I have had lots of therapy. In those sessions and in my later studies on psychology I learned that the psychologist usually keeps a professional-to-patient boundary. This means that a typical therapist or psychologist wouldn't tell me about themselves; I did the talking for the most part and they would just periodically validate what I said and ask me questions which would help me find the answers or direction I needed to go. I later learned that this is a common practice taught to most (if not all) therapists and psychologists in order to offset the patient's already natural tendency to project relationship onto the therapist/psychologist. Most people have heard or read about the patient who thinks they are in love with their therapist; this professional distance is there to keep the patient in a healthy form of relationship with the therapist because it is abusive for a therapist to get too close or fall in love with a patient. Doing so is a breach of trust and taking advantage of a person during a very vulnerable time.
There was one exception to that rule; transpersonal psychologists. These professionals often do share their personal experiences in the treatment in order to establish to the patient that all people go through similar things and to help the patient see the therapist as a person who can be trusted because they have experienced similar issues. These transpersonal psychologists told me they have to be especially careful to always remind the patient that they are in a professional-patient setting despite the sharing of relevant personal experiences.
This brings me to another helping professional. Astrologers often act as therapists or counselors to the people who come to them. While astrology does lend itself to this particular line of work, too often the astrologer has done little or no real study or field work in psychology or therapy and as such are unaware of the professional boundary that should be maintained between the client and the astrologer. I have seen astrologers practicing therapy to the extent that their clients begin to rely on them just like they would a real therapist. Yet I have also seen astrologers who get a little too personal with clients to the point that the client sees the astrologer as a friend or other intimate relationship person in their lives. When the astrologer pulls away (as they inevitably must do) the client's trust is broken and they are emotionally damaged and in pain. This is not helpful to the client at all and can in fact be devastating to their progress as healthy individuals.
My point here is that if you are thinking of doing astrology, please know your limits and limit your astrological work to just reading the charts. Don't try to be a therapist to the clients; leave that (and refer them) to the real therapists; the ones who are educated and trained to practice therapy. Keep the professional distance required between yourself and your client and know the signs if your client is becoming attached and then refer them to a therapist if they are. Practicing therapy without the education or training will not be the helping hand you think you are extending to your astrology clients; instead you will cause unnecessary grief and pain and damage the tennuous trust the client has. That is unethical in the extreme. Compassion for others includes knowing your own limitations and keeping within them. Please have the integrity to do what is best for the client; leave the therapy to the therapists.
There was one exception to that rule; transpersonal psychologists. These professionals often do share their personal experiences in the treatment in order to establish to the patient that all people go through similar things and to help the patient see the therapist as a person who can be trusted because they have experienced similar issues. These transpersonal psychologists told me they have to be especially careful to always remind the patient that they are in a professional-patient setting despite the sharing of relevant personal experiences.
This brings me to another helping professional. Astrologers often act as therapists or counselors to the people who come to them. While astrology does lend itself to this particular line of work, too often the astrologer has done little or no real study or field work in psychology or therapy and as such are unaware of the professional boundary that should be maintained between the client and the astrologer. I have seen astrologers practicing therapy to the extent that their clients begin to rely on them just like they would a real therapist. Yet I have also seen astrologers who get a little too personal with clients to the point that the client sees the astrologer as a friend or other intimate relationship person in their lives. When the astrologer pulls away (as they inevitably must do) the client's trust is broken and they are emotionally damaged and in pain. This is not helpful to the client at all and can in fact be devastating to their progress as healthy individuals.
My point here is that if you are thinking of doing astrology, please know your limits and limit your astrological work to just reading the charts. Don't try to be a therapist to the clients; leave that (and refer them) to the real therapists; the ones who are educated and trained to practice therapy. Keep the professional distance required between yourself and your client and know the signs if your client is becoming attached and then refer them to a therapist if they are. Practicing therapy without the education or training will not be the helping hand you think you are extending to your astrology clients; instead you will cause unnecessary grief and pain and damage the tennuous trust the client has. That is unethical in the extreme. Compassion for others includes knowing your own limitations and keeping within them. Please have the integrity to do what is best for the client; leave the therapy to the therapists.
