Tarot In Therapy
Tarot in Therapy: How Tarot Cards Can Support Healing, Clarity, and Growth
Curious about tarot in therapy? Discover how tarot cards can support reflection, reduce anxiety, and bring new insight into your healing journey.
Introduction: Tarot Beyond Fortune Telling
When people think of tarot, they often imagine fortune tellers, crystal balls, or spooky predictions about the future. But in therapy, tarot is nothing like that.
Instead, tarot cards become a tool for self-reflection, mental health support, and emotional healing. In my practice, tarot isn’t about predicting what’s coming next - it’s about creating space to explore what’s happening right now.
Using tarot in therapy can help you slow down, process emotions, and discover new perspectives about yourself and your life.
What Tarot Really Is (and Isn’t)
Tarot is a deck of 78 cards filled with imagery, archetypes, and symbols that represent universal human experiences. Think of it as a mirror, It doesn’t tell the future, but it reflects feelings, patterns, and insights you may not have noticed before.
Here’s what tarot in therapy is not:
❌ Not fortune telling: No one’s predicting your grocery store soulmate.
❌ Not evil or dangerous: They’re just pictures on cards - the meaning comes from you.
❌ Not unprofessional: Just like journaling, art therapy, or mindfulness, tarot is a creative therapy tool that helps explore your inner world.
How Tarot Can Help in Therapy
Tarot cards can be surprisingly powerful in therapy sessions. Here’s how they might support your healing process:
Opening up feels easier. Sometimes talking about emotions is tough. A tarot card gives you a visual starting point.
Recognizing patterns. A card may remind you of a current or past situation, sparking insight into habits or cycles you want to change.
Clarity when you’re stuck. Tarot offers a fresh perspective when life feels confusing or overwhelming.
Reducing anxiety. The simple act of pulling a card, looking at it, and reflecting can be grounding.
Making therapy creative. For those who don’t connect with traditional talk therapy, tarot adds a visual, interactive element.
👉 Example: One client pulled the Tower card, which shows a crumbling building. Instead of doom, they realized it symbolized their old job falling apart, making space for healthier opportunities. Tarot didn’t predict change; it helped them make sense of it.
Tarot and Mental Health Approaches
You might be wondering - does tarot actually connect to “real” therapy? Absolutely. Tarot works alongside proven, evidence-based approaches to support mental health.
CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy): A card can highlight negative thought patterns and spark reframing.
Narrative Therapy: Tarot imagery helps you externalize problems and re-author your story.
Mindfulness: Pulling a card invites you to pause, breathe, and reflect in the present moment.
Depth/Jungian Therapy: Tarot’s archetypes connect to the unconscious and deeper parts of the psyche.
Tarot doesn’t replace therapy. It enhances it. It’s one more way to help you process emotions, reduce anxiety, and build self-awareness.
What a Tarot Therapy Session Looks Like
Here’s an example of how tarot might show up in therapy:
You come in feeling overwhelmed but unsure where to start.
I offer: “Want to pull a card and see what it brings up?”
You pull the Hermit - a figure holding a lantern in the dark.
I ask, “What stands out to you about this image?”
You reflect, “Honestly, it makes me think of how isolated I’ve been feeling.”
Suddenly, we’re talking about your loneliness in a safe, gentle way you might not have been ready to dive into directly.
That’s the beauty of tarot in counseling. It creates entry points for conversations that lead to healing.
Is Tarot Therapy Right for You?
Tarot-informed therapy isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. You’ll never be pressured to use it. But it may be a great fit if you’re someone who:
Enjoys art, symbolism, or metaphors
Wants therapy to feel less intimidating and more creative
Feels stuck and is looking for a fresh perspective
Wants a grounding, mindful practice to support mental health
Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, grief, life transitions, or simply want to know yourself better, tarot can offer new insight and clarity in your therapy journey.
Final Thoughts
Tarot in therapy isn’t about predicting your future. It’s about helping you connect with your present. These cards don’t hold magical answers, but they can reflect back the truths you’re ready to see.
For many clients, tarot adds creativity, grounding, and clarity to the therapy process. For others, it’s not their thing - and that’s fine too. In my practice, tarot is always optional and always guided by what feels right for you.
Ready to Explore Tarot in Therapy?
Curious about how tarot can support your healing journey? Therapy doesn’t have to be just talking. It can be creative, reflective, and uniquely yours.
✨ If you’d like to explore tarot in therapy, contact me today to schedule a session or learn more.
