Identity is how you think about, describe, and present yourself. It can be made up of many roles and traits, such as parent, survivor, dog owner, chronic illness sufferer, or kind person.
Pictures of Me: Identity Exploration is an art exercise that facilitates identity exploration. Clients will name distinct parts of their identity and then draw what each part means to them. Encourage clients to be as creative as they’d like. Also consider providing clients with magazines and allowing them to create a mini collage for each part of their identity.
This activity can help clients understand their feelings about their identity, their values, and how they spend their time. After completing the exercise, encourage discussion with the following questions:
- How did you feel when illustrating each part of your identity?
- Which part of your identity feels most authentically you?
- What values do you associate with each part of your identity?
- Which parts of your identity are concealed, and which are expressed outwardly?
