EMDR Cognition Cards
Put the cognitions in your client’s hands
Finding the right negative and positive cognition is one of the trickier parts of EMDR. Many clients know how a memory feels but struggle to put the belief about themselves into words, and reading from a printed list can feel clinical.
The EMDR Cognition Cards turn that language into a deck clients can hold, sort, and compare. Inspired by the cognitions in Francine Shapiro’s foundational EMDR work, the 55 cards go beyond a short standard list, and each one pairs a negative cognition with a corresponding positive cognition on the back.
- 55 two-sided cardsGrouped into four themes: responsibility/defectiveness, responsibility/action, safety/vulnerability, and power/control/choice.
- Negative cognition sideA cool blue-green side with the negative belief, such as “I am not good enough.”
- Positive cognition sideA warm peach side with the matching positive belief, such as “I am good enough.”
- Free sticker packEvery order of EMDR Cognition Cards comes with a pack of our EMDR and counseling stickers.
Inside the deck
Two sides of the same belief
A few examples of what clients see on each side of a card.
- NegativeI am not good enough.flips toPositiveI am good enough.
- NegativeI am not lovable.flips toPositiveI am lovable.
- NegativeI deserve only bad things.flips toPositiveI deserve good things.
- NegativeMy body is hateful.flips toPositiveMy body is worthy of love, care, and acceptance.
In session
How therapists use them
- 1
Find the negative cognition
With the target memory in mind, the client sorts the negative side into “fits me” and “doesn’t fit me,” then narrows to the belief that resonates most.
- 2
Choose the positive cognition
Flip the card to see the matching positive belief. The client can use it as written or adjust the wording, then give it a Validity of Cognition (VoC) rating.
- 3
Return to it
Keep the chosen card in view, and come back to the positive cognition during installation to check how true it feels now.
Who it’s for
Made for EMDR therapists and their clients
EMDR therapists
A more tangible, collaborative way to identify the NC and PC during preparation and assessment.
Clients who get stuck on words
Recognizing a belief on a card is often easier than coming up with one from scratch.
Telehealth sessions
Send clients the free online card sort. It uses the same 55 cognitions, with no login.
The cards are a clinical support tool. They don’t replace EMDR training, clinical judgment, or the standard EMDR protocol.
Engage your clients.
Give clients a hands-on way to find the words for what they believe about themselves.
Add to cart · $25.99Free sticker pack included · Free US shipping over $30 · 30-day returns · Also available bundled with the Complete Edition
