Looking past traditional counseling

I have begun my private practice, effectively stepping out on the proverbial ledge and taking the first step off. Now after spending money on office space, advertising (being a former graphic artist did save me a boat-load of cash on design and printing, read: home printer), I am beginning to trickle in clients, one, two, three… I have studied, learned and incorporated therapies that interested and engaged me into my ‘tool box’ such as CBT, Narrrative, and Mindfulness. These have proven effective in my work.

Many years ago, well, actually a couple of decades, I was introduced to a magnificent gentleman, a child psychiatrist working at a psychiatric hospital in Maine. He is fascinating to speak with, a presence of great gentleness and penetrating insight. I remember going to his home for a small party of friends and the conversation moved through many topics such as work, friends lives’ and onto Tarot. One person asked if the host can do a reading for her. “of course,” he said.

Now, I once had a Tarot reading done as a gift for my birthday one year previous from a friend. It intrigued me, and afterward I mussed around with the content of the reading for weeks. Some of the reading would not be revealed to me for years later. So, here was I at this great man’s home and he was about to do a Tarot reading. I looked at him as he said yes to the reading and he asked me if I wanted to have a reading next. Was it the look of eagerness in my eyes? Maybe.

What I learned from this man was amazing, and the friendship and mentorship was even more amazing. A little history on him without revealing his name or anything truly personal: He reads Tarot as I have said. This man also was an ordained Wiccan, attends a Catholic church every Sunday, and conducts past-life regressions (some of which was done this very evening, and no, I wasn’t brave this particular night.)

I introduce this man because he began a change in my thinking about psychology and how Tarot can play a significant role in counseling others. As I had in previous posts stated; I had kept Tarot and counseling separate from each other. But I had always found it interesting that when I had conducted a Tarot reading it seemed to morph into a counseling session. When a person is receptive to the method of using Tarot and they are open to understanding the issues they are repressing, the cards always represent these issues rather well. The person receiving the reading is receptive to conversation and counseling on what the cards represent, what is troubling her or him at the time.

So, incorporating Tarot into a counseling session may seem out of the ordinary, to say the least, but ordinary does not seem to be a proper word when talking of counseling. Again, and I will repeat this several times (a day…), Tarot is not mystical, magical device to call upon spirits for divining the future. Tarot is a method of engaging with our subconscious to delve into the issues we often hide in pain from our conscious minds. There is a connection between the reader and the person receiving the reading that become deep and at times moving, much like a counseling session.