Integrating Tarot and Psychotherapy

In 1983, I entered a master’s program for marriage and family therapy with a tarot deck tucked into one pocket, a book of the I Ching in the other. I did not study the tarot tradition or symbolism. Instead, I begin to experiment with applying psychotherapy – including family systems, hypnotherapy, and dreamwork – to playing with the cards. This work, which I came to call Tarotpy® (tarot therapy), evolved over nearly four decades as a highly effective and awe-inspiring method of psychotherapy.

Initially, I kept tarot therapy sessions separate from my regular psychotherapy practice for fear that my license might be burned at the stake, metaphorically speaking. In the beginning, I experimented only with friends, colleagues, and clients who came by word of mouth. For years, I got rolled eyes from colleagues whenever I mentioned using tarot cards as a therapeutic tool. Spiritual psychotherapy was not yet recognized in the field. There were periods of uncertainty when I thought it might be easier to put aside this weird pursuit. Yet, I could not put down the cards because time and time again, the tarot therapy would reveal in one or a few sessions what might take months, even years to uncover in traditional therapy; and produce profound insights and creative solutions spontaneously.

Breakthrough experiences with clients inspired me to jump over my own shadow of uncertainty about integrating tarot into my psychotherapy practice. Tarot therapy became an integral part of my clinical practice and a collaborator in teaching me depth psychotherapy.

What is Tarot Therapy (Tarotpy)?

Tarot therapy is not fortune-telling. Unlike traditional tarot readings, in which there are preset formats and definitions, I begin by asking the client to focus inwardly and ask “how many cards do I need to look at.” I pay careful attention to verbal and non-verbal cues as the client describes how the cards are laid out in his/her mind’s eye and the meaning of each placement. The client is invited to select a deck or multiple decks from a collection that includes tarot, dream cards, oracle cards, and other imagery decks. By choosing the deck, s/he has more emotional resonance with the images. In this way, tarot therapy lays the client’s unconscious on the table, so that whatever has been hidden—emotional blocks, psychological and relational dynamics, core beliefs, inner conflict, and inner resources—is made conscious.

On the one hand, tarot therapy is a projective tool. We see images the way we see the world, as a mirror of what we believe about ourselves. Whatever card is selected, we will project onto it our unconscious beliefs; and in reflecting upon the image, we can discover unconscious motivations and creative solutions. 

On the other hand, there seems to be an invisible mastermind at play whenever someone selects so-called random images with uncanny correspondence to their concerns. I have learned through tarot therapy to trust the wisdom that comes with a random image. One must always pay attention to the moments of surprise whether in dreams or waking life, because this is how the muse of inspiration announces itself. Randomness, or what we think of as accidents or mistakes, is an opportunity for the creative unconscious to add its two cents to the conversation. 

Using Tarot Therapy in Clinical Practice

Mary was in her early sixties and heavyset as if her body were weighted down by a burdensome life. Private worries were guarded behind a forced smile. Though she indicated having anxiety about her sons, she would not divulge further information. In fact, opening up any conversation with Mary was difficult. 

I explained that I use symbolic imagery in conjunction with therapy to access unconscious resources, clarify issues and discover creative solutions. To begin the process, I asked Mary to choose a tarot deck from among a large display of decks. She chose the Karma Tarot deck and randomly picked a card face down to represent her problem. 

Mary turned over the card to reveal the Moon. Below left, I have shown the Moon card from the Karma deck. On the right, I have included the Moon card from the Rider-Waite deck for contrast. The Rider-Waite deck is arguably the most well-known Tarot deck; the illustrations and symbology are common to most decks around the world. Coming from a scientific orientation, I like to use the Rider-Waite Tarot as a control deck to show how imagery varies with each deck and, thus, how accurately the chosen deck and card resonate with the individual’s specific issue.

You might notice, for instance, in the Rider-Waite Moon card, a lobster crawls up from the depths of the water, and a pathway leads between a domesticated dog and a wild wolf. In most decks, as with this one, the path continues between two towers, houses, castles, or structures of some sort. 

The Moon card is generally associated with visions, dreams and reflection.  I associate the Moon card to the process of psychotherapy itself: by way of reflection (lunar consciousness), we bring up something primitive from the waters of our unconscious; we explore both the wild and domesticated sides of this instinctual energy; and this journey into consciousness finally makes its way into the external structure of our lives. 

However, as I looked at the Moon card from the Karma deck, what grabbed my attention was that instead of towers or castles or structures, there stood two wine bottles. Though I had used the deck numerous times, I had never noticed this before, nor had I ever seen wine bottles in any other Moon card. I trust that whenever a detail grabs my attention, it is significant. I then address it in the form of a question in order to encourage further dialogue, or I gently offer an interpretation to evoke associations and insights from the client. 

I reflected to Mary, “I notice these two wine bottles. Is there a drinking problem in the family?” 

Mary then revealed what was really upsetting her: both sons were alcoholics, and her husband had died of alcoholism. In just one Tarot therapy session, through the incisive imagery of the card she selected, Mary squarely faced the problem that she had been trying to hide for years.

***

Times have changed since I began this work in 1983. According to newspaper articles and social media, tarot and psychotherapy are trending. The public, especially the younger generation, are seeking spiritual perspectives — even asking their therapists to incorporate divination tools like tarot into their sessions. Tarot therapy illustrates that psychotherapy is often guided by unseen forces, by tapping into the creative unconscious or a collective intelligence that participates in our healing and evolution. Psychotherapy is after all, by definition, the science and art of healing the Soul.