Today we’d like to introduce you to Cynthia Greenburg-Dunlop.
Hi Cynthia, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
From an early age, I tended to embody the role of confidant whether with kids or adults! I was always curious about how people really felt, why they felt that way, and how I could help them to feel better. I also always felt optimistic on some deep level that I could. There were options, solutions, and opportunities to feel cared about simply because someone was there to listen and I became that someone.
My first career as a writer actually tapped into that. I was known as someone who had a knack for infusing emotional truth into my characters and the stories I wrote. When I felt it was time to switch careers, becoming a therapist just seemed to be a natural evolution. It combined all that I felt I had to offer: curiosity, compassion, humor, creativity, empathy and it fulfilled my wish to have a career with a deep purpose. Helping people know themselves better and feel fully understood is something about which I am passionate. I still am impacted by this decision in the best of ways.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Most things that are worth it aren’t easy, and switching careers certainly presented some real-deal obstacles. I had just become a mom, and then the pandemic started. With all of that, reimagining self, shedding some outdated ideas, and investing in becoming a therapist involved both a sort of grieving process as well as a reinvention of self. Finally training and working in community mental health was both eye-opening and edifying; it deepened my sense of purpose but also expanded my view of the the human experience. All of it culminated into starting my private practice, and each obstacle and every challenge gave me information that enhances my practice to this day.
Overall, I’ve learned quite a bit about acceptance, grief, and that change is possible despite so many odds. I’ve also learned some practical lessons regarding time management, organization, and how effective I can be in my role. Even now, I am constantly deepening my knowledge and developing new skills. It’s all about the betterment of my clients. I love that about being a therapist. I feel nourished by this career and by being with my clients. When I think of, what I have been able to achieve and what it took to get there, it reminds me that my clients can also overcome what they need to in order to live the lives they want to lead.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a Marriage and Family Therapist, trained in EFT and EMDR, who sees clients who are grieving, as well as couples, writers, and artists. I’m unafraid to sit with pain but also believe we are more than just the issues that initially bring us into therapy. In other words, there is “more under the hood” and I do my best to make it easier to look. It’s because we are whole people with big backgrounds. Another way to say it is I treat the whole person – past, present, and what one hopes for the future. And alongside my ability to delve deep is the care in which I do so. With this process I bring respect, compassion, humor, and the belief that my clients have the capacity to feel better; they just might need a little help getting there as well as be willing to do the work. I honor their trust and work with that trust to show up in the way that I believe can best serve them and what their goals are.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
While I am physically located in Pasadena because of telehealth, I can see anyone in the state of California. For those in-person clients, I have a lovely office in Old Town. I have also begun incorporating walking and talking therapy sessions with clients in a gorgeous and expansive botanical garden. My clients range in age: I see adults, couples, teens, and tweens. For anyone interested in therapy with me a free consultation is offered to determine if we’re a good fit. If for any reason, the client or myself thinks we’re not, I know plenty of good therapists and am happy to give referrals. My fervent hope is to provide help to the people who contact me, no matter what.
Pricing:
- 150 for individuals
- 170 for couples
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cynthiagreenburg.com
- Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/cynthia-greenburg-dunlop-pasadena-ca/969451
