Cynthia Fox (Fox Therapy) is a licensed psychotherapist specializing in empowering high-level female entrepreneurs and CEOs to rediscover their authentic selves beyond industry success and societal expectations. With a focus on helping women reconnect with their intuition, Cynthia guides driven and spiritual leaders seeking to pivot their careers. Many of her clients, feeling stuck and burnt out, battle a sense of emptiness and disconnection within themselves. Cynthia provides the support needed for a breakthrough, offering a path to lasting growth. MysticMag chats with Cynthia.
Cynthia, your work focuses on helping high-level female entrepreneurs and CEOs navigate burnout and rediscover their authentic selves. Can you share what inspired you to choose this specific path and the unique challenges that this demographic faces?
It all unfolded quite naturally for me. I started my journey as a psychotherapist, gradually incorporating various holistic modalities that I found fulfilling. I then sought training and got certified. I took an online business coaching program that emphasized defining your ideal client. I identified a pattern with my clients, and realized I truly enjoyed working with those who appreciated the collaboration and achieved tangible results. Those clients wound up being predominantly women, in their late twenties to mid thirties, seeking a career change. Many of them felt undervalued and unappreciated, worked in toxic, burnout-prone environments, and were navigating, blindly and singularly, new territory in their careers. These women cared about spirituality and sought to integrate it into their professional lives. Supporting these women, I observed a gap in professional psychotherapy support for women entrepreneurs or CEOs, especially those recovering from challenges post-COVID.
This realization led me to focus my practice on women in leadership roles, facing various struggles. I aim to meet these women at their current points in life as wives, mothers, friends, daughters, bosses, partners, etc., and I help them figure out how to bring their whole selves to work. I should note, I’m also personally inspired by women, the work they do and how they contribute to their communities and the world. Women, and particularly women of color, are the most creative, innovative, and inclusive business leaders. These same women are traditionally discouraged from the fraternity of business, wealth, success, often feel othered, unwelcome or unwanted, and are limited by the “glass ceiling.” I want to create a new tradition where women and women of color feel supported in their dreams, their ideas, and their voice.
Many ambitious individuals, especially in leadership roles, often feel pressured to prioritize their professional success over their mental well-being. How does your approach support these women in overcoming burnout and striking a balance between personal and professional growth?
The pressure for professional success often comes from external expectations. There’s a common societal narrative that dictates that people achieve certain things by a certain age. These standards, however, often don’t align with individual desires. The mismatch between personal values and societal expectations can lead to burnout, especially when you strive for goals that don’t resonate authentically. I assist individuals in exploring their unique definition of success and genuine fulfillment. By understanding what truly resonates, work can transform from burdensome to energy giving.
You offer a variety of services, including psychotherapy, career coaching, and tarot therapy. How do these different modalities work together to help your clients gain clarity, confidence, and authenticity in their lives and careers?
In my psychotherapy practice, I bring an innovative and holistic approach that differs from traditional models rooted in medical or behavioral frameworks. Many therapists focus on specific behaviors or thought patterns, without considering broader aspects, like the individual’s environment, available resources, or personal circumstances. I use holistic, integrative, transpersonal psychotherapy, which examines the entire person within the various systems they are a part of—families, friend groups, cultures, and neighborhoods. I consider all aspects of my clients’ lives, including diet, relationships, beliefs, spirituality, dreams, and unconscious habits. As a result, I’m able to provide my clients a comprehensive understanding of their challenges and obstacles, which facilitates a more informed and effective path forward.
Additionally, my combined services help my clients get unstuck from whatever situation they are suffering from (loss, career change, relationships, etc.), even when traditional talk therapy fails. To overcome strong defense mechanisms that can sometimes block the effectiveness of talk therapy, I incorporate transpersonal psychotherapy, such as tarot therapy and hypnotherapy which can give back door entry in addressing deep emotional or behavioral issues.
As the only psychotherapist specializing in female CEOs, you’re in a unique position to understand the needs of your clients. Could you share a success story or an example of how your guidance has transformed a client’s life and career?
I’ve had the privilege of working with diverse clients, each on a unique journey toward personal and professional fulfillment. One client, an elementary school teacher facing burnout, discovered a passion for more specialized coaching to better serve individual children. Through our collaboration, she managed anxiety, pursued new opportunities, and secured a fulfilling education coaching position within 6 months. Another long-term client, initially grappling with panic attacks and overwhelmed by work, found a new path as a therapist. With strengthened financial literacy and a renewed sense of preparedness, she’s also now better equipped to make significant life decisions, including homeownership. These stories showcase the transformative power of therapeutic support in navigating career challenges and achieving personal growth.
Putting oneself first can be a profound journey. What advice would you offer to women who are just beginning to explore this path, especially if they’re feeling overwhelmed or disconnected from their inner power / core self?
The first piece of advice I would offer is to embrace your current state, acknowledging and accepting your humanity and your spectrum of emotions (highs and lows). Many people get stuck here, feeling ashamed or guilty for things they’ve ve done or decisions they’ve made You can break this cycle in small, impactful ways, by simply going back to the basics – pay attention to your dreams, journal your thoughts, practice yoga or meditation, spend intimate time with a friend, book a massage, drink water, get plenty of sleep, etc. What’s most important, is that you prioritize self-care, whether it be alone, through social interactions, or with the help of professional help from a psychotherapist, coach or spiritual advisor. Regardless of how you do it, making a commitment to these foundational practices can be a powerful step towards holistic well-being.
If you would like to find out more about Cynthia Fox, visit https://www.foxtherapyinc.com/
