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Chris Zydel, MA,CHT, has worked extensively with individuals, couples and groups for over 20 years to help them connect with what is most real and essential in their lives. With humor, insight and compassion she gently challenges the unnecessary limitations that people believe regarding who they are and what they can have.

Her greatest joy is in supporting people to take the risks necessary to claim all of who they are, to create a life that has meaning, and to encourage their opening to greater levels of fulfillment. Her own personal experience, as well as her work with others has shown her that the 'royal road" to a satisfying, balanced, heartfelt life is through creative expression. However, accessing our true creativity means having the willingness to explore our shadow side, to confront our inner critic, and to risk exposing our emotional vulnerability and needs.

In her work, Chris provides a safe space in which people feel fully held to embrace the depths of their psyche, and the range of all their feelings from grief to joy. She has been honored to work with many individuals, both singly and in groups, who have had the courage to face the inner demons that guard the gates to the treasures of their real, creative self.

Her background and training include a Masters Degree in Clinical Counseling from John F. Kennedy University in Orinda, CA and a certification in hypnotherapy from The Hypnosis Clearing House in Lafayette, CA. She has been a student of the Enneagram of personality for 18 years and a former practitioner of Reichian and bio-energetic bodywork. In addition, she has a certification in Evolutionary Astrology from well known author and astrologer Steven Forrest, and is an active member of his astrological apprenticeship program. She is a member of the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association and for the past 4 years has studied with Natalie Rogers, founder of The Person Centered Expressive Therapy Institute. She has completed a 2 year teacher training program with The Painting Experience, and has been painting with great enthusiasm for over 12 years.

CREATIVITY COACHING

Manifesting yourself creatively can be difficult and scary work to do on your own. There are many potential demons and pitfalls along the path that can keep you stuck, confused, distracted or deflated.

There are predictable steps in the creative process as well as predictable obstacles which may, at times, seem impassable and impossible. Learning to transform those obstacles into opportunities and recognizing that they are not your enemy but have many gifts to offer is the key to succeeding as a creative person.

DON'T STOP NOW!:

Believing in yourself when it looks like all is lost and you don't know what you are doing, who you are or where you are headed. The effective use of desperation, panic, and the black pit of despair.

YOU CAN'T DO IT ALONE:

Developing a network of trusted allies who can believe in you when you can't believe in yourself.

GETTING TOO BIG FOR YOUR BRITCHES:

How successful can you really allow yourself to be!

KEEPING UP THE MOMENTUM:

Sustaining motivation for the long haul.

If any of this sounds familiar and you find yourself unable to take the next step or even the first one, it may be time to call in some assistance. To call someone who has been there before. Someone like Chris Zydel who has the background and expertise to help you navigate the wild and woolly terrain of the creative process.

Chris is a compassionate, inspirational, funny, pragmatic, grounded and enthusiastic guide with many years of experience in the creative trenches. She knows what it's like to be stopped dead in your tracks by the inner (and sometimes outer) voices that are shouting for you to give up on this seemingly ludicrous, ridiculous, outlandish, preposterous path you have chosen.

She also knows how to keep moving forward through the fear, the shame, the compelling reasons to quit.... Over and over again. And she will very happily help you do the same.

She is very passionate about the process of creative flowering and has successfully mentored countless writers, painters, photographers, business owners, workshop leaders, actors, parents ... anyone with a creative vision trying to be born!

So if you are ready to regain your faith and confidence in your creative self and have some fun along the way, give Chris Zydel a call.

Individual coaching sessions: $90 per hour

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELING

Chris utilizes many different tools in her work with clients and students but one that she finds tremendously useful and powerful is evolutionary astrology.

This type of astrology does not put you in a box, describing you in a static way, but operates from the premise that you are free to make choices about how to deal with the planetary energies that you are given. An astrological reading of your birth chart can help you to see these choices more clearly and can point you in the direction of choosing options that are most likely to lead to happiness, satisfaction and fulfillment.

This approach to astrology is spiritual and metaphysical in focus with a strong grounding in depth psychology, archetypal symbolism and pragmatic, common sense reality. A major underlying premise of this approach is that there is an overarching meaning and purpose to your life and that astrology can help you to identify and more fully live out that purpose.

Your birthchart is an invitation to explore certain questions such as:

• How do you maintain your greatest sense of vitality and sanity?
• What makes you happy and feeds your deepest soul?
• Where do you sell yourself short, and in what areas of your life is it a good idea to take some outrageous risks?
• Where in your life are you being called to perform a great work thus developing a natural sense of authority?
• Who are your natural soulmates?
• What is the place of your greatest wounding and the source of your greatest passion once the wound is healed?
• Where in your life do you need to break the rules and follow your own individual path?
• How do you connect most readily with a sense of inspiration, intuition, and spirituality?
• In what areas of your life do you need to develop more courage?
  
• And finally, what is your evolutionary purpose in this life? What are the deeply familiar patterns that make you feel old, tired and stuck and where is the cutting edge path of growth that will put you on track with your life's purpose leading to a greater sense of fulfillment and aliveness?

BIRTHCHART ANALYSIS: An in depth look at major themes and issues in your life. The emphasis is on the positive, creative potential inherent in your chart, inspiring you to be all that you can be. In addition there are clear, compassionate warnings about traps and stumbling blocks that are most likely to keep you from a life well lived.

TRANSITS AND PROGRESSIONS: An examination of current trends, possibilities and potentials. This type of reading lets you know what the dominant planetary influences are in your life at the present time and how you can align yourself with them to your greatest advantage.

SYNASTRY/COMPOSITE CHART: A relationship analysis of any two charts with a focus on common interactions between the two charts and how two people can best communicate and understand each other. There is also a focus on the larger potentials that the two charts create together. State where (city and state or country) where the two people met. Please note: this type of chart will only be done with the consent of both parties.

All types of ASTROLOGICAL READINGS are approximately 2 hours in length and are all the same price of $180.

"Chris is a wonderful and insightful astrologer. Her ability to see and explain the meaning hidden in the astrological symbols provided me with a practical understanding of where I am in my life path, and how I can approach and work with my inner and outer experiences.  Chris is clear, direct, compassionate, and a joy to experience."

    -- Stacy Bowman

"I had an incredible experience having my son's natal chart read by Chris Zydel.  She is an extraordinarily talented astrologer as she has been studying astrology her whole life.  This coupled with a 28 year career as a counselor she brings to the table a vast knowledge of astrology with the ability to deliver sensitive and personal information in a therapeutic manner.  As her readings are born from the theory of evolutionary astrology she offers practical, useful information that one can actually apply in one's life to become more insightful and create change.  This was particularly helpful in my situation as a new mother as I learned more about my son and ultimately about our relationship.  Being more aware of our family dynamic will help me understand how I can be a better caregiver and mentor; ultimately guiding him to become a well adjusted, secure and loving man.  I highly recommend meeting with Chris for a reading.  She is warm, professional and has a vast knowledge of the craft."

    -- Another Workshop Participant

"Having my chart done by Chris has been an amazingly helpful experience.  Her approach is extremely in depth and relevant to personal growth issues and life-long patterns.  I learned an incredible amount about astrology, as she is a very patient and willing teacher.  All the issues that were highlighted in my chart we so relevant to the work I am engaged in emotionally and spiritually.  I have been listening to the recordings that she made of our sessions and each time I gain a deeper and broader understanding of myself and the work that I came here to do.  She is truly gifted and insightful and a wonderful guide through the process of self discovery, acceptance and validation."

    -- Lisa Harbus, Massage Therapist