Today we’d like to introduce you to Cynthia Shaw

Hi Cynthia, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.

I knew I wanted to be a therapist before I even had the language for it. I was rather reserved as a child, and I think that really allowed me to take in my environment – I was keen, perceptive, and observant. I was often called an “old soul” by my nursery school teachers, and I grew up being a listening ear and confidant for others. Connecting with people came very naturally to me, and I think having struggled with some of my own losses, life questions, and chronic illnesses I had an innate desire to make space for others. When I entered High school, I took my first psychology course and I was hooked; I found the material so engaging and fascinating. When it came time to select a major to study in college, it was easy; I knew I was going to study psychology. It was really during my college courses that I connected with professors who introduced me to phenomenology, existentialism, and hermeneutics, and the importance of these philosophies in understanding and supporting people and the human condition. I wasn’t sure if I was going to pursue the therapy route or the research route; I really enjoyed research and completed quite a few independent studies, but after some of the volunteer experiences I had throughout the years, I wound up making the decision to pursue a career as a therapist. I went on to get my Doctorate in Psychology, which was a challenging 5 years after 4 years of undergraduate schooling. My time was spent going to class, going to clinicals, reading (a ton), and writing (a ton). So many people have asked whether I regret pursuing my doctorate, as there were definitely points I wanted to stop. Despite the time, energy, and financial overhead, I don’t regret pursuing the degree. I think the added schooling and clinical training is honestly what sets me apart from other clinicians who decided to take a different path. There’s very few clinicians now, versed in the importance of humanistic and existential application in the therapeutic space. I also think my program did a really wonderful job highlighting the importance of ethics, the legal overlap in psychology, as well as professionalism and interpersonal comportment. Currently, I own a group practice and am continuing to grow the practice, in the hopes of offering an array of therapeutic services such as psychotherapy, yoga therapy, and energy therapeutics. We currently provide holistic services remotely to individual clients and groups in over 40 different states, including New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington, Illinois, Florida, Texas, and Maine. We are dedicated to lifelong learning, humility, and authenticity.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

Not in the least bit. There’s a reason only 1% of the population go on to get their doctorate – it’s really friggen hard, time-consuming, and expensive as all hell. As I mentioned earlier, there were moments when I wanted to stop. It’s really easy to kind of lose yourself in such a rigorous program. You’re living, eating, breathing psychology. It becomes fatiguing, and then you’re emotionally overtaken by the actual clinical side of things. You see firsthand, the deep trauma that people have endured, as well as the crummy systems that as one person you come to the brutal reality that you can only do so much about. It became defeating at times. When you’re emotionally distraught, trying to write a 200-page dissertation, there is little time to take care of yourself. I became pretty sick my second year, and was hospitalized for a bad virus – my spleen was hemorrhaging and it was such a mess. It was also a bit of a reality check and reminder of how important taking care of yourself is in this field. To take care of others, you also need to be taking care of yourself. I’d be lying if I said I mastered it after that, rather, I’ve been on a long journey of learning what care means to me. I remember also when I graduated I felt so out of sorts. I was almost in the bubble of education for so many years, while my peers were getting job promotions, getting married, and doing all these awesome things. It felt really disorienting and also made me question my career choice. However, I think with any job, or really with any experiences in life, there are pros and cons. Every choice comes with its set of challenges.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?

Authentically Living Psychological Services is a remote-based mental health group practices that focuses on holistic wellness, existential difficulties, grief, trauma, identity development, and relationship challenges. We offer individual therapy, as well as couples, family, and group therapy services. We work with adolescents and adults, professionals, as well as first responders looking to better understand themselves and cultivate a life that is worth living.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?

I think the quality that has most contributed to my success is my authenticity, hence the name of my practice. I think genuine regard goes a long way for someone looking to be understood, validated, and heard. Genuineness also yields trust, connection, and likability, which, as a business owner, can help you grow and support as many clients who come your way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://authenticallylivingpsych.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_existential_psychologist/