“Think Like a Shrink” is a party game designed to put your psychology skills to the test. Players act as therapists, trying to predict the thoughts, emotions, and experiences of their fellow players based on photo and phrase combinations.

This game has similar vibes to playing Apples to Apples, Hive Mind, and Dixit – Games where you have to get yourself in the same mindset of other players.  

Think Like a Shrink is for 2-6 players, for ages 17+.  The game was designed by two friends – a psychologist and a psychiatrist. 

Think Like a Shrink contents

Contents:

  • 1 Dry Erase Journal
  • 1 Dry Erase Marker
  • 200 Prompt Cards
  • 160 Snapshot Cards
  • 36 Emotion Cards
  • 6 Wooden Meeples
  • 1 Game Clock Board
  • 1 Small Rulebook
  • The game box is approximately 7″x10″x2″.  The box is well designed with a nice insert.

Gameplay:

Players are competing against each other to reach 50 minutes on the game clock.  Everyone’s meeples start at the numeral 12 and are racking clockwise to the numeral 10 … as 50 minutes is a typical therapy session. Gameplay is very simple to learn and teach other players. 

All players are given 6 “Emotion” cards to keep for the entire game.  Players take turns being “Shrinks” and “Patients”. The oldest player is always the first patient.

Snapshots example

Five snapshots are placed around the board.  And one Prompt is placed in the middle of the board. 

Example of a Prompt card.

Now, the patient secretly comes up with the emotion he feels, a snapshot he associates with the prompt, and a reason for the connection.  The shrinks come up with predictions about the snapshot, emotion, and reasons based on what they know of their patients.  The shrinks then take turns revealing their findings.  

Think Like a Shrink Emotion cards

So based on the above information, you could say anything, like:

  • I was disgusted that my spouse was putting on her lipstick and flushed the toilet leaving the bathroom.
  • Or I was surprised by my husband flushing the toilet and wanted to jump on a flight out of there.  

Shrinks are awarded points for each correct prediction.

  • 1 point for the emotion
  • 1 point for the snapshot
  • and 1 point for the reason.

Players advance their meeples 5 minutes on the clock for each correct prediction.  

Play continues until someone reaches 50 minutes (10 on the clock), and they are the Top Shrink.

Think like a shrink gameplay

Here’s a breakdown of the game’s pros and cons to help you decide if it’s right for you:

Pros:

  • Fun and engaging: The game’s lighthearted approach to situations makes for a fun and entertaining experience. 
  • Promotes conversation: The game encourages players to discuss and analyze their thoughts and feelings, leading to interesting conversations.
  • Simple rules: The game is easy to learn and teach. 
  • Replayable: With numerous photo and phrase combinations, the game offers high replayability.
  • Short Game Time: Games should only take 30-60 minutes
  • Nice components: The card stock on the cards in nice. 
Some people will like this discussion. Some might not.

Cons:

  • Not for introverts: This is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea.
  • Reliance on luck: Some players may find that the outcome of the game depends heavily on luck, as the photo and phrase combinations can be subjective.
  • Potential for misinterpretations: The game’s focus on predicting thoughts and feelings can lead to misinterpretations and awkward moments, especially if players are not comfortable discussing personal topics.
  • Not for kids: Some of the topics would be awkward to discuss between teens and their adult parents.  That’s probably why the game is 17+.  But this not a dirty/adult game whatsoever.  
Think Like a Shrink setup

Overall:

Think Like a Shrink is a fun and engaging party game that can spark funny and interesting conversations.  Our gaming group really enjoyed it, and had a lot of good chuckles along the way.  However, if you’re looking for a game with more depth and strategy, or if you’re not comfortable with discussing personal topics, you might want to consider other options.

Additional factors to consider:

  • Number of players: The game is recommended for 2-6 players.
  • Playing time: A typical game lasts around 30-60 minutes.
  • Age: The game is suitable for ages 17 and up.
  • Price: The game typically costs around $20-$30.
  • Think Like a Shrink can be purchased directly from Amazon.com. 

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