Scenario Cards: A Psychologist’s Secret
In this case study, we explore how Scenario Cards became the 'secret weapon' for psychologist Tammy Hatherill to bypass client resistance and foster deeper healing.
A Life of Supporting Others
Some people have an intuitive gift for healing. Tammy Hatherill is one of them. She’s worn many hats over the years, each one connected by a common thread: supporting others through challenges. In her 40s, she followed that pull into a new chapter, which meant university, training, and a psychology degree.
As a psychologist, Tammy often found herself hearing surface-level answers. She didn’t want to be ‘that therapist’, the one who fires off endless questions while the client sits back and waits to be interrogated. Intuitive by nature, she sensed there was a better way to help people open up more naturally and safely than the traditional frameworks taught in school.
Tammy on gratudation dayTangible, Not Intimidating
While searching online for relationship resources, Tammy spotted Scenario Cards on her Facebook feed. She immediately liked the design, the concept, and felt it could be a fit for her clients. So, she decided to give them a try. From the very first session, Tammy saw something shift.
“For clients, it helps to have something tangible in their hands,” she explains. “They can look at the card instead of me. It takes away the embarrassment of eye contact and lets them go deeper.”
The difference was striking. Instead of quick, generic answers, clients began revealing what was really on their hearts.
“I’m not always asking the question; the cards are,” Tammy explains. “That way, I’m not the intruder. Therapy feels less nosy, more fun. And fun makes a huge difference.”
A Breakthrough with Intimacy
One client came to Tammy struggling with relationships. Let’s call him Len. Len had always dated women, but he had recently entered a same-sex relationship and was living with his new love. For him, this was something new, exciting, and also overwhelming.
He worried about his parents’ reaction and felt fearful about sharing his concerns with his partner. Tammy invited Len to explore the Intimacy collection. Len started with one simple card, and within minutes, the conversation took off.
“He was fearful about dealing with the uncertainties of being in a same-sex relationship. We used the cards to help him work through the emotions. He went so deep into his answer that he realized it didn’t matter what anyone thought,” Tammy recalls.
And the result? It was a happy one.
“He found a way she could communicate honestly with his new partner. His parents were fine. He was able to communicate with them really well. Everything worked out. It was just a really beautiful story, and I just went ‘Wow’”.
Moments like this are why Tammy continues to use Scenario Cards. “The client gets results much faster, so as a clinician, I’m not having to work as hard. It’s working smarter, not harder.”
Either way, Tammy always lets the client’s curiosity lead the way. Sometimes one card sparks a long and meaningful session. Other times, a few random cards in a row create surprising connections.
“Sometimes, a couple of random cards can lead to the bigger picture, giving more depth or breadth to the story,” she explains.
Tammy has seen it again and again: even when the card doesn’t seem directly tied to a client’s presenting issue, the brain makes connections.
“The neural networks light up, they drop into that subcortical level where they can access deeper information, and somehow, it ends up being relevant to why they’ve turned up to therapy.”
Professional, Playful, and Powerful
Tammy is no stranger to the power of cards. Before she trained as a psychologist, she worked as a spiritual healer using her ancient ways and traditions (she is a fair-skinned Indigenous woman). She would use cards, where she guided people to reflect on their past, present, and possible futures through symbolic imagery.
She saw firsthand how simply drawing a card could unlock insight, spark self-discovery, and even transform someone’s perspective. But she also knew it wasn’t something she could bring into a clinical setting.
“That’s why these cards are so beautiful,” she says. “They’re professional, they’re lovely, and I can use them in a way that’s completely acceptable in therapy.”
Scenario Cards enabled her to combine her skill sets. They carried the same spark of transformation she had witnessed in the past, yet in a format that was professional, research-informed, and embraced within therapeutic practice.
When she uses them for personal use, she adapts them in thought-provoking layouts. For example, she’ll draw three cards at a time, one to represent the past, present, and future. A cynic may judge it as unscientific. In her words, it’s simply 'exploring possibilities'.
Tammy also likes to bring some lightness into a setting that can often feel heavy.
“I see a lot of people with trauma, so it’s nice to have fun; it’s nice to do therapy a different way.”
And her clients love it. Some have been so inspired they’ve gone out and bought their own decks.
Fun Makes A Huge Difference
For Tammy, Scenario Cards have become indispensable. They add playfulness to trauma work, create surprising insights, and ease the burden on therapists to always have the perfect question ready.
“I’m not always asking the question, the cards are,” she explains. “That way, I’m not the intruder. Therapy feels less nosy, more fun. And fun makes a huge difference.”
Tammy plans to gift Scenario Cards to her therapist friends for Christmas. Because for her, these cards aren’t just tools, they’re catalysts for healing, insight, and genuine connection.
Her recommendation is wholehearted: “Every therapist needs to have them. Use them yourself first, then with your clients. Get a feel for them, play with friends and family. They’ll change the way you work.”
Working Smarter, Not Harder In Therapy
Therapists are already doing great work, often without the recognition it deserves. Day after day, they deal with the weight of their client's pain, guiding them through struggle and into healing.
Scenario Cards don’t replace that skill; they amplify it. In Tammy’s words, they help therapists “work smarter, not harder”, so breakthroughs come faster and the heavy lifting feels a little lighter.
When therapists are supported, everyone benefits. Clients find answers, therapists find ease, and together, they prove that even serious healing can still involve some fun. And as a result, they ease the burden, making space for more light and understanding in a world that could surely use both.
Stop Interrogating, Start Connecting
Tammy’s experience proves that therapy (and life) doesn’t always have to be heavy to be deep. By letting the cards ask the questions, you remove the 'intruder' and invite the 'fun.' Whether you are a professional clinician looking to light up your clients' neural networks or someone navigating your own personal transitions, these cards help you reach the heart of the matter faster.
Follow Tammy’s expert advice: Work smarter, not harder. Explore our collections and use them for yourself, play with friends, and see how quickly the 'heavy' stuff turns into a beautiful story.
