty chair.” I wondered whether there was a kinder, less awkward way to tap into its power.

So I turned my photographs into Empty Chair Cards. The cards offer a gentle starting point: clients can look at an image, notice what it stirs inside, and speak from there.

They invite the same rich self-reflection as the original technique, without pushing anyone too fast.

Note: Empty Chair Cards are an aid to therapy, not a replacement for professional counselling.

When I first noticed empty chairs, they spoke to my grief – quiet reminders of loved ones who were gone.

Yet as my own healing went on, the image began to widen. An unclaimed seat can also feel like an invitation: room for fresh adventures, new friendships, unexpected stories waiting to unfold.

That dual meaning lives inside the Empty Chair Cards. For some clients a card stirs sadness or longing; for others it sparks curiosity, excitement, the sense that “someone – or something – wonderful could arrive.”

Both responses are welcome. Whichever feeling rises, the chair gives it shape so we can explore it safely, one conversation at a time.

1 Set a Clear Intention

Before you touch the cards, pause and name why you’re reaching for them. A simple prompt might be:

“Would you like to choose a card that can help us with __________ today.
We’ll move at your pace, and you can pause or stop whenever you need.”

Below are a few examples you can drop into the blank. Feel free to create your own:

Intention Example prompt
Give a voice to hidden feelings “…the feeling that’s been hard to name lately.”
Process a recent event “…whatever still feels unfinished about last week’s argument.”
Meet an inner part “…the part of you that doubts you’re good enough.”
Imagine a future step “…the next small action that would move you toward your goal.”
Talk to someone safely “…what you’d like to say to your father if he were here.”
Check your body’s wisdom “…what your body wants you to hear right now.”

Once the intention is clear, invite the client to:

  1. Notice the first card that draws their attention.

  2. Listen for any sensations, images, or words that arise.

  3. Speak to – or as – the chair, knowing they can stop or switch cards at any time.

A clear purpose sets a gentle boundary, helping the client feel both focused and safe as they explore. 

 
  1. Browse or blind-pick – your choice.
    Spread the cards out and let your eyes wander, or turn them face-down and draw at random – whichever feels safer today.

  2. Notice the one that “pulls” you.
    Choose the first image that gives you a nudge, tingle, or quiet “yes.” Skip the over-thinking; trust the tug.

  3. Nothing calling you? No problem.
    Pause, breathe, and try again later – or leave the cards for another day.

  4. Optional timeline: pick three.

    • Past: a chair that echoes where you’ve come from.

    • Present: one that mirrors how things feel right now.

    • Future: a seat that invites who or what you’re moving toward.

Use one card or a trio – there’s no wrong way to start the conversation.

3 Pause & Notice

Take a slow breath and let your eyes rest on the card. Then explore three gentle questions:

  1. Body check – “Where do I feel this image in my body? A flutter in my chest, a heaviness in my shoulders, something else?”

  2. First echo – “What word, phrase, memory, or picture pops up as I look?”

  3. Give it a voice – “If the chair could speak, what would it say – or ask -right now, what would be it’s tone? It’s volume?”

No need to analyse or explain yet; simply notice whatever shows up and hold it with curiosity.

4 Explore the Scene — Play With “What If…?”

Once a card (or set of cards) are picked, treat the picture like a stage you can rearrange. Tiny tweaks often unlock big insights.

Variable to play with Guiding questions Possible meaning
Backdrop / setting “Would this chair feel different on a beach, in a busy café, or in my childhood bedroom? Why?” Environment can reveal safety, longing, or unfinished business.
Size “If I make the chair huge or tiny, what shifts inside me?” Power, importance, or how overwhelming something feels.
Distance & position “Do I want the chair close, far, turned away, side-by-side with another?” Closeness vs. detachment, invitation vs. avoidance.
Angle / perspective “Looking from above, below, eye-level – how does that change the narrative?” Who has the ‘viewpoint’ or control.
Lighting / time of day “Sunrise, dusk, harsh spotlight – what mood appears?” Hope, fatigue, clarity, secrecy…
Props on or around the chair “What happens if I add a suitcase, cushion, chain, or flowers?” Resources, burdens, comforts, restraints.
Colour tone & texture “Bright & clean, worn & weathered, monochrome – what does that say?” Energy levels, history, vibrancy, numbness.
Extra chairs or people “Who else needs a seat here? Where do they go?” Relationship mapping, support systems, conflicts.
Timeline trio 1 Past: Arrange the scene as it once was.
2 Present: Tweak it to match now.
3 Future: Re-stage it to show where you’d like to be.		 Makes progress and desired change visible.
Layer & merge cards “What if I overlay this chair onto that backdrop, or splice two images together?” Integrates complex feelings or blended life roles.

How to use the discoveries

  1. Name the feeling: “When the chair faces the door I feel anxious.”

  2. Ask why: “What does facing the door remind you of?”

  3. Translate to action: “How could you give yourself more safety outside this room?”

Remember: Let curiosity lead, and stop wherever insight –  or enough intensity – shows up.

  • Thank the card for its message.

  • Invite the client to breathe, stretch, or journal for a minute.

  • Check their wellbeing  before ending the session.

 

Make your own empty chair cards

A handful of blank index cards or small pieces of card stock

Depending how you want to create them …. Pens, pencils, markers, or coloured stickers paint (all optional) magazines or printed photos and glue for collage. 

If making online – something link Canva and your camera roll 

A quiet spot and about 20‒30 minutes

Before you start drawing or collaging, decide what you want this mini‑deck to speak to. In Gestalt work the past, present, future, other people, and parts of yourself can all take a “seat” so choose whichever angle feels most alive right now:

  • Past –  an unfinished moment or old memory that still tugs at you
  • Present – how you’re feeling today, in this very moment
  • Future – a hope, fear, or goal you’re moving toward
  • Another person – partner, parent, friend, or anyone you’d like to “talk” with.
  • Inner parts – your inner child, inner critic, wise self, playful self, etc.
  • Wildcard – let any theme surface: “whatever shows up.” Once the theme is clear, move on to creating the cards – each one will hold a chair that represents a slice of that topic.

Draw a quick outline, snap a photo of any chair that grabs you – perhaps your favourite armchair or a seat someone special once used – and drop, print, or glue it onto the card. No art skills needed; choose the chair you feel called to “talk” with.

Place your chair inside a scene that means something to you, is on your mind or it could be simply something you are scrolling and you are drawn to.

Maybe a beach from last summer, the corner of your childhood bedroom, a rainy bus stop at dusk, or any snapshot from your phone’s photo roll.

A single word, colour wash, or small image is enough to pin that moment in place (e.g., “stormy,” “sunrise,” “office lobby”).

If you’re crafting the card by hand, you can draw, sketch, paint, or collage the chair – use magazine cut-outs, printed photos, or your own doodles.

No art skills required; pick whatever method feels fun and natural.

I invite you to  sit with your card, let the very first word or phrase drift up – anger, my younger self, Dad, hope.

Write it softly in a corner and resist the urge to edit. If nothing arrives, leave the space blank; the card will speak when it’s ready.

Trust the process and take your time. Often a deeper meaning reveals itself days or weeks later, offering fresh insight each time you revisit the image. 

Turn the process into a relaxed family activity – let everyone make a card of their own, then share what each chair might be saying. When you’re ready, repeat these steps to build a small deck for different feelings, times, or parts of yourself.