Safeguarding & Child Protection in Astrology

Why Most Astrologers Are Not Legally or Ethically Qualified to Work With Children — and What You MUST Know Before You Even Consider It

By Alex Trenoweth, MA, DFAstrolS, ISAR CAP, Enhanced DBS Cleared

Safeguarding and child protection in astrology explained clearly. Learn why working with children’s charts requires enhanced DBS clearance, up-to-date safeguarding training, and specialist expertise — and why most astrologers are not qualified to advise families without it.

Alex Trenoweth is a fully qualified, professional teacher with full enhanced DBS clearance and up-to-date (2025/2026) safeguarding and child protection training. Certificates available upon request

To view Alex Trenoweth’s other professional qualifications, see this link

Astrology + Children = A High-Risk Area That Most Astrologers Should Not Touch

Astrology involving children is not entertainment.

It is not “just another reading.”

It is a professional responsibility involving a vulnerable population, and in the UK (and most Western countries), that places practitioners under very real safeguarding expectations.

And yet — the astrology community has operated for decades as if this crucial area requires no specialist training, no vetting, and no child-protection literacy whatsoever.

This page corrects that.

And it makes one thing unmistakably clear:

If you work with children’s charts without safeguarding training and an up-to-date enhanced DBS check, you are operating outside ethical expectations — and potentially putting yourself and families at risk.

Why Child Charts Are a Safeguarding Issue

Children are a protected class.

Any practitioner offering guidance that influences:

  • parenting
  • education
  • emotional wellbeing
  • behavioural interpretation
  • developmental expectations
  • vulnerabilities
  • “karma” or identity formation

…is entering the same ethical territory as:

  • teachers
  • therapists
  • counsellors
  • youth workers
  • pastoral staff

All of whom are required to have safeguarding training and proper vetting.

Astrologers are not exempt.

If anything, because astrology deals with sensitive psychological material, the need for safeguarding is even higher

The Biggest Risks (That Astrologers Don’t Realise They Are Taking)

Misinterpreting behaviour as astrology instead of safeguarding red flags

Without training, astrologers may incorrectly label:

  • trauma
  • neglect
  • emotional harm
  • developmental concerns
  • self-harm signals

…as “a Neptune transit” or “a Scorpio Moon.”

This is not only wrong — it is dangerous.

Unknowingly giving advice that oversteps legal boundaries

Such as:

  • advising on school issues
  • commenting on parenting decisions
  • discussing safeguarding matters
  • labelling a child’s “psychological patterns”
  • predicting future vulnerabilities

These areas belong to trained and vetted professionals only.

Failing to recognise when a disclosure requires reporting

A child or parent may reveal something astrologers are legally required to handle in a specific way.

Most astrologers do not know:

  • the categories of abuse
  • what constitutes a disclosure
  • when a duty to report is triggered
  • who disclosures must be reported to
  • how documentation works
  • the legal timeframe 

Working without DBS clearance

Any parent or teacher would expect anyone working with their child’s developmental material to be vetted.

Astrologers almost never are.

Without DBS clearance, you are the exception and you are vulnerable to accusations you cannot possibly explain, justify or dismis

Why “Ethics Statements” Are Not Enough (Including by Prominent Astrologers)

Many astrologers — even senior ones — promote ethics codes without ever holding:

  • enhanced DBS clearance
  • safeguarding training
  • experience working with minors
  • licensing or professional oversight
  • understanding of mandatory reporting

An ethics statement without safeguarding is meaningless.

A code of conduct without DBS is incomplete.

A “children’s astrology talk” without training is irresponsible.

This includes any astrologer regardless of profile, seniority, publication record, or organisational role.

If they do not hold safeguarding qualifications, they are not professionally safe to consult on children.

Why Families Come to Me Instead

Alex Trenoweth is currently one of the only international-level astrologers with the following combination:

✔ Enhanced DBS clearance

✔ Up-to-date Safeguarding & Child-Protection Certification

✔ Nearly 30 years of experience as a qualified classroom teacher

✔ Formal academic training in child development

✔ Advanced astrological qualifications (Faculty Diploma, ISAR CAP, MA)

✔ International research in astrology + adolescent development

✔ Published, peer-recognised work on planetary cycles and education

✔Experience teaching safeguarding to astrologers

 

This means she operates at the same professional safeguarding standard as teachers, youth practitioners, and educational consultants — the levels expected when working with minors or people responsible for minors.

No other astrologer currently offers this combination of credentials and oversight.

What Astrologers MUST Know Before Working With Children

If you cannot answer YES to all of the following, you should NOT be reading children’s charts or advising parents/guardians:

  • Do you have enhanced DBS clearance?
  • Do you have annual safeguarding training?
  • Do you know how to handle a disclosure?
  • Do you know what constitutes a safeguarding risk?
  • Do you know when you are legally required to report?
  • Do you understand child development stages?
  • Can you differentiate between developmental delay vs. astrological symbolism?
  • Do you know which comments can cause harm to a child’s identity formation?
  • Can you communicate safely with parents, schools, and support networks?
  • Do you know your legal and ethical boundaries?

If the answer is no to any of these:

You are not qualified to work with children’s charts.

And you should not advertise that you do.

Where to Begin (For Those Who Want to Practise Legally and Ethically)

For astrologers who genuinely want to work safely with children and families, I offer specialist training designed to bring practitioners up to basic safeguarding competence.

Safeguarding & Child Protection Astrology within the Rohini Academy of Astrology.

It is not a replacement for DBS or official safeguarding accreditation — but it teaches astrologers:

  • where their legal limits are
  • how to practise safely
  • how to avoid overstepping boundaries
  • how to recognise what is (and is not) their domain
  • the correct channels for reporting concerns
  • how to protect themselves and the families they work with

➡ Link to Level 1 course here 

A Message to Parents, Teachers & Therapists

If you are seeking guidance on a child’s chart:

Ask the astrologer:

  • Do you hold an enhanced DBS check?
  • Are you safeguarding trained?
  • Do you have professional experience with children?
  • Are you insured?
  • What qualifications do you have?

If they cannot answer confidently, they are not the right person for your child.