It’s in the Cards: How I use Tarot in Therapy
My Approach: From Well-Researched to Emerging Therapies
Anyone who is familiar with my work as a therapist knows that I am a fan of interventions that (a) focus on client strengths and (b) are creative and often outside the box. I tend to pull from a variety of modalities and approaches in my work from well-researched practices such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to emerging therapies (i.e. those that have been around for a long while but have only recently been accepted by the mainstream mental health community) including nature-based and expressive arts interventions. I even utilize - wait for it - tarot cards.
Yes, it's true. I'm a licensed clinician and I utilize tarot with clients when they are interested and when the intervention is clinically indicated.
My Discovery of Spiritual Psychotherapy
But before I share how I use the elusive tarot in session, let me backtrack a bit because I want to share that I first stumbled upon what would become my first tarot deck when I was just thirteen years old, wandering around the back of a bookstore with my mom. She had no idea then the seed she was planting!
Guided by the Imagery of the Cards
I was immediately smitten with the imagery of the cards; the universal experiences and personality types represented; and the feeling of entering another world filled with symbols and metaphors. Although, my long-term draw to the practice of tarot was the honing of and reliance on intuition.
Increase Your Reliance on Intuition
This is to say that by using the cards, reading the traditional meanings, and drawing my own associations, I would gain insight into questions and situations that had me feeling stuck. As it turned out, I didn't need someone else to tell me what I already knew deep down, I just needed a way to access it.
Discovering Yourself Through Spiritual Psychotherapy
In my therapy practice, I offer clients the opportunity to do the same with my support and guidance. This is especially relevant to women and girls I work with who are often learning to trust themselves as well as explore identity and cultivate self-esteem.
Getting Started With the World of Tarot
If you're intrigued and want to explore the world of tarot it’s easy enough to pick a deck based on which imagery you are drawn to. Most bookstores carry tarot decks, but there are also a host of unique small-batch decks sold on Etsy.com and other online sites.
Once you've picked your deck, an easy way to start practicing is to pick a card a day and let yourself engage with the card. Take a deep breath. What symbols do you see? What is the wisdom or the lesson of the card? Do you feel resistant or open?
Concluding Thoughts about Tarot and Spiritual Psychotherapy in Los Angeles
Have fun with it! And if you're interested in learning more about this work either as a client or a clinician seeking consultation, feel free to reach out here. I absolutely love chatting about the use of tarot in healing work.
Till next time, wishing you health and ease,
Jessika
Begin Spiritual Psychotherapy in Los Angeles, California
My approach is holistic and tailored to meet each client’s specific needs. Wherever you are at this moment, I'm in this with you - warm, direct, and transparent in the process. And I love the work I do. Let’s get started!
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Other Services Offered By Jessika Fruchter, LMFT- Therapy For Women And Girls
In addition to providing Spiritual Psychotherapy support for women in California, I also offer online therapy for women, therapy for teen girls, and expressive arts therapy for women and teen girls in California.
Other Services Include:
Groups and Workshops for Women: Magic happens when women come together! I offer new groups and workshops quarterly, both online and in-person. Topics and themes have included:
Therapeutic Writing
Mask Making
Tarot Practice for Developing Intuition
Women’s Circles
Clinical Consultation for Therapists:
I specialize in collaborating with clinicians who want to integrate expressive arts therapy or psychospiritual practices such as tarot therapy, dreamwork, altar making, and ritual, into their practices. I also offer training on these topics. To learn more about my offerings for clinicians visit: www.mycreativepractice.com.
Training for Psychotherapists:
I have a passion for providing creative and useful training to teams on the front line of community mental health. Past training has focused on trauma-informed expressive arts therapy interventions and burnout prevention. Training may also be developed/tailored based on the unique need of the team. Contact me here.
Books and Blogs:
Check out my first book project for teens published in September 2021. For articles and essays about women’s mental health and wellness, check out my blog, Say More where you can also subscribe for the latest updates and posts.
