What’s the difference between counseling, psychotherapy, and coaching? Terms like counseling, psychotherapy, and life coaching can be confusing, as they often overlap in their goals but differ in their approach and legal frameworks. Within the U.S., psychotherapy is typically conducted by a licensed therapist and involves addressing deeper psychological issues, often within a clinical context. Counseling may or may not require licensure, depending on the scope and setting, and often focuses on specific challenges or personal growth. Life coaching, on the other hand, is not regulated by licensing boards and emphasizes achieving future goals rather than addressing past trauma or clinical issues.

Do I need a licensed professional? Licensure is a rigorous process that ensures practitioners meet specific educational and ethical standards. It provides clients with protections and enables practitioners to accept insurance, making services more financially accessible for some, usually for a set number of sessions. However, some practitioners have similar or even the same education and experience but choose not to become licensed. It’s important to consider whether a licensed professional is right for your needs.

Reasons You Might Need a Licensed Professional:

• Severe or Crisis Situations: If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, suicidal thoughts, or other severe psychological issues, a licensed professional is trained to provide the necessary support.
• Continuity of Care: Licensed professionals often collaborate with healthcare providers to ensure a cohesive care plan.
• Innovative and Integrative Approaches: Non-licensed professionals can often provide unique services, such as integrating astrology with counseling, that fall outside traditional frameworks.
• Fewer Financial Constraints: Working with a licensed professional often includes a cap on the number of covered sessions through insurance. Once exceeded, clients may be required to pay full price, which is unaffordable for many people.

Reasons You Might Prefer a Non-Licensed Professional:

• Innovative and Integrative Approaches: Non-licensed professionals can often provide unique services, such as integrating astrology with counseling, that fall outside traditional frameworks.
• Freedom to Choose the Best Fit: Within the U.S., licensure enables a practitioner to see clients who are in a specific state. Selecting the person who feels best suited to your needs, regardless of location, might be the best fit.
• Fewer Financial Constraints: Working with a licensed professional often includes a cap on the number of covered sessions through insurance. Once exceeded, clients may be required to pay full price, which is unaffordable for many people.
• Unique Perspective from Varied Life Experiences: Those who have lived in multiple sates or countries and have served people from different backgrounds often bring a diverse perspective and valuable life experiences. However, frequent moves can create barriers to licensure. If this is important to you, considering a counselor with this kind of experience might be right for you.

What category are my services? My Astrological Counseling falls within the realm of personal development and self-awareness counseling, complementing but not replacing licensed therapeutic services. My decision to remain unlicensed allows me to offer services that are flexible, innovative, and aligned with my clients' unique needs, while still adhering to high ethical and professional standards. It also allows me to serve clients regardless of the client’s or my location.

What if I have questions or concerns? You are welcome to email me at transform.chiron@gmail.com with any questions or concerns you might have about Astrological Counseling in general or about working with me. I want to make sure this is the right fit for you so please do not hesitate to ask! If you'd like to schedule a complementary, 20-minute call prior to scheduling any sessions to discuss these questions, I'm happy to do that on the phone if you're within the U.S. and via WhatsApp if you're outside of the U.S.

What are your rates? I try to keep my Astrological Counseling rates affordable, whether compared to other astrological counseling services or regular counseling. A single session is the same as my Astrological Readings at $125 for a 60-minute session. However, you also have the option of purchasing a 5-session bundle at $500 (or $100/session) or a 10-session bundle at $750 (or $75/session). If you'd like to purchase a bundle, please email me to receive an invoice and to discuss your availability for your appointments.