The Stamp Game: A Game of Feelings

The Stamp Game is an innovative tool for helping people identify and express feelings. Devised by Claudia Black, Ph.D., the game has been used for over twenty years in a wide range of settings ranging from family and therapeutic environments, student and employee assistance programs, schools, mental health facilities, to addiction counselors and private practitioners working with groups and individuals. The game is appropriate for people of all ages children adolescents adults. The purpose of the Stamp Game is to help players to better identify, clarify, and discuss feelings. Players will be able to relate more honestly to others as they learn to express feelings. As a result, players become more effective problem-solvers and the identification and expression of feelings brings clarity to players needs, which in turn leads to enhanced self-esteem. The game is a wonderful tool to equalize those who use words as a defense but have difficulty being emotionally honest, and for those who have great difficulty being articulate on any level. Playing The Stamp Game is a novel, fun and meaningful way for players to learn about themselves and each other. The Game consists of 100 of each colored card (stamps). The stamps name seven predominant feelings, plus one unspecified, Anger, Fear, Happiness, Confusion, Guilt, Sadness, Embarrassment and a Wild Card. This game is not limited to the seven designated feelings. Each color represents a continuum of the specific feeling printed on the stamp. Therefore: Red stamps = anger, rage, frustration, irritation, disgust, annoyance, resentment, intolerance, exasperation, etc. Blue stamps = sadness, disappointment, loss, hurt, grief, misery, dissatisfaction, etc. Black stamps = fear, terror, dread, anxiety, panic, shock, horror, etc. Orange stamps = guilt, shame, remorse, regret, disgrace, etc. Green stamps = embarrassment, humiliation, envy, jealousy, etc. Yellow