About Me

Dr. Joey Paynter, Ph.D., LMHC
Evolutionary Astrologist, Licensed Therapist, Depth Psychologist, Healer and Lecturer
Masters, Clinical Psychology and PhD in Depth Psychology, Pacifica Graduate Institute 

An Apprenticeship with the Unseen

My path into the healing field began not in a classroom, but in the quiet, observant spaces of a childhood shaped by early encounter with loss. In the wake of profound family transition, I learned to "hide in plain sight", withdrawing into a deep, internal world where I could quietly map the intricate nuances of suffering. What began as a survival strategy eventually became a sacred gift: an acute, rare sensitivity to the unspoken struggles of others.

I learned early that the "underworld" is not a place to be feared, but a landscape to be understood. This apprenticeship with the invisible taught me to navigate the darkness, to welcome the weight of difficult emotions, and to transform the prima materia of pain through the expressive power of presence and art.

The Architecture of Depth=
My formal training is a bridge between rigorous clinical psychology and the vast world of the mythic imagination. After earning my Master’s in Clinical Psychology in 2008, I spent years as a resident therapist for adolescents and survivors of trauma. While I held a deep respect for the therapeutic container, I felt a compelling pull toward a more "ensouled" approach, one that could integrate the inherent creativity of the psyche into the clinical process.

In 2013, I pursued my Doctorate in Depth Psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute, specializing in Jungian and Archetypal studies. I immersed myself in the language of the unconscious: Greek mythology, dream analysis, and the powerful myths that reside within each of us. My dissertation, "Seeing the Invisible: An Intimate Encounter with Hades," was a deep-sea dive into the heart of the Persephone myth. This work became a testament to the capacity of myth to act as a lantern through life’s most painful transitions, allowing a new, transformative story to be written where there was once only silence.

The Convergence: Astrology & Sacred Counsel
A pivotal shift occurred in 2010 when I encountered Evolutionary Astrology. I was captivated by how a natal chart could intimately reveal the soul’s deepest wiring. I spent years under the mentorship of Steven Forrest and eventually helped launch the Forrest Center for Evolutionary Astrology, where I now lead the Sacred Counsel Course, and teach several astrology courses.

I believe the natal chart is a living heartbeat. My work is to listen to that beat, revealing the soul’s mission and bringing your individual story vibrantly to life. I am the perpetual seeker, driven to uncover what lies beneath a painted smile, paying meticulous attention to the subtle cues: the slight inflection in a tone, the movement of a hand, and the stories that remain unspoken in the spaces between words.

A Global Witness
My passion for the human soul has guided me across 40+ countries as a counselor, lecturer, and photojournalist. I’ve had the privilege of providing healing to refugees, orphans, and victims of trauma, helping the "voiceless" discover and articulate their own powerful resonance. Whether in a group home or a sacred counseling session, my mission remains the same: to empower others to move from survival into a life of vital autonomy.

The Practice Today
Today, I specialize in Evolutionary Astrology and Therapy, with a focus on:

  • Relational Alchemy: Untangling inherited family patterns and attachment wounds.

  • Parts Work: Reclaiming the fragmented pieces of the self through Voice Dialogue (Hal and Sidra Stone)

  • Deep Transitions: Guiding individuals and couples through the "underworld" phases of life.

  • Mentorship: Empowering fellow astrologers to excel in the psychological depth of their craft.

  • Astrological Readings: Natal Chart, Progressions and Transits, Solar Return, Astrocartography, Follow up Sessions, Astro Counseling

My heart continuously longs to create what has yet to be imagined. I invite you into a space where your history is honored, your soul is seen, and your fullest, most vibrant life is finally within reach.


How My Natal Chart Influences My Work

With seven planets in my fifth house, and five of those planets in the sign of Scorpio, my chart reflects that of a woman who must create and look deeply into the world because she knows the world is also deeply looking into her. I am wired to uncover the hidden through a deep form of creative expression that must be shared with others. My chart combines the tension between being hidden and being seen, and it reveals that I am here to live the game of hide and seek. The Scorpio in me wants to hide and withdraw to the depths within, so that I can feel everything and sift out what is real and what is not. The fifth house requires me to express from these darker depths, so that both myself and others might see what is hidden down below.