Today we’d like to introduce you to Cyla Fisk.
Hi Cyla, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
While majoring in dance at UC Irvine, I went through ongoing medical issues and, ultimately, a car accident that made it impossible for me to graduate with the major. Dancing was all I had ever imagined myself doing with my life, so I went through a bit of an identity crisis and sought out therapy for the first time. It honestly wasn’t very helpful because the therapist wasn’t a good fit for me, but it did push me to begin reflecting on all of the layers of myself and my experiences for the first time. I developed so many questions about who I was and realized I had no idea what I wanted or needed. So began my journey of self-discovery.
So how did my journey as a therapist start? By wanting to help myself. Definitely not the selfless “I want to help others” inspiration that you’d hope most therapists have going into this line of work. (Don’t worry, this did come later for me) I took a deep dive into psychology and neurobiology, wanting to understand how my brain, psyche, and emotions work and why I was experiencing so much pain, not just from the physically traumatic experiences I endured in college but the relational ones from my upbringing. This journey continued through graduate school, through multiple therapists, and through helping others with their own journeys of self-exploration and healing. I’m happy to say I have found the answers to my curiosities and the healing I was seeking out all those years ago because, guess what, therapy works!
My original desire to help myself, however, is not what has helped me sustain myself in this profession. That has indeed transformed into wanting to help others. I’m not sure I can find the right words to describe how much it means to me to be given the opportunity time and again to walk alongside people through their darkest moments and hold space for all of the pain they endure. It’s never easy to hear what the worst of humanity and the world inflicts on my clients, but the strength, resilience, and hope that emanate from them through their journey is always amazing to witness. I’m always so honored to be privy to the inner workings of people’s minds, to listen to their unique stories, and to help them no longer feel isolated and helpless in what they are experiencing. Collaborating with them to move into a life where they are truly grounded in themselves and thriving in their everyday lives that’s what drives and sustains me. Change is possible. Healing is achievable. No one has to feel alone and stuck in their suffering.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I think every therapist I know would agree that it’s not a smooth road to becoming and succeeding as a therapist. The road to getting licensed is long, and you’re more than likely undercompensated. Then if you open your own practice you continue to be underpaid while you teach yourself how to run a business and fill your caseload since none of that is taught in school or most training programs. All of this is done while continuing to hone your therapeutic skills through ongoing education, networking, consultation, and your own therapy. Oh and having a life too of course!
So no, it hasn’t been smooth. But is any road worth taking easy? At least my profession continually supplies me with new tools to help me deal with each of the struggles I face, which in turn helps me to better align with and understand my clients. I’m happy to say that my hard work thus far has led to me now running a successful private practice and I’m even considering expansion in the near future.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I own a private practice in Pasadena, California where I primarily work with women and mothers. I’m passionate about helping women transform their lives and supporting them on their path to growth and healing.
I have extensive training in trauma therapy, so I am frequently helping clients overcome childhood trauma/neglect/abuse as well as more acute traumas such as sexual assaults and birth trauma. I more recently became certified in perinatal mental health after having my daughter and have really enjoyed expanding my practice to work with individuals experiencing pregnancy, postpartum, and parenting issues as well as navigating fertility struggles and pregnancy/infant loss. This is definitely an underserved population that I am so grateful to serve and advocate for within my community.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Fight for yourself. Most of us undervalue our wants and our needs. We settle for “I’m surviving” because there can be so many barriers to thriving. Don’t settle! You are worthy of finding whatever support you need to feel better and truly enjoy yourself and your relationships. Find the right therapist, doctor, friend, coworker, etc., who is going to reflect your value and help you find the answers and changes you need to thrive. You. Are. Worth. It.
Pricing:
- Individual 50-Minute Session: $225
Contact Info:
- Website: www.herspacela.com
Image Credits
Amanda Quinlan
