Let’s be honest—there are plenty of games out there that claim to help you deepen your relationships. But when I began creating What Happens After Hello, I wasn’t interested in just another card game. I wanted to build something meaningful. Something rooted in psychology. Something real.

So I asked myself: What actually makes an interaction feel safe, intimate, and memorable?

That’s where the idea for the Assume – Reflect – Connect process came in. It’s a simple research backed framework, but one I’ve seen unfold again and again in therapy:

First, we become aware of our assumptions—the stories we carry, the patterns we repeat, the beliefs that shape how we show up in relationships.

Then, we reflect—on our feelings, on what we need, on what’s hard to say out loud.

And finally, we connect—through vulnerability, honesty, and even humour—because real connection isn’t just about being serious, it’s about being seen.

This card deck was built to gently guide you through that process. Whether you’re using it with a partner, a friend, or even by yourself alongside therapy—it’s designed to help you slow down, tune in, and move past small talk into something meaningful.

I hope it brings you closer—to yourself and to the people who matter.

With warmth,
Priyanka Varma
Founder | Psychologist
The Thought Co.