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 - Oakland, California
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 Oakland
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 Oakland, California
If you’re navigating anxiety, identity shifts, or emotional overwhelm, therapy can be a powerful place to land.
I specialize in working with women in midlife who are ready to feel more grounded, clear, and connected to themselves.
👉 Learn more about working with me
👉 Book an initial consultation (for women in California)
👉 Download my free journal prompts for Midlife Inquiry
Until Next Time wishing You Health & Ease,
Jessika
Connect with me on IG : @that_feminist_therapist
Book a therapy consultation here. (for California residents only)
Jessika Fruchter, LMFT, (Lic. 9767) is based in Oakland California. She offers specialized mental health care for women navigating perimenopause and all things midlife. She offers individual and group therapy support to women throughout the state of California. She also writes frequently about issues of midlife, spirituality and mental health on her blog: Minding Midlife and Substack: We Were Made For This.