In therapy, it’s essential to create a nurturing and accepting environment where clients feel safe to express themselves. This applies to both individual and group therapy settings. When using tools like tarot cards in therapy, oracle cards in therapy, creative expression, or accompanying stories, avoid focusing on the client’s artistic or interpretive skills. These tools are intended to help clients express themselves in ways that feel natural and comfortable.
Session Structure and Activity Use
Activities involving cards can range from brief moments, like choosing a card and sharing a sentence about their feelings, to entire sessions focused on card-based activities. These activities often follow the stages of a therapeutic session and may extend across multiple sessions. Therapists should adapt the activities based on the group, the desired depth of work, and the client’s progress.
Group Work
In group settings, avoid any form of judgment—positive or negative—about the quality of the work. It’s also important to discourage competition among group members. Instead, encourage clients to connect with their inner thoughts and feelings and express themselves creatively based on their own needs and abilities.
In group settings, individual card activities can be expanded. For example, group members can ask questions, give feedback, or add words, objects, images, or other cards to deepen the process. They might even act out objects or characters from a continuum the client has built. These collaborative actions foster connection, enhance relationships, and build confidence while broadening perspectives and helping clients cope with daily life.
Tracking and Reflection
Cards are numbered and named, making it easy to track and record clients’ choices over time. These records can provide valuable insights into their progress and may also be useful in supervision. Clients typically choose from a set of open cards, but random selection can also be helpful, especially for clients who feel stuck. Spontaneous choices often reveal deeper, unplanned reactions.
Exploring Decisions and Dissonance
Pay attention to both the content of the cards and how clients engage with them. Observe behaviors like how they choose cards, where they place them, and how they interact with the process. These actions provide clues about how clients navigate their lives.
For example, if a client spends a lot of time selecting a card but feels rushed in the situation the card represents, explore this contrast. What drives their decisions in life? When do they find it easy or hard to decide? Similarly, dissonance between what the client says and the visual content of the cards can highlight important therapeutic themes.
If a client rejects certain cards and chooses new ones, revisit the rejected ones. These cards often hold significant insights that can deepen the therapeutic process.
The Neo-Jungian Approach
The Neo-Jungian approach to therapy incorporates and evolves Carl Jung’s ideas, particularly his emphasis on the unconscious, archetypes, and the collective unconscious. Using oracle or tarot cards within this framework can align well with Jungian principles, as these tools engage imagination, symbolic thinking, and personal exploration.
Key Points About the Neo-Jungian Approach and Oracle/Tarot Cards:
Symbolism and Archetypes:
- Tarot and oracle cards often feature archetypal imagery that resonates with Jungian concepts like the Shadow, Self, and Anima/Animus.
- These cards can help clients access unconscious material and connect with personal and collective symbols.
Therapy vs. Intuitive Readings
When using cards for intuitive readings instead of therapy, the approach differs as opposed to using Tarot cards in therapy or using Oracle cards in therapy. In readings, the card that shows up is considered the right one for that moment. Pulling additional cards is generally for clarity, not to replace a card that feels “off.” Reflect on how the message aligns with any synchronicities or themes in the client’s life.
Using cards as a divination tool should only be done if the client explicitly wishes to explore spiritual matters. This is distinct from offering your own intuitive insights. Avoid future-casting, as it’s not empowering for the client. Instead, focus on helping them find meaning and clarity in the present moment.
Reference:
Salpeter, G. (2023). The river set as a therapeutic tool: Guide book for therapists. RI Grafika Doo Skopje.
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