Coat of Arms Worksheet
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Looking for a coat of arms worksheet to use in your therapy practice? This article contains a coat of arms worksheet with instructions to support clients through a range of activities.
A coat of arms worksheet—which you may also recognize as a family crest—is a visual aid to support clients through self-exploration.
As a therapist, you can employ a range of interventions with clients—from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to art therapy, which may include using a coat of arms worksheet that prompts clients to write or draw in each of the quadrants.
This article provides an overview of different activities you can use with the coat of arms worksheet, such as the family coat of arms activity. We’ve also included a downloadable coat of arms worksheet, with instructions, to share with your clients in-person, send it to them electronically, or save to your electronic health record (EHR) for future use.
What is the coat of arms therapy activity?
A coat of arms dates back to medieval Europe, when they were used to represent a family, individual, or group. These symbols would be emblazoned on garments, shields, and armor.
Today, you may recognize the use of a coat of arms by the Royal Family. For example, the Royal coat of arms identifies the head of state, denotes the separate countries that make up the United Kingdom, and symbolizes the order of knighthood. The shield contains the Royal emblem, which consists of three lions in the first and fourth quarters, the lion of Scotland in the second, and the harp of Ireland in the third.
You may also see a coat of arms on other countries' governmental buildings, on coins, in churches, and in other public buildings.
In therapy, a coat of arms worksheet serves as a visual therapeutic tool, to identify values, goals, or prominent aspects of a client’s life.
A coat of arms can be used with clients in several ways:
- As an icebreaker activity
- To explore the self
- In couples therapy or family therapy
- In coaching for goal setting
- To explore what a client wants to achieve with therapy
We’ve included some specific examples of coat of arms activities in the next section.
Examples of coat of arms activities
Many clients can benefit from the coat of arms activity, regardless of the therapeutic setting they’re in—from individual therapy sessions, to couples counseling, family therapy, and inpatient or outpatient groups.
We’ve included some specific examples of how to use the coat of arms worksheet, with instructions, below.
Icebreaker activity
This activity is suitable for children to adults, and can be used in individual therapy, family therapy, or couples therapy.
The activity can act as an icebreaker to kickstart therapy by giving clients something to focus on, identifying their therapeutic goals, and taking the pressure off a face-to-face session. Clients who are new to therapy, especially children, teens, or neurodivergent people, may feel uncomfortable at first, so this activity can help them get used to therapy and set goals.
Exploration of self
This activity is best for teenagers and adults, but can be used in any type of therapy. You can use a coat of arms worksheet for identity exploration and development, building self-esteem, or validating the various aspects of your client’s identity—including their sexual, gender, or racial identity.
You can also use it to review their strengths or character traits.
Mindfulness or gratitude practice
Anyone can participate in this activity. Clients that might benefit from mindfulness or a gratitude practice could use the coat of arms sections to describe or draw any of the following:
- Four things they are grateful for
- Things or people that make them happy
- Places that make them feel calm
- Some of their favorite foods or snacks
Relational therapy
Adult couples and families may benefit most from this exercise. Clients experiencing conflict or processing an experience may find it helpful to identify their personal values and boundaries. The coat of arms can then serve as a visual reminder during times of conflict.
Goal setting
Clients of all ages can use the coat of arms worksheet to describe or draw symbols depicting their immediate, short-term, and long-term goals in therapy.
Emotional management
This activity could be used to visually describe certain emotions or experiences which may need processing. Emotional management can be a great use of the coat of arms for children and adults alike. Then, you can use the coat of arms as a visual aid to discuss ways to enhance the client’s coping skills.
Family therapy tool
A family coat of arms therapy activity can engage families in identifying their strengths and weaknesses, rituals, values, and legacies.
School activity
School-aged clients can use the worksheet in class or with a school counselor to describe or illustrate any of the following:
- Things they are proud of
- Where they would like to be in 10 years
- Things they enjoy about their friendships
- Things they love about their family
This can be shared individually or together as a group. If used in a group, participants can share what they enjoyed about the activity, what they learned, what was the most difficult, and what they learned from their peers.
How to use the coat of arms worksheet
You can download a free coat of arms activity PDF at the top of this article to use in session with clients or provide as a take-home activity.
The coat of arms worksheet with instructions includes directions for three types of activities: navigating identity, understanding conflicts, and setting goals.
Choose an activity that best suits your client’s needs and have them fill out the blank coat of arms with words, pictures, or drawings. Once they’ve completed their coat of arms, discuss it with your client and have them write down any notes or learnings in the ‘Notes’ section of the PDF.
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