The Thread, a resource for psychological care

A few months ago I met Laura Ospina, Colombian graphic designer and creator of The Thread, a small illustrated book that I found to be a very valuable resource for psychological care.

The book contains various illustrations in which "The Thread" connects a story with difficult, complex, and contradictory moments. One part appears darker, though nuances of light always appear. When turned, the images become more colorful and vibrant, conveying growth, movement, and transformation. It evokes the idea of hope and a path to be traveled.

Its creator tells us that: «"The Thread" is a book about accepting emotions and navigating them. It stems from a personal experience with anxiety, how I've come to know it, understand it, and navigate its sometimes chaotic and dark paths. The decision not to include text is entirely intentional, as I believe each reader interprets the images according to their own personal experiences. When we know ourselves and accept what we cannot change, we can flourish even through the fiercest storms.»

In therapy, these kinds of resources allow us to approach emotions from a different, more symbolic and less direct perspective. In the sessions where I've used them, people often identify with a particular image; it helps them put words to what they're experiencing, see their journey, and view their process with greater perspective.

This is how the author experiences it: “Sometimes I wake up with a knot that grows and twists into a ball. My hands go numb. I sink and can't find myself. My stomach churns, and I feel like a stranger to myself. It's in that state that I hear my own whispers and manage to recognize myself. But the path is never linear; it forces me to stop and listen less to the world and more to my heart. Inside, I hold everything. Within me are emptiness, silence, rain, and cold, but also the sun, flowers, and mountains.”

If you're interested in working with this or other materials I use in sessions, please feel free to contact me. And if you're a professional and curious about how to integrate this resource into your clinical practice, I'd be happy to share more about my experience using it.

Postscripts:

• If you're interested in the book, you can contact the author directly on Instagram: @lauraennube.
• I am grateful to the alumni reunion of the Javeriana University in Madrid, which made this meeting possible.