Tarot readings have been done for centuries where individuals gain insight into their past, present and future using a deck of cards based on four suits swords, pentacles, cups, and wands, with each of these suits containing cards ace through ten, Page, Knight, Queen and King. A reading involves interpreting the images of the cards through established meanings or a person’s own interpretation to make predictions about life (Clinton, 2024). While tarot originated as a card game, over the years it has transformed and evolved to be used for fortune-telling, divination and is also emerging as a psychological tool (Farley, 2009). Given tarot’s transformational history, this essay considers whether tarot can evolve again to be used therapeutically particularly among mental health professionals.
Tarot is gaining increasing popularity as a tool for self-reflection and personal growth and modern decks are positioning themselves to align with this change (Au-Yeung, 2025). Although, there is limited research on tarot’s use in therapy, there are emerging studies linking it to mental health. One study examined the influence of social media tarot content on the emotional perception and regulation of young people, and found higher engagement in tarot content was associated with greater understanding of one’s emotions, clearer self-awareness, and around 68% were more likely to consult tarot to make decisions (Pang, 2025). Despite this perceived positive impact, negative impacts included the risk of becoming dependent on the cards particularly in terms of decision making (Pang, 2025). In terms of counselling and therapy, although these participants were not engaging in tarot therapeutically, this study does raise the question on how client autonomy and decision making would be impacted when using tarot. Other research has focused on using tarot alongside mindfulness techniques where it was found that women and those who had previously read tarot were better suited to using Tarot as a mindfulness intervention (DeMarte, 2024). Mindfulness involves paying attention to the present moment non-judgementally as well as structured reflection (Kabat-Zinn, 2003) and this study noted that tarot aligned well to these principles but would be best used alongside other empirically supported techniques (DeMarte, 2024).
Tarot has also been used therapeutically and integrated into counselling as a narrative technique (Au-Yeung, 2025), a projective technique (Clinton, 2024; Semetsky, 2010) and even as a modality of its own (Semetsky, 2005). In terms of using tarot as a separate modality in therapy, Semetsky (2005) argues that the therapist must be trained and confident in reading the cards and the reading is treated as a dynamic process towards awakening one’s conscious awareness. This research highlighted that tarot showed potential for emotional healing and therapeutic change with participants describing how they gained ‘insight’ and ‘clarity’ (Semetsky, 2005). However, it should be noted that some participants questioned the validity of using tarot in this context and the study only explored tarot being used in one session, therefore long-term effects cannot be established (Semetsky, 2005). This conveys that if tarot is used in a therapeutic setting, it should be used with caution given the limited research available on the long-term impact on the client. Tarot has more frequently been used as a projective technique, these techniques can potentially lead to valuable progress in the counselling space, however they are known to be controversial based on clinician incompetence and inexperience as well as psychometric limitations (Clark, 1995). In contrast, a projective technique such as Sandtray Therapy is frequently cited as a valuable trauma-informed intervention that can facilitate a non-verbal storytelling process that can have great neurobiological benefits (Sweeney & Homeyer, 2016). Similarly, tarot can produce sometimes reveal something that the client is unable (subconsciously) or is unwilling (consciously) to put into words (Au Yeung, 2025; Semetsky, 2006, 2010). It should be considered that for tarot to be a projective technique, the original and traditional interpretations of the cards should be ignored, and the focus should remain on the client’s interpretation rather than the client seeking an answer from the cards or the therapist (Clinton, 2024). Taken together, tarot may be in the early stages of becoming a valuable projective technique when used appropriately.
Using tarot as a potential projective technique in therapy does have its advantages such as it can meet the client in the present moment while exploring how the client can transform themselves for the future by using readings that integrate the past, present and future and how these time points interact with each other (Semetsky, 2010). It can also help bring the unconscious into the conscious facilitating self-awareness and emotional clarity (Au-Yeung, 2025; Semetsky, 2006). Given tarot’s expressive nature, it can be adapted within various therapeutic theoretical orientations with the goal of enhancing the therapeutic relationship and process (Clinton, 2024). In contrast, tarot may not be suitable for everyone especially those struggling with paranoia or schizophrenia due to the potential increased paranoia or suspicion of the therapist (Clinton, 2024; Coulter, 2004). In addition, there is limited academic and empirical research into the use of tarot therapeutically, therefore it should not be used as a standalone modality or as a replacement for traditional talk therapy (Black, 2023; Semetsky, 2005). It is also imperative to consider the ethical implications of using tarot in therapy, considering if the client is suitable (Coulter, 2004), whether the therapist or professional is competent in tarot (Semetsky, 2005) and being aware of potential dependency (Pang, 2025). Taken together, tarot illustrates both advantages and disadvantages and ethical care should be taken when using it as a potential technique.
In conclusion, although it is suggested that using tarot therapeutically should not be used as a replacement for talk therapy (Black, 2023), it is in the early stages of becoming a promising potential projective technique (Clinton, 2024; Semetsky, 2006, 2010) to complement traditional therapy. Further research is needed to establish tarot’s effectiveness in the counselling process and should be based in a formal therapeutic space for longer than one session to explore the long-term effects.
References
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