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Tip it out, sort it, and repack only what needs you right now.
You know when you’re digging through your handbag for your keys and you just can’t find them? Our minds can feel exactly the same. When everything’s jumbled together, it all starts to feel urgent, and it’s really hard to know what actually needs our time and energy.
The Messy Handbag is a simple, visual brain dump tool that helps clients get what’s going on out of their head and onto paper, so they can see it, sort it, and gently let go of what isn’t theirs to carry. It’s a lovely way to work with overwhelm, second-guessing, people-pleasing and that “my head is too full” feeling.
Designed for adults and older teens, and works well one-to-one, in groups, or as a take-home tool.
What’s included (11 printable A4 pages)
Cover and “before we start” page explaining the metaphor and why externalising helps
The messy bag: a big space to tip everything out
Tip it out: a list page with gentle reflection prompts
Sort the piles: keys, wallet, old receipts and heavy stuff, with examples
Stuck on where it goes? Sorting questions and a sorting table
Repack my bag: what goes back in, what goes in someone else’s bag, and what goes in the bin
Carrying the heavy stuff: gentle ways to hold hard things
A weekly check-in log
My handbag plan
A one-page quick tip out you can print and reuse anytime
How it works
Instant PDF download. Print at home, at school or in your practice. You can use the full workbook across a few sessions, or just grab the one-pager for a quick in-session brain dump.
Created by Eb, registered counsellor.
Please note
This resource is for educational and supportive use with your own clients and students only. It isn’t a replacement for therapy or professional care. Please don’t share, copy or resell.
Questions? Get in touch through the contact page.
Tip it out, sort it, and repack only what needs you right now.
You know when you’re digging through your handbag for your keys and you just can’t find them? Our minds can feel exactly the same. When everything’s jumbled together, it all starts to feel urgent, and it’s really hard to know what actually needs our time and energy.
The Messy Handbag is a simple, visual brain dump tool that helps clients get what’s going on out of their head and onto paper, so they can see it, sort it, and gently let go of what isn’t theirs to carry. It’s a lovely way to work with overwhelm, second-guessing, people-pleasing and that “my head is too full” feeling.
Designed for adults and older teens, and works well one-to-one, in groups, or as a take-home tool.
What’s included (11 printable A4 pages)
Cover and “before we start” page explaining the metaphor and why externalising helps
The messy bag: a big space to tip everything out
Tip it out: a list page with gentle reflection prompts
Sort the piles: keys, wallet, old receipts and heavy stuff, with examples
Stuck on where it goes? Sorting questions and a sorting table
Repack my bag: what goes back in, what goes in someone else’s bag, and what goes in the bin
Carrying the heavy stuff: gentle ways to hold hard things
A weekly check-in log
My handbag plan
A one-page quick tip out you can print and reuse anytime
How it works
Instant PDF download. Print at home, at school or in your practice. You can use the full workbook across a few sessions, or just grab the one-pager for a quick in-session brain dump.
Created by Eb, registered counsellor.
Please note
This resource is for educational and supportive use with your own clients and students only. It isn’t a replacement for therapy or professional care. Please don’t share, copy or resell.
Questions? Get in touch through the contact page.