Should I work with a mental health professional or a spiritual practitioner? What considerations should I take into account? How do they provide different kinds of support?

These are some questions I find myself asking at various points of my journey – both as a mystical practitioner and as someone who also seeks out support. In conversations with clients and students, I find that others are asking them, too. And so, I invited my dear friend, Martha Alter Hines to share her insights and her experiences. 

For twenty years, Martha worked as a clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and body worker prior to answering her soul's calling to offer spiritual guidance using energy work and astrology.

We discussed both what to expect when receiving spiritual vs. mental health support, the intersections and the distinctions between the two, and how to take responsibility for your own spiritual and mental health journeys.

If you'd like to go deeper, check out these offerings from Martha: 

• Workshop: Trauma Informed Basics for Astrologers & Healers
• Workshop: Virgo & Your Personal Temple
• Conversation with Heather Ensworth & Kristina Lea on YouTube
• The Wholeness Way Series on YouTube

I also encourage you to check out Martha's sessions, courses, and subscribe to Martha's amazing YouTube channel!

Here's Martha's bio: 

Martha Alter Hines, MSW, is a mom, an author, a healer, and an astrologer. Martha has twenty years of experience as a clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and body worker. She has primarily studied Evolutionary Astrology with Ari Moshe Wolfe and Heather Ensworth as well.

Martha bridges her trauma informed clinical background with her astrological knowledge, as well as a deep understanding of ourselves as beings of the cosmos, Earth, divine, heart, mind, and so much more.

Martha was born in Thailand and grew up in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Kenya, and the United States. Therefore, she has a deep passion for alleviating the suffering of our world.

Martha is dedicated to serving our world, to helping us each to thrive, and to supporting us to come back into the infinite wisdom and healing that is our natural state of being.

If you've enjoyed and benefited from the podcast, I invite you to apply for private mentorship and coaching with me. This is an intensive container, designed to support you in refining your self-leadership skills, moving through important life thresholds with grace, and expanding your capacity for creative expansions.

Try the incredible breathwork and meditation app Open for 30 days free using this special link. 

This podcast is hosted, produced, and edited by Jonathan Koe. Theme music is also composed by me! Connect with me through my newsletter, my Instagram @jonathankoeofficial, and my music. For podcast-related inquiries, email me at [email protected].