Find These Shapes COPECARD®

How It Works

Problem solving is a critical skill for healthy coping.  For example, if you are injured (the problem) and you need help (the solution), figuring out who to ask for help and how to contact them can save your life.  Find These Shapes builds problem solving efficacy while simultaneously offering stress relief.

Problem solving and shape recognition skills

  • analytical thinking: observing and examining information in order to identify and define a problem and possible solutions

  • sequential reasoning: following logic/ stated rules to solve a problem step-by-step

  • working memory: the ability to hold information in our minds while we manipulate it

  • visual perception: recognizing shape (one of the most important object properties)

  • visual attention: differentiating between color and shape of stimuli

Finding shapes to cope:

  • Stress and trauma disrupt our thinking and feelings. Complex thinking can become difficult. Engaging in familiar, rudimentary tasks such as shape recognition and finding a shape , can “re-start” the brain (get us into our “thinking brain”) which helps to stabilize our mind and also calm our “feeling brain”

  • focuses our attention on a neutral cognitive activity, giving us space from the stress/trauma, allowing us to “re-set”

  • exercises memory retrieval and integration, which are disrupted by stress/trauma

How to Use

Identify the reference shapes (at the top of the card). Find these shapes in the design. Find other shapes in the design. Look around you, find shapes in your environment. Create your own “seek and find” with different colors, shapes, and objects.

When to Use - Signs of Stress/Trauma

  • not talking, not answering questions

  • disconnected: staring blankly into space; immobilized - not moving

  • preoccupied, worried, overwhelmed

  • anxious, panicked, agitated

What It Can Do

  • decrease anxiety, distress; feel calmer

  • increase control over feelings (self-regulation)

  • think more clearly; increased concentration & problem solving

  • improve compliance: ability to hear and follow directions

  • reconnect to self and present moment

  • build distress tolerance : the “seeking of the shapes” does eventually result in finding

  • accomplishing a basic task (finding shapes) can bring a sense of control, self-efficacy amidst the chaos of trauma