Coaching with Metaphorical OH Cards
Sometimes, the right picture says what words alone cannot.
In our recent Coaching with Metaphorical OH Cards workshop, participants discovered just how powerful a single image can be in sparking self-awareness, opening up conversations, and creating meaningful breakthroughs.
Facilitated by Wendy Yeo, an ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC), Positive Intelligence (PQ) Coach, and OH Cards practitioner, this two-hour experiential group coaching workshop in Singapore combined creative visual tools with a professional coaching framework to help participants gain fresh clarity and deeper self-insight. They were unlocking insights through images!
Why Metaphorical OH Cards Work in Coaching?
Metaphorical OH Cards are more than just images, they are visual thinking tools that bypass the analytical mind and tap directly into our intuition, emotions, and creativity. When paired with the ICF coaching approach, rooted in active listening, powerful questioning, and creating a safe, non-judgmental space, they allow participants to:
- See challenges from new perspectives
- Access unspoken thoughts and feelings
- Unlock hidden strengths and resources
Importantly, participants interpret the cards for themselves, not the coach, i.e. it wasn’t “fortune telling” or a prescribed path. It was an opportunity for participants to have a conversation with their authentic self, facilitated by imagery and guided reflection.
The Coaching Framework Behind the Workshop
The workshop followed a clear, ICF-aligned coaching structure:
- Setting the Context – Establishing confidentiality, trust, and openness
- Clarifying the Objective – Inviting participants to choose an area they wanted to explore
- Exploration Through OH Cards – Using images and metaphors to surface deeper insights
- Reflection & Connection – Sharing discoveries in a small group
- Actionable Takeaways – Identifying next steps or shifts in thinking
This was not a counselling or training session, it was a coaching experience designed to create awareness, spark curiosity, and empower participants to find their own answers. Mental fitness exercises (PQ reps), i.e. grounding through sensory awareness, were integrated in the process as participants journey through the clarifying, exploration, and reflection stages.
Inner Child Visualisation for Self-Love & Compassion
In the final moments of the Coaching with Metaphorical OH Cards workshop, participants experienced a guided inner child visualisation, a transformative exercise often used in coaching to build self-love, self-compassion, and emotional healing. With eyes closed, they pictured their younger self, full of innocence and vulnerability, and imagined offering unconditional warmth and kindness. This process energised the brain’s empathy circuitry, activating the Sage mindset (our wiser self) to foster genuine feelings of self-acceptance and love.
The session ended with a grounding, heart-opening way to integrate the insights gained from the OH Cards experience. And leaving participants more deeply connected to themselves and inspired to carry this compassion into their daily lives.
What Participants Loved Most
From post-workshop feedback, participants shared they enjoyed most:
- Group interaction – learning from and connecting with others
- Everything – the pace, the cards – a well-balanced flow of activities
- Open and vulnerable sharing – a safe space for authentic expression
- The OH Cards themselves – a unique, engaging tool for personal exploration
The Transformative Impact
By the end of the session, participants reported feeling:
- More connected – to themselves and others
- Clearer – about their own thoughts, feelings, and next steps
- Inspired – to use metaphor and visual tools for personal growth
For all participants, it was a refreshing change from traditional talking-only approaches.
Joining the Next Workshop
If you’ve ever struggled to put your thoughts into words, or you want to experience a new way to gain clarity, the Coaching with Metaphorical OH Cards workshop might be exactly what you need.
Let’s unlock insights through images!
Upcoming Dates: 4 September 2025, Thursday, 7pm to 9pm
Location: Joyful Space (171 Tras Street, Union Building, #08-171A, nearest MRT station is Tanjong Pagar)
Sign up: email jsp.wyeo@gmail.com or WhatsApp +65 8835 3015