`Is there a way to create a constant current while protecting the base in my situation?`

Yes. First of all R3 need not exist, as it serves no useful purpose other than to get hot at high currents and waste power. R2 only needs to be 1 K to 3 K, depending on how much bias current you want to drive the transistor with. Think in terms of 1 to 10 mA of base current.

Constant current with a bjt simply means that the base to ground voltage is rigidly fixed by a TL431 or 2 1N4148 diodes in series to ground. Two diodes would lock the base to ground voltage at ~1.25 VDC.

Now subtract the Vbe drop of 0.65 volts. This means the emitter voltage is fixed at 0.65 volts. Now your constant current becomes 0.65/R. If R1 is 1.00 K then current is fixed at 650 uA. If R1 is 650 ohm then current is 1.00 mA. If R1 is 6.5 ohm the current is 100 mA. Yep, that simple.

If R1 is rated 1 watt or so then it is mostly the wattage rating of T1 to be concerned about. It will dissipate the Vce drop * current as heat.

**NOTES:**

1) If the drive voltage through R2 is fixed and stable then a voltage clamp is not needed, so you would adjust R1 to match the emitter voltage.

2) The constant current will be enforced unless V+ exceeds the voltage rating of the transistor or if V+ has no voltage greater than the Vce + Vbe of the transistor.

3) I prefer the diode clamps because it keeps the emitter voltage low so R1 can be low ohms to get 100 mA or more of current with little energy wasted as heat. If you can keep V+ at 10 volts that will help keep T1 from getting hot.