Working with Clients Who Have Complex Mental Health Needs

As a Tarot reader, my clients are diverse in so many ways. But every now and again, I have a client with complex mental health needs, and I think this presents a very unique situation.

I am not a mental health expert, and I am not a qualified medical doctor, so I have to know my expertise. But if I refuse to see the client, then I may be modelling to the client that there isn't help for them — that doors are closed — and they may not feel confident enough to go on and access mental or medical support.

In this situation, I am genuinely cautious. I may choose to work with a more user-friendly deck than the Rider–Waite–Smith, my usual reading deck. I may move to a deck with more supportive images, a deck I would usually use for this situation is the Druidcraft Tarot deck. I will definitely focus on reflecting their situation and finding good support for them, trying to find that middle ground where I am validating their experiences without diagnosing.

I have come to find that a very useful formula to apply to this situation is to remind a client how our health is a complex balance between the mind, the body, and the soul. And that, as a Tarot reader or a shaman, I absolutely can support a client from a soul or spiritual position. I can offer them comfort, validation, emotional and spiritual support, but I cannot offer them professional mental health support or professional physical support.

I am also incredibly clear with my clients that I am a holistic or complementary therapist, which means that any work I am doing complements the work they may be receiving from healthcare professionals.

Over the years, I have seen this approach work really, really well with vulnerable clients, and through my support, they’ve had the confidence to be more open — perhaps to a parent or a partner — and then to feel more confident in getting their needs met by the appropriate healthcare professionals.

In fact, I’ve worked in many triads where I know that my client is working with a doctor and a mental health professional. My job is to hold that space with unconditional love and support, acting as a spiritual guide, whilst ensuring that I stay in my lane — which is spirit and soul. Encouraging, supporting, and enabling my client to get the appropriate mental and physical professional help from the right healthcare professionals.

I'm glad I haven't turned away these complex clients, because over the years I have felt a great deal of satisfaction in being one small part of their journey to well-being.

But I think that's the important part for me in this blog — I am one small part.