About the deck

A deck about what a person is ashamed of in themselves, and about the ways they hide it from others and from themselves.

The deck holds 128 metaphorical associative cards: 64 cards describe the most common complexes, and another 64 gather the psychological defenses.

A complex is the sore spot the whole structure is then built around; a defense is the way of letting no one near it. They always work as a pair, which is why they sit side by side in the deck, separated by color.

A defense is not the enemy. It once saved the person and keeps running on old instructions long after the circumstances changed. So in this work it is not broken — it is thanked, and replaced with a conscious choice.

The deck works as a diagnostic, deepening, clarifying, transformational and supporting tool in counseling, coaching and psychological transformation games.

Who it is for: psychologists, psychotherapists, art therapists, coaches, trainers, consultants, group and transformation game facilitators, and anyone working on their own personal growth.

What you can do with the “Complexes & Psychological Defenses” deck

uncover the complex that keeps a goal out of reach
understand what a person is embarrassed by and carefully hides
see what was instilled in childhood and still runs today
recognize the automatic reaction that switches on in place of a conscious choice
understand which defense the psyche reaches for most often, and in which situations
see how a person defends themselves against success, against closeness, against money
notice the mistaken strategy that was once the only one available
understand what exactly the defense is guarding, and at what cost
see the link between a complex and the way it is covered up
find what the person will do instead of their habitual defensive reaction

Questions to ask the deck

These are the questions the work starts from. The first half of the list works with complexes, the second with defenses. Choose one question — the one that resonates most strongly.